Great Throughts Treasury

"Singing in season and drawing narrow the strands of many matters, you will find less mockery of men that follows. Sad surfeit blunts the speed of flying hopes. If citizens hear overmuch of the bliss of others, it galls the secrecy of their hearts. "

"Men's hopes, oft in the air, downward rock again as they shear a heaving sea of lies. Never yet has a man who walks upon earth found from God sure sign of the matter to come. Perception of future goes blind. Many things fall counter to judgment, sometimes against delight, yet others that encountered evil gales win in a moment depth of grandeur for pain. "

"It is God that accomplishes all term to hopes, God, who overtakes the flying eagle, outpasses the dolphin in the sea; who bends under his strength the man with thoughts too high, while to others he gives honor that ages not. My necessity is to escape the teeth of reproach for excessive blame."

"His tomb is thronged about at the altar where many strangers pass; but the glory of Pelops looks afar from Olympia in the courses where speed is matched with speed and a man's force harsh at the height. And the winner the rest of his lifetime keeps happiness beside him sweeter than honey as far as the games go; but the good that stays by day and abides with him is best that can come to a man. Be it my work to crown in the rider's rhythm and strain of Aiolis that king. I believe there is no man greater both ways, for wisdom in beautiful things and power's weight we shall ever glorify by skill in the folds of song. Some god stands ever about you, musing in his mind over what you do, Hieron. May he not leave you soon. So shall I hope to find once more even a sweeter word's way to sing and help the chariot fleeting, coming again to the lifting hill of Kronos. For me the Muse in her might is forging yet the strongest arrow. One man is excellent one way, one in another; the highest fulfils itself in kings. Oh, look no further. Let it be yours to walk this time on the height. Let it be mine to stand beside you in victory, for my skill at the forefront of the Hellenes. "

"It is better to know what you teach if you teach it; not to study beforehand is thoughtless. The minds of men untried are flimsy rather. "

"Nevertheless, for envy outshines pity, pass not over splendid things. With a just tiller steer your host. Forge your speech on an anvil that rings no falsehood. A spark of dross flying is called a great matter coming from you. You are steward of many, and many are the witnesses for good or ill who shall be believed. Abide in this flowering temper, and, if you would hear speech of delight always, falter not in your bounty. Let go, like a pilot, your sails free to the wind. Be not beguiled, dear friend, by easy profit. The vaunt of reputation to come alone controls the way men speak of those that are gone, their life in song and story. The generous achievement of Kroisos fades not. But hateful everywhere is the speech that oppresses Phalaris, the heart without pity, who roasted men in the bronze bull. Nor lyres under the roof welcome him as the sweet theme for the voices of boys singing. Good fortune is first of prizes, and good repute has second place; the man who attains these two and grasps them in his hands is given the uttermost garland. "

"If any mortal keeps in mind the right road to truth, he must take with grace whatever the gods give. Various ways go the blasts of the high-flown winds. Men's prosperity will not walk far safe, when it fares under its own deep weight. I will be small in small things, great among great. I will work out the divinity that is busy within my mind and tend the means that are mine. Might God only tender me delicate wealth, I hope I should find glory that would rise higher hereafter. "

"Wide is the strength of wealth when mixed with stainless virtue and, granted of destiny, mortal man leads it home, most dear companion. Arkesilas, God's destiny is on you; from the towering stairs of your renowned life you approach it in glory by Kastor's favor, of the golden chariot, who, after storm of winter, makes your hearth shine in the blessed quiet. Even power granted of God is carried the better for wisdom. You walk in righteousness, and great prosperity is unceasing about you, twice over: since you are king of great cities, for this high privilege is a shining heritage in your house, which matches your own temper; and blessed are you even now, in that, winning from the famed Pythiad success with horses, your prayer's end, you are given this festal choir of men, delight of Apollo; whereby, forget not, as you are sung at Kyrene's sweet garden of Aphrodite, to ascribe all cause to God and love Karrhotos beyond all companions. "

"Hesychia, kind goddess of peace, daughter of Justice and lady of the greatness of cities: you who hold the high keys of wars and of councils, accept for Aristomenes this train of Pythian victory. For you understand, in strict measure of season, deeds of gentleness and their experience likewise. And you, when one fixes anger without pity fast in his heart, are stern to encounter the strength of the hateful ones, and sink pride in the bilge. Porphyrion understood you not when wantonly he vexed you. Gain is sweet if one carry it from the house of him who gives in good will. But violence and high vaunting fail at the last. Typhon the Kilikian, the hundred-headed, avoided not this, nor yet the king of the Giants. They were smitten down by the thunderbolt and the bow of Apollo, who now in mood of kindness has received Xenarkes' son, home from Kirrha and garlanded with leaves of Parnassos and with song in the Dorian strain."

"The great city of Athens is the loveliest invocation, to cast down as foundation stone for the song to magnify the wide-flung strength of the sons of Alkmaion, and their victory with horses. What country could you live in? what habitation? and name one more conspicuous for all Hellas to attend. In every city the tale is an intimate thing of the citizens of Erechtheus. At holy Pytho, Apollo, they made magnificent the front of your templed house. I am guided by five wins at the Isthmos, one pre-eminent at Olympia, Zeus' own, two victories gained from Kirrha yours, Megakles, and your fathers' before you. In your late success I find some pleasure, but am troubled at rancor changing beautiful things done. Even so, men say, blessedness that remains by a man to blossom over him brings, with good, some things that are otherwise."

"Down back ways, avoiding mockers, they skulk, all stricken with their sad fortune. But he that has won some new splendor, in high pride of hope rides the air on the wings of his man's strength, and keeps desire beyond his wealth. In brief space mortals' delight is exalted, and thus again it drops to the ground, shaken by a backward doom. We are things of a day. What are we? What are we not ? The shadow of a dream is man, no more. But when the brightness comes, and God gives it, there is a shining of light on men, and their life is sweet. Aigina, dear mother, bring this city to haven in free guise, by Zeus' aid and strong Aiakos', Peleus and goodly Telamon aiding, and with Achilles. "

"Her bosom knows not the winter of fear. What mortal could have begotten her ? From what nurture torn "keeps she the secret places of the shadowy hills ? Her valor is of that which has no ending. Might it be becoming if I were to lay my famed hand on her body, even cull the delicate meadows in her bed?" And the centaur, prophetic, with a cool smile and a lift of his brow, made answer straightway : "Secret are the keys kept of wise Persuasion to love's sacraments, Phoibos; gods would blush and men likewise to enter openly before all on the delight of love's first encounter. "And you, whom lies are forbidden to touch, some genial humor has stirred you to this irony. Whence the race of this girl you ask, my lord? You know the appointed end of each thing and the ways they are brought to pass; and the number of the spring leaves earth blossoms, the number of the sands in the sea and the rivers, shaken by the waves and the streaming winds; and things to be and whence they shall come to pass. All this you know. But if I must match myself against your wisdom, "I will speak: you have come to this glade her bridegroom. You shall carry her over the sea to the favored garden place of God. "

"The uttermost of reputation lies in achievement."

"Destiny in the blood decides all action."

"But if it is prosperity, or strength of hand, or the iron of war we must praise, let them dig me a long pit for leaping."

"The wave of death comes over us all. It breaks unexpected; it comes if you look for it also. Fame is theirs for whom God makes delicate the legend after their death. Beside the great, deep-folded navel of the earth, there came as a helper he who lies in the Pythian precinct, Neoptolemos, sacker of Priam's city, where the Danaans labored long. "

"Among fellow-citizens I look with clear eyes, without excess. I keep my feet from all things violent; may time to come be gracious accordingly. Let a man think, then say if I go out of key, if my words are crooked. Sogenes, descended of Euxenos, I swear I have not overstepped the line, to cast my speech in speed, like that bronze-shod javelin that released from the sweat of wrestling the strength of your shoulders, without the sun's blaze on your body. For what hard work there was, the joy that follows is greater. Let be. If for the victor's sake I have raised my voice too high, I am not too stubborn to set it aright. Lightly will I make garlands. Strike up now. For you the Muse binds gold upon white ivory with the lily growth, raised dripping from the sea. "

" Ripping aloft the dedication of death, the smoothed grave- stone, they cast it at Polydeukes' chest, but availed not to shatter nor drive him back. He, leaping with quick spear, buried the bronze in Lynkeus' side, and Zeus on Idas crashed the flame of the smoking thunder- bolt. These two burned, forlorn. Men find strife bitter when they undertake those who are stronger. With speed Tyndareus' son ran back to his mighty brother, and found him not dead, drawing yet some shuddering breath of life. "

"By birth each of us is given his own life to carry. They differ one way and another. No one man can lift and hold blessedness entire; I cannot speak of any to whom Destiny gave good, lasting unshaken. Thearion, to you she proffers deserved occasion for success; you dare splendid things, and she does not make void the thoughtfulness in your heart. I am a friend; I put aside the darkness of blame and bring to a man beloved, like streams of water, glory in sincere praise; such recompense befalls the good men. An Achaian standing beside me will find no fault, one who dwells beyond the Ionian sea. I trust in my proxeny. "

"Of the good things given between man and man, I say that a neighbor, true and loving in heart, to neighbor is a joy beyond all things else. "

"If any man be fortunate in the glory of games or strength of riches, and yet check down bitter excess in his heart, it is his to be wrapped in the praise of his city's men. Great prowess descends upon mortals, Zeus, from you; the prosperity of the worshipful lives long; but those whose hearts are aslant, with them it stays not long to wax and blossom. In requital for great things done we must praise the noble in song, and in our acclamation lift them high with the gentle Graces. It is Melissos' destiny for twofold success to turn his heart toward the sweetness of satisfaction. In the glades of Isthmos he was given garlands, and in the fold of the valley of the deep-breasted lion he made Thebes to be acclaimed by conquering in the chariot race. He refutes not the virtue in men's blood engendered. "

"Become such as you are, having learned what that is."

"Convention is the ruler of all."

"A thing said walks in immortality if it has been said well."

"Creatures of a day, what is any one? What is he not? Man is but a dream of a shadow. Yet when there comes as a gift of heaven a gleam of sunshine, there rest upon men a radiant light and, aye, a gentle life."

"Custom is the lord of everything, of mortals and immortals king. High violence it justifies, with hand uplifted plundering."

"Even now I am full of hope, but the end lies in God."

"For lawless joys a bitter ending waits."

"Even wisdom has to yield to self-interest."

"Envy bestrides praise."

"Custom is the universal sovereign."

"Great deeds give choice of many tales. Choose a slight tale, enrich it large, and then let wise men listen."

"I will be small in small things, great among great."

"Humble in a humble state and great in greatness, I will work out the divinity that is busy within my mind."

"I am out of tune."

"I will work out the divinity that is busy within my mind and tend the means that are mine."

"If any man thinks to swindle God, he is wrong."

"In all things rest is sweet; there is surfeit even in honey, even in Aphrodite s lovely flowers."

"Man's pleasure is a short time growing And it falls to the ground As quickly."

"May God grant me love for that which has splendor; but in this time of my life let me strive for attainable things."

"Life is a precious gift. Don't waste it being unhappy, dissatisfied, or anything else you can be."

"Men are the dreams of a shadow."

"Many men have succeeded in winning high renown by skill that is the fruit of teaching."

"Not every sheer truth is the better for showing her face. Silence also many times is the wisest thing for a man to have in his mind."

"Often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed."

"Oh, my soul does not aspire to immortal life, but exhaust the realm of possibilities."

"Skills vary with the man. We must tread a straight path and strive by that which is born in us."

"Rich man and poor move side by side toward the limit of death."

"Praise old wine, but new poetry."

"Success abides longer among men when it is planted by the hand of God."