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when he was victorious in horse-racing. He does not dishonor the inborn excellence he has from his ancestors.
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Surely you know of the ancient glory of Cleonymus in the chariot-races. And, being related to the Labdacids on their mother’s side, they followed a path of wealth with the toil of their four-horse teams. But the whirling days of a man’s lifetime change many things. Only the children of the gods are unwounded.
Isthmian 4 For Melissus of Thebes Pancratium ?474/3
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Thanks to the gods, I have countless paths opening on every side; Melissus, at the Isthmian games you revealed abundant resources for celebrating in song the excellence of your family, in which the sons of Cleonymus flourish perpetually,
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with a god’s favor, as they progress towards the mortal end of life. But a changeable wind sweeps down and drives all men at different times.
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These men truly are spoken of as honored in Thebes from the beginning; they have good relations with the neighboring towns, and are bereft of loud arrogance. And as for the memorials that fly through all the world,
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memorials of boundless fame for living and dead men, they have attained all of these in full. Through their manly deeds they reached from home to touch the farthest limit, the pillars of Heracles—
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do not pursue excellence any farther than that! And they became breeders of horses
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and were pleasing to bronze-clad Ares. But on a single day the rough storm of war robbed their blessed hearth of four men. Now, after the wintry gloom of the changing months, the ground has blossomed as if with crimson roses
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by the will of the gods. The shaker of the earth who dwells at Onchestus
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and at the sea-bridge before the walls of Corinth, by offering to that family this marvellous song, wakes from her bed their ancient fame for glorious deeds. For she had fallen asleep, but now she has awakened and her body shines, marvellous to see, like the morning-star among other stars.
