Water Is Best
From Olympian Ode 1, lines 1–7
Translated by Anthony Verity

Water is best,
while gold gleams
like blazing fire in the night,
brightest amid a rich man’s wealth;
but, my heart, if it is of games
that you wish to sing,
look no further than the sun;
as there is no star
that shines with more warmth
by day from a clear sky,
so we can speak of no greater contest
than Olympia.

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The Need for Song
From Olympian Ode 11, lines 1–10
Translated by Frank Nisetich

Sometimes men need the winds most,
at other times
waters from the sky,
rain descendants of the cloud.
And when a man has triumphed
and put his toil behind,
it is time for melodious song
to arise, laying
the foundation of future glory,
a sworn pledge securing proud success.
For Olympian victors, such acclaim
is laid in store
without limit, and I
am eager to tend it with my song.

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Creatures of a Day
From Pythian Ode 8, lines 95–97
Translated by C. M. Bowra
Creatures for a day! What is a man?
What is he not? A dream of a shadow
is our mortal being. But when there comes to men
a gleam of splendour given of heaven,
then rests on them a light of glory,
and blessed are their days.