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Bacchylides · Epinician Odes §14.1-14.23

The Value of Kairos and Cleoptolemus' Victory

Passage 15 of 16 · Greek

Summary

After reflecting on the variety of human fortune and virtues, and the importance of the right moment (kairos), the poet turns to praise the equestrian victor Cleoptolemus and the sanctuary of Poseidon Petraios.

§14.1εὖ μὲν εἱμάρθαι παρὰ δαί[μονος ἀν- §14.2θρώποις ἄριστον·
For humans, to have a good destiny allotted by the deity is best.
§14.3συμφορὰ δʼ ἐσθλόν τʼ ἀμαλδύ- §14.4νει βαρύτλατος μολοῦσα· §14.5κἀγατ]ὸν ἰδʼ ὑψιφανῆ τε[ύ- §14.6χει κ]ατορθωθεῖσα·
But heavy-to-bear misfortune, when it comes, weakens even a noble man; yet when it is set upright, it makes a man good and visible on high.
τιμὰν §14.7δʼ ἄλ]λος ἀλλοίαν ἔχει· §14.8μυρί]αι δʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀρεταί, μία δʼ ἐ[κ §14.9πασᾶ]ν πρόκειται, §14.10ὃς τὸ] πὰρ χειρὸς κυβερνᾶ- §14.11ται δι]καίαισι φρένεσσιν.
Honor different men have in different ways; countless are the virtues of men, but one stands out from them all: the one who guides what is close at hand with a just mind.
§14.12οὔτʼ ἐ]ν βαρυπενθέσιν ἁρμό- §14.13ζει μ]άχαις φόρμιγγος ὀμφὰ §14.14καὶ λι]γυκλαγγεῖς χοροί, §14.15οὔτʼ ἐ]ν θαλίαις καναχὰ §14.16χαλκ]όκτυπος· ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ἑκάστῳ §14.17καιρὸς] ἀνδρῶν ἔργματι κάλ- §14.18λιστος· εὖ ἔρδοντα δὲ καὶ θεὸς ὀ[ρθοῖ.
Neither in heavy-grieved battles does the voice of the lyre harmonize, nor clear-sounding choruses, nor in festivities the clashing of bronze; but for each deed of men, the proper time (kairos) is most beautiful; and one who acts well, the deity also sets upright.
§14.19Κλεοπτολέμῳ δὲ χάριν §14.20νῦν χρὴ Ποσειδᾶνός τε Πετραί- §14.21ου τέμενος κελαδῆσαι, §14.22Πυρρίχου τʼ εὔδοξον ἱππόν[ικον υἱόν, §14.23ὃς φιλοξείνου τε καὶ ὀρθοδ[ίκου
Now for Cleoptolemus it is necessary to celebrate with song the favor, and of Poseidon Petraios the sacred precinct, and Pyrrhichos’ glorious horse-conquering son, who, of hospitable and straight-judging [...]

Notes

  1. 14.5κατορθωθεῖσα — Nominative feminine singular perfect passive participle modifying the noun συμφορὰ (here in the general sense of 'fortune' or 'turn of events'). Although συμφορὰ often means 'misfortune', here when it is 'guided straight' (κατορθωθεῖσα), it serves as the agent that makes a person good and noble.
  2. 14.10ὃς τὸ] πὰρ χειρὸς κυβερνᾶται — The relative pronoun ὃς (masculine nominative singular) refers not to the literal feminine noun μία [ἀρετά], but functionally acts as a general relative referring to 'the person who...'. Alternatively, it defines the single outstanding virtue through the person who embodies it. The passive/middle verb κυβερνᾶται means 'is steered' or 'is guided'.
  3. 14.18εὖ ἔρδοντα — Accusative masculine singular present participle acting substantively as the direct object of the main verb ὀρθοῖ ('sets upright', 'helps'), meaning 'the one who acts well'.

Cite this passage

Bacchylides, Epinician Odes §14.1-14.23. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0199.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:14.1-14.23

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