Pythia Iii, 145-205

The Immortals distribute to men With one good two Evils. The foolish, therefore, Are not able to bear these with grace, But the wise, turning the fair outside.

But thee the lot of good fortune follows, or surely great Destiny Looks down upon a king ruling the people, If on any man. But a secure life Was not to Peleus, son of Æacus, Nor to godlike Cadmus, Who yet are said to have had The greatest happiness Of mortals, and who heard The song of the golden-filleted Muses, On the mountain, and in seven-gated Thebes, When the one married fair-eyed Harmonia, And the other Thetis, the illustrious daughter of wise-counseling Nereus. And the gods feasted with both; And they saw the royal children of Kronos On golden seats, and received Marriage gifts; and having exchanged Former toils for the favor of Zeus, They made erect the heart. But in course of time His three daughters robbed the one Of some of his serenity by acute Sufferings; when Father Zeus, forsooth, came To the lovely couch of white-armed Thyone. And the other's child, whom only the immortal Thetis bore in Phthia, losing His life in war by arrows, Being consumed by fire excited The lamentation of the Danaans. But if any mortal has in his Mind the way of truth, It is necessary to make the best Of what befalls from the blessed. For various are the blasts Of high-flying winds. The happiness of men stays not a long time, Though fast it follows rushing on.

Humble in humble estate, lofty in lofty, I will be; and the attending dæmon I will always reverence in my mind, Serving according to my means. But if Heaven extend to me kind wealth, I have hope to find lofty fame hereafter. Nestor and Lycian Sarpedon-- They are the fame of men-- From resounding words which skillful artists Sung, we know. For virtue through renowned Song is lasting. But for few is it easy to obtain.