Xenophanes (after Lattimore)

I say if a man win the footrace
at Olympia where the realm of Zeus is
by the river at Pisa or the pentathlon or wrestling
or be bruised at boxing and win or
the pankration where everything goes
a man such as that wins public honor
pride of place and everywhere is feted
he eats on the common weal
and has a treasure of the city for his own
or in a chariot if he win this too is his
but I am more deserving better than brawn
of men or horses is my wisdom
but who cares is custom what is just
in putting might before the right?
if any man be good at boxing
or in wrestling or the pentathlon
or on his feet and this is prized beyond
the feats of strength men do in public games
for him the city will not go governed better
not much is all the joy the city has of him
who comes in first in games bankside at Pisa
not at all does this make rich the state