Simonides

Summary

The life of Simonides of Ceos (556–468) stretched from the age of tyrants through the overthrow of the Peisistratids in Athens, the turning back of the two Persian invasions, and the rise of Athens. Invited to Athens by the tyrant Hipparchus as part of his effort to bring culture to Athens, Simonides left after his fall for various courts in Thessaly. Later, when his patrons sided with the Persians, he returned to Athens where he celebrated the Greek victory. He died while visiting the court of Hieron in Syracuse. His reputation was such that his name was linked with those of Homer and Hesiod as a source of wisdom.

Is it hard to be good?

This is an encomium (or song of praise) to Skopas, a king in Thessaly whom Simonides had visited (PMG 542, four strophes in a complex lyric form).

1a. It is hard to be a truly good man

foursquare in hands and feet and purpose,

made without blame.

[Seven lines are missing.]

1b. And Pittacus' proverb does not ring true to me,

though it was said by a wise man:

that it is hard to be noble.

Only a god may have that prize; while a man

cannot but be bad

if a hopeless catastrophe brings him down. […]