Bacchylides, Dithyramb 1.47-64
“Muse, who was the first to begin the words of justice?
The son of Pleisthenes, Menelaos, spoke with magical words,
Sharing time with the well-dressed Graces:
“Trojans, Beloved of Ares,
High-counseling Zeus who looks on everything
Is not to blame for mortal pains;
No, it is possible for all people to attain
Straight justice, the companion of sacred Eunomia and wise Themis.
The sons of happy people choose her as their housemate.
But Hubris just quivers at twisted tricks and improper foolishness
And quickly gives someone another’s wealth and power
But then brings that guy into oppressive ruin too.
She destroyed the arrogant sons of the earth, the Giants.”
Μοῦσα, τίς πρῶτος λόγων ἆρχεν δικαίων;
Πλεισθενίδας Μενέλαος γάρυϊ θελξιεπεῖ
φθέγξατ᾿, εὐπέπλοισι κοινώσας Χάρισσιν·
‘ὦ Τρῶες ἀρηΐφιλοι,
Ζεὺς ὑψ[ιμέδων ὃ]ς ἃπαντα δέρκεται
οὐκ αἴτιος θνατοῖς μεγάλων ἀχέων,
ἀλλ᾿ ἐν [μέσ]ωι κεῖται κιχεῖν
πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις Δίκαν ἰθεῖαν, ἁγνᾶς
Εὐνομίας ἀκόλουθον καὶ πινυτᾶς Θέμιτος·
ὀλβίων π[αῖδές] νιν αἱρεῦνται σύνοικον.
ἁ δ᾿ αἰόλοι ρδεσσι καὶ ἀφροσύναις
ἐξαισίοις θάλλουσ᾿ ἀθαμβής
Ὕβρις, ἃ πλο[ο] δύναμίν τε θοῶς
ἀλλότριον ὤπασεν, αὖτις
᾿ ἐς βαθὺν πέμπει φθόρον,
κε]να καὶ ὑπερφιάλους
Γᾶς] παῖδας ὤλεσ<σ>εν Γίγαντας.’
According to Proclus (Chrestomathia 114-117) and the Homeric scholia Nestor and Menelaos led an embassy to Troy before the war to try to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. Menelaos stayed at the house of the Trojan advisor Antenor.
