Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/171

 fate itself and fight to the death I would not shrink, if only I could preserve for you and for mankind the inspired and celebrated singer of sweet songs, whom the chaste muses preferred before all minstrels, by whose mouth they uttered songs and choral odes. But reflect that wherever Stesichorus be buried he is a citizen of Himera; and, while for his excellence he shall be called a citizen of the world, he shall yet always belong to you. Moreover count not Stesichorus as but one among the dead, but that he lives in the poems which he has made, a common possession for all mankind. Be content, men of Himera, since your hero was born and bred, was reared and lived his life among you, growing old in hymns and songs, that Catana should have had the will or the power to possess him when nature worked her changes on him and he passed away. Let Stesichorus have a temple at Himera, the deathless memorial of his excellence; at Catana the tomb they so eagerly desire. Take therefore such measures as seem good to you in this matter, and count on me not to fail you in the provision of money, arms, and men. Be warned of one thing; — to subdue a city in Sicily is unseemly for Siceliotae like