Psalm 1 - Ezra

Happy is the man
    who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
nor take his stand on the sinner's road,
    nor sit at ease among the scornful.
But his delight is in the teaching of the Lord,
    reflecting on His teaching day and night.

Nemea 2 - Pindar

Even as the Homeridai, 
the rhapsode singers of stories, for the greater part 
begin with a prelude to Zeus, so this man also 
is given his first choral for victory in the sacred games at Nemea 
in Zeus' grove, the much-besung. 

Hymn to Adonis - Praxilla

The most beautiful thing I leave behind is the sun’s light; 

second, the shining stars and the moon’s face; 

also ripe cucumbers and apples and pears.

Pythia 7 - Pindar

The great city of Athens is the loveliest

invocation, to cast down as foundation stone for the song

to magnify the wide-flung strength of the sons of Alkmaion, and their victory with horses.

What country could you live in? what habitation? 

and name one more conspicuous for all Hellas to attend.

Prometheus Unbound, 716-818 - Aeschylus

Well, since you are bent on this,
I will not refuse to proclaim all that you still crave to know.
First, to you, Io, will I declare your much-vexed wandering,
and may you engrave it on the recording tablets of your mind.

Song - Theognis of Megara

Muses and Graces! daughters of high Jove, 

When erst you left your glorious seats above 

To bless the bridal of that wondrous pair, 

Cadmus and Harmonia fair, 

Ye chanted forth a divine air: 

Zoroaster devoutly questions Ormazd - Zoroaster

This I ask Thee — tell it to me truly, Lord! 

Who the Sire was, Father first of Holiness? 

Who the pathway for the sun and stars ordained? 

Who, through whom its moon doth wax and wane again? 

This and much else do I long, O God, to know. 

The Grasshopper - Anacreon

Happy insect! what can be

In happiness compar'd to thee?

Fed with nourishment divine,

The dewy morning's gentle wine!

In an age unlike our own - Sappho

I declare
That later on,

Artemis - Sappho

Once as a too, too lissome
Maiden was plucking a blossom . . .

Praise of Peace - Bacchylides

To mortal men Peace giveth these good things:
Wealth, and the flowers of honey-throated song;
      The flame that springs
On carven altars from fat sheep and kine,

The wish - Anacreon

Niobe on Phrygian sands
Turn'd a weeping statue stands,
And the Pandionian Maid
In a swallow's wings array'd;

If you tenderly love me - Confucius

If you tenderly love me,
Gird your loins and wade across the Chen;
But if you do not love me -
There are plenty of other men,
Of madcaps, maddest, Oh!

Things as Beautiful - Lao Tzu

When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.

The Thracian Filly - Anacreon

Ah tell me why you turn and fly,
 My little Thracian filly shy?
         Why turn askance
         That cruel glance,
 And think that such a dunce am I?

All Things Drink - Anacreon

Fruitful earth drinks up the rain;

Beauty - Anacreon

Horns to bulls wise Nature lends;
Horses she with hoofs defends;