The Retinue of Dionysus

 Damon the artisan (none as fine as
he in the Peloponnese) is
fashioning the Retinue of Dionysus
in Parian marble. The god in front, with his
heavenly glory, with vigor in his stride.
Intemperance behind. Beside
Intemperance, Intoxication pours the Satyrs wine
from an amphora that they’ve garlanded with vines.
Near them delicate Sweetwine, his eyes
half-closed, mesmerizes.
And further down come the singers,
Song and Melody, and Festival
who never allows the hallowed processional
torch, which he holds, to die out. And then, most modest, Ritual.
That's what Damon is making. Along with all
of that, from time to time he gets to pondering
the fee he'll be receiving from the king
of Syracuse, three talents, quite a lot.
When that's added to the money that he's got
already, he'll be well-to-do, will lead a life of leisure,
can get involved in politics—what pleasure!—
he too in the Council, he too in the Agora.