But among mortals the one is deprived of success by empty boasting, so another, too much distrustful of his strength, fails to secure the honours that rightfully belong to him, being dragged backward by a spirit deficient in daring.
ἀλλὰ βροτῶν τὸν μὲν κενεόφρονες αὖχαι
ἐξ ἀγαθῶν ἔβαλον· τὸν δ᾿ αὖ καταμεμφθέντ᾿ ἄγαν
ἰσχὺν οἰκείων παρέσφαλεν καλῶν
χειρὸς ἕλκων ὀπίσσω θυμὸς ἄτολμος ἐών.
ἐξ ἀγαθῶν ἔβαλον· τὸν δ᾿ αὖ καταμεμφθέντ᾿ ἄγαν
ἰσχὺν οἰκείων παρέσφαλεν καλῶν
χειρὸς ἕλκων ὀπίσσω θυμὸς ἄτολμος ἐών.
Original text (Ancient Greek)