The Lesbian prisoners hack and hew,
 Coughing on dim oil lamp light,
 What Stygian depths have these Samians consigned us to;
 sweltering in the trench and heat.
 A chain of hands passes the dead man to the back;
 Polycrates brooks no slack.
 
 Eupalinos frets and frowns, trusting not his geometry,
 To the Temple of Hera he goes, seeking divine confirmation,
 Oh wife of Olympia I beseech thee, make opposing tunnels meet;
 So I can an engineering marvel complete.
 The Lesbians continue to feverishly dig, daylight or death their only fate.
 
 Isosceles triangles or blessings of the gods,
 Both tunnels meet at the right angle,
 Eupalinos is vindicated,
 Water flows to the Samians,
 Fountains sparkle, thirsts are slated.
 The eighth wonder of the world is consecrated.
 
 The Lesbian miners meanwhile pray for salvation,
 Charaxos, Cypris and the Brothers songs are sung,
 To the Sanctuary of Messon they make a secret libation,
 The Lesbian gods answer; 
 a Persian arrow to the head,
 Polycrates is struck dead.