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The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

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THE MYSTICAL HYMNS<br />

XVIII.<br />

TO PLUTO.<br />

A HYMN.<br />

PLUTO, magnanimous, whose realms pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />

Are fix'd beneath the firm and solid ground,<br />

In the Tartarean plains remote from sight,<br />

And wrapt for ever in the depths <strong>of</strong> night.<br />

Terrestrial Jove 46, thy sacred ear incline,<br />

And pleas'd accept these sacred rites divine.<br />

Earth's keys 47 to thee, illustrious king, belong,<br />

Its secret gates unlocking, deep and strong.<br />

'Tis thine abundant annual fruits to bear,<br />

For needy mortals are thy constant care.<br />

To thee, great king, all-sov'reign Earth's assign'd,<br />

<strong>The</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> Gods and basis <strong>of</strong> mankind.<br />

46 Pluto, says Proclus, in Plat. <strong>The</strong>ol. p. 368, is called<br />

terrestrial Jupite~, because he governs by his providence the<br />

earth and all it contains.<br />

47 Proclus, in the Excerpta from his Commentary on the<br />

Cratylus <strong>of</strong> Plato, informs us that initiators into the Myste-<br />

ries, in order that sensibles might sympathize with the<br />

Gods, employed the shuttle as a signature <strong>of</strong> separating, a<br />

cup <strong>of</strong> viviJic, a sceptre <strong>of</strong> ruling, and a KEY <strong>of</strong> guardian<br />

powep: Hence Pluto, as the guardian <strong>of</strong> the earth, is here<br />

said to be the keeper <strong>of</strong> the earth's keys.

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