The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

OF ORPI-IEUS.
TO VENUS.
A HYMN.
HEAV'NLY, illu~trious, laughter-loving queen,
Sea-born, night-loving, of an awful mien ;
Crafty, from whom necessity first came,
Producing, nightly, all-connecting dame.
'Tis thine the world with harmony to join92,
For all things spring from thee, 0 pow'r divine.
The triple Fates are ruled by thy decree,
And all productions yield alike to thee :
Whate'er the heav'ns, encircling all, contain,
Earth fruit-producing, and the stormy main,
Thy sway confesses, and obeys thy nod,
Awful attendant of the Brumal God.
Goddess of marriage, charming to the sight,
Mother of Loves, whom banquetings delight ;
Source of persuasion, secret, fav'ring queen,
Illustrious born, apparent and unseen ;
g2 Venus, according to her first subsistence, ranks among
the supermundane divinities. But she is the cause of all
the harmony and analogy in the universe, and of the union
of form with matter, connecting end comprehending the
powers of all the mundane elements. See the additional
notes.
K