03.04.2013 Views

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

4 THE MYSTICAL HYMNS<br />

<strong>The</strong>e, Neptune, ruler <strong>of</strong> the sea pr<strong>of</strong>ound,<br />

Dark-hair'd, whose power can shake the solid ground;<br />

Ceres abundant, and <strong>of</strong> lovely mien,<br />

And thee, chaste Proserpine, great Pluto's queen ;<br />

<strong>The</strong> huntress Dian, and bright Phcebus' rays,<br />

Far darting God, the theme <strong>of</strong> Delphic praise ;<br />

And Bacchus, honour'd by the heav'nly choir,<br />

Impetuous Mars, and Vulcan, God <strong>of</strong> fire.<br />

Th' illustrious power who sprung from foam to light,<br />

And Pluto, potent in the realms <strong>of</strong> night ;<br />

With Hebe young, and Hercules the strong,<br />

And you to whom the cares <strong>of</strong> births belong.<br />

Justice and Piety august I call,<br />

And much fam'd Nymphs, and Pan the God <strong>of</strong> all.<br />

To Juno sacred, and to Mem'ry fair,<br />

And the chaste Muses I address my pray'r ;<br />

<strong>The</strong> various Year, the Graces, and the Hours,<br />

Fair-hair'd Latona, and Dione's pow'rs.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Corybantes and Curetes armed I call3,<br />

And the great Saviours, sons <strong>of</strong> Jove, the king <strong>of</strong> all :<br />

Th' Idaean Gods, the angel <strong>of</strong> the skies,<br />

Prophetic <strong>The</strong>mis with sagacious eyes,<br />

With ancient Night, and Daylight I implore,<br />

And Faith and Dice source <strong>of</strong> blameless laws adore;<br />

In the translation <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> these hymns, I have been<br />

obliged to employ an Alexandrine line, as well as in this<br />

and the following line, in order to preserve the meaning <strong>of</strong><br />

the author.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!