12-14
The Hymn to Demeter 12-14 · A hundred blooms, and the sky laughed12-14A hundred blooms, and the sky laughed
The wonder is described: a hundred heads from one root, a scent so sweet that heaven, earth and sea laughed.
· · ·
τοῦ1
toû
itsof which
καὶ2
kaì
even
ἀπὸ3
apò
from
ῥίζης4
rhízēs
root
ἑκατὸν5
hekatòn
a hundred
κάρα6
kára
heads
ἐξεπεφύκει7
exepephýkei
had grown outhad sprung forth
·; κὦζʼ8
kôz’
and smelledand gave off scent
ἥδιστʼ9
hḗdist’
sweetest
ὀδμή10
odmḗ
its fragrancesmell
, πᾶς11
pâs
allwhole
τʼ12
t’
and
οὐρανὸς13
ouranòs
the skyheaven
εὐρὺς14
eurỳs
wide
ὕπερθεν15
hýperthen
above
γαῖά16
gaîá
the earth
τε17
te
and
πᾶσʼ18
pâs’
allwhole
ἐγέλασσε19
egélasse
laughed
καὶ20
kaì
and
ἁλμυρὸν21
halmyròn
salt
οἶδμα22
oîdma
swellswelling
θαλάσσης23
thalássēs
of the sea
. From its root a hundred heads had grown out, and its fragrance smelled sweetest, and all the wide sky above and all the earth laughed, and the salt swell of the sea.
From its root a hundred heads had grown out, and its fragrance smelled sweetest, and all the wide sky above and all the earth laughed, and the salt swell of the sea.
Interpretation
From its one root a hundred heads had grown, and its fragrance was sweetest of all, and the whole wide sky above and the whole earth laughed, and the salt swell of the sea.
The laughter of heaven, earth and sea is the poet's way of describing radiance. Gelaō, "laugh," is used in epic for things that shine: the earth "laughs" with the gleam of bronze in the Iliad. The whole world brightens at the flower that is about to swallow the girl.
Kōz' is two words pressed into one: kai, "and," with ōze, "smelled." The breathing mark over the omega is the sign of the join, as in English "don't."
15-18
The Hymn to Demeter 15-18 · The earth gaped15-18The earth gaped
She reaches for it, and the ground opens under the Nysian plain.
· · ·
And then, in wonder, she reached out with both hands together to take the lovely plaything; and the earth of the wide ways gaped open across the Nysian plain, and there the lord sprang out, the Receiver of Many, with his immortal horses, the son of Kronos of many names.