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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 10, lines 11–14 · Justice, and the persuasion of the Graces
10.11
The Orphic Hymns 10.11 · Justice, and the persuasion of the Graces
Nature binds and mixes things together; she is Justice and Persuasion, and her rule reaches everywhere.
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εὐαντές1
euantés
graciouspleasant to meet
, πλοκίη2
plokíē
intertwiningtwined
, φιλίη3
philíē
loving
, πολύμικτε4
polýmikte
of many mixtures
, δαῆμον5
daêmon
skilled
, ἡγεμόνη6
hēgemónē
leader
, κράντειρα7
kránteira
accomplisher
, φερέσβιε8
pherésbie
life-giving
, πάντροφε9
pántrophe
all-nourishing
κούρη10
koúrē
maiden
, αὐτάρκεια11
autárkeia
self-sufficiency
, Δίκη12
Díkē
Justice
, πολυώνυμε13
polyṓnyme
many-named
πειθώ14
peithṓ
persuasion
Χαρίτων15
Charítōn
of the Graces
, μεδέουσα16
medéousa
ruling
αἰθερίη17
aitheríē
in the upper air
, χθονίη18
chthoníē
on the earth
τε19
te
—
καὶ20
kaì
and
εἰναλίη21
einalíē
in the sea
, gracious, intertwining, loving, of many mixtures, skilled, leader, accomplisher, life-giving, all-nourishing maiden, self-sufficiency, Justice, many-named persuasion of the Graces, ruling in the upper air, on the earth and in the sea,
gracious, intertwining, loving, of many mixtures, skilled, leader, accomplisher, life-giving, all-nourishing maiden, self-sufficiency, Justice, many-named persuasion of the Graces, ruling in the upper air, on the earth and in the sea,
Interpretation
gracious, intertwining, loving, of many mixtures, skilled, leader, accomplisher, life-giving, all-nourishing maiden, self-sufficiency, Justice, many-named persuasion of the Graces, ruling in the upper air, on the earth and in the sea,
A goddess who mixes things and binds them together is an old figure in Greek philosophy. In the poem of Parmenides a goddess sits at the center of the world, "who steers all things," and she rules over birth and mixing. The hymn gives Nature both roles: she is kybernēteira, "helmswoman" (line 3), and polymiktos, "of many mixtures." The last line repeats, almost word for word, the line in which Hymn 1 gave Hekate the sky, the earth and the sea.
10.15
The Orphic Hymns 10.15 · Bitter to the base, sweet to the obedient
Nature treats people according to how they meet her. She is wise and generous, feeds all growth, and lets ripe things go.
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bitter to the base, but sweet to those who obey, all-wise, giver of all, caretaker, queen of all, feeder of growth, fertile, and releaser of things ripening,