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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 10, lines 15–17 · Bitter to the base, sweet to the obedient
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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πικρὴ1
pikrḕ
bitter
μὲν2
mèn
—
φαύλοισι3
phaúloisi
to the base
, δὲ4
dè
but
γλυκεῖα5
glykeîa
sweet
πειθομένοισι6
peithoménoisi
to those who obey
, πάνσοφε7
pánsophe
all-wise
, πανδώτειρα8
pandṓteira
giver of all
, κομίστρια9
komístria
caretakernurse
, παμβασίλεια10
pambasíleia
queen of all
, αὐξιτρόφος11
auxitróphos
feeder of growth
, πίειρα12
píeira
fertilefat
, τε13
te
and
λύτειρα14
lýteira
releaserloosener
πεπαινομένων15
pepainoménōn
of things ripening
, 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,
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,
Interpretation
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 all that ripens,
The first line sounds Stoic. The Stoics divided people into the wise and the phauloi, "the base," their word for everyone who is not wise, and they taught that the wise live in agreement with nature. The Stoic Cleanthes prayed to be led by Zeus and by Destiny, saying he would follow willingly, and that if he refused he would have to follow all the same. In the last line lyteira, "releaser," comes from lyō, "loose," a verb that also means "undo, dissolve": Nature may let the ripe fruit go, or she may break it down.
10.18
The Orphic Hymns 10.18 · Father, mother, nurse of all
Nature is both father and mother of everything, and the nurse who feeds it. She brings quick births, shapes things with skill, and sets everything in motion.
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you are the father of all, mother, nurse and nurturer, giver of quick births, blessed one, rich in seed, seasonal impulse, skilled in every art, shaper, maker of many things, revered power, eternal, bringer of motion, of long experience, thoughtful,