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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 10, lines 22–24 · Ever-changing in form
10.22
The Orphic Hymns 10.22 · Ever-changing in form
Nature whirls the swift stream of things in an endless eddy. She takes every shape, and she alone carries out what has been decided.
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δινεύουσα1
dineúousa
whirling
θοὸν2
thoòn
the swift
ῥύμα3
rhýma
stream
ἀενάῳ4
aenáōi
in an ever-flowing
στροφάλιγγι5
strophálingi
eddywhirl
, πάνρυτε6
pánryte
all-flowing
, κυκλοτερής7
kykloterḗs
round
, ἀλλοτριομορφοδίαιτε8
allotriomorphodíaite
ever-changing in formliving in others' shapes
, εὔθρονε9
eúthrone
fair-throned
, τιμήεσσα10
timḗessa
honored
, μόνη11
mónē
alone
τελέουσα12
teléousa
accomplishing
τὸ13
tò
what
κριθὲν14
krithèn
has been decided
, whirling the swift stream in an ever-flowing eddy, all-flowing, round, ever-changing in form, fair-throned, honored, alone accomplishing what has been decided,
whirling the swift stream in an ever-flowing eddy, all-flowing, round, ever-changing in form, fair-throned, honored, alone accomplishing what has been decided,
Interpretation
whirling the swift stream in an ever-flowing eddy, all-flowing, round, ever-changing in form, fair-throned, honored, you alone accomplish what has been decided,
Allotriomorphodiaitos, nine syllables long, is put together from allotrios, "belonging to another," morphē, "shape," and diaita, "way of life." Nature lives in shapes that are not her own: she has no single form, and she takes on the form of everything there is. The picture of the world as a swift stream whirled in an endless eddy recalls Heraclitus, who said that different waters keep flowing upon those who step into the same rivers.
10.25
The Orphic Hymns 10.25 · You are all things
Nature is mightier than kings; she is destiny and eternal life and providence. Then the list closes in one sentence: she is everything, and she alone makes everything.
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loud-thundering, mightiest above sceptred kings, fearless, tamer of all, destined lot, fire-breathing, eternal life and immortal providence; you are all things; for you alone make all these things.