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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 32, lines 15–17 · Peace, plenty and health
32.15
The Orphic Hymns 32.15 · Peace, plenty and health
The prayer: hear me by day and by night, and give the goods of a peaceful life.
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ἤματα1
ḗmata
By daydays
καὶ2
kaì
and
νύκτας3
nýktas
by nightnights
, αἰεὶ4
aieì
always
, ἐν5
en
in
νεάτῃσιν6
neátēisin
the lastuttermost
ὥραις7
hṓrais
hours
, κλῦθί8
klŷthí
hear
μευ9
meu
me
εὐχομένου10
euchoménou
as I pray
, δʼ11
d’
and
δὸς12
dòs
give
εἰρήνην13
eirḗnēn
peace
πολύολβον14
polýolbon
rich in blessings
καὶ15
kaì
and
κόρον16
kóron
plentyone's fill
ἠδʼ17
ēd’
and
ὑγίειαν18
hygíeian
health
ἐπʼ19
ep’
besides
, ἐν20
en
in
εὐόλβοισιν21
euólboisin
prosperous
ὥραις22
hṓrais
seasons
. By day and by night, always, in the last hours, hear me as I pray, and give peace rich in blessings and plenty and health besides, in prosperous seasons.
By day and by night, always, in the last hours, hear me as I pray, and give peace rich in blessings and plenty and health besides, in prosperous seasons.
Interpretation
By day and by night, always, even in the last hours, hear me as I pray, and give peace rich in blessings, and plenty and health besides, in prosperous seasons.
The prayer asks Athena to listen "by day and by night, always, in the last hours," most likely to the very end of life. Before Hermann's edition of 1805 the line of titles just above (14) was printed after the prayer; Abel follows Hermann's order, which lets this line lead straight into "hear me." The gifts asked for are the ordinary goods of a peaceful life: peace, enough to eat, health, and good seasons for the crops.
33.1
The Orphic Hymns 33.1 · Victory, who ends the contest
The hymn to Victory, sung over frankincense powder. She alone ends the struggle of rivals in battle.
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Of Victory. Incense: frankincense powder. I call mighty Victory, longed for by mortals, who alone releases the competitive drive of mortals, and painful strife in battles between rivals,