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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 34, lines 20–23 · Winter, summer and spring on the strings
34.20
The Orphic Hymns 34.20 · Winter, summer and spring on the strings
The seasons are set to the strings of his lyre: winter low, summer high, and spring in the Dorian mode.
· · ·
κεράσας1
kerásas
having blended
ἁρμονίῃ2
harmoníēi
with harmony
a
παγκόσμιον3
pankósmion
universal
μοῖραν4
moîran
lotportion, fate
ἀνδράσι5
andrási
for men
, μίξας6
míxas
mixing
χειμῶνος7
cheimônos
winter
τʼ8
t’
and
θέρεός9
théreós
summer
, ἴσον10
íson
equally
ἀμφοτέροισιν11
amphotéroisin
for both
, διακρίνας12
diakrínas
assigning
χειμῶνα13
cheimôna
winter
εἰς14
eis
to
ὑπάτας15
hypátas
the lowest stringsthe highest
, θέρος16
théros
summer
νεάταις17
neátais
to the highestthe lowest
, Δώριον18
Dṓrion
the Dorian
εἰς19
eis
to
ὥριον20
hṓrion
the seasonable
ἄνθος21
ánthos
bloom
πολυηράτου22
polyērátou
of much-loved
ἔαρος23
éaros
spring
. having blended with harmony a universal lot for men, mixing winter and summer, equally for both, assigning winter to the lowest strings, summer to the highest, the Dorian to the seasonable bloom of much-loved spring.
having blended with harmony a universal lot for men, mixing winter and summer, equally for both, assigning winter to the lowest strings, summer to the highest, the Dorian to the seasonable bloom of much-loved spring.
Interpretation
blending with harmony a lot that all the world shares, for men, mixing winter and summer in equal measure, giving winter to the low strings and summer to the high, and the Dorian mode to the lovely bloom of spring in its season.
The music now becomes the year. Winter goes to the low strings and summer to the high ones, and the Dorian mode belongs to the flowering of spring, so that the seasons sound like the notes of Apollo's lyre and their balance is a harmony. The belief that the universe is ordered by musical ratios goes back to the Pythagoreans; the hymn turns it into a picture of a god playing the year on his lyre.
34.24
The Orphic Hymns 34.24 · Lord Pan, holder of the seal
Because he holds the whole world, mortals also call him Pan. The hymn ends with a prayer to save the initiates.
· · ·
Hence mortals call you by name lord Pan, the two-horned god, sending forth the whistling of the winds; because you hold the stamping seal of the whole world. Hear, blessed one, our pleading voice, saving the initiates.