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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 51, lines 4–6 · Lovers of caves and springs
51.4
The Orphic Hymns 51.4 · Lovers of caves and springs
The Nymphs of every wet and green place, who run light of foot over meadows and streams, dressed in dew.
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καρποτρόφοι1
karpotróphoi
nurturers of fruit
, λειμωνιάδες2
leimōniádes
of the meadows
, σκολιόδρομοι3
skoliódromoi
windingrunning crooked courses
ἁγναί4
hagnaí
pure
, ἀντροχαρεῖς5
antrochareîs
cave-loving
, κεχαρμέναι6
kecharménai
delighting
σπήλυγξι7
spḗlynxi
in grottoes
, ἠερόφοιτοι8
ēeróphoitoi
roaming the air
, πηγαῖαι9
pēgaîai
of the springs
, δρομάδες10
dromádes
running
, δροσοείμονες11
drosoeímones
dressed in dew
, κοῦφαι12
koûphai
light
ἴχνεσι13
íchnesi
of foot
, nurturers of fruit, of the meadows, winding, pure, cave-loving, delighting in grottoes, roaming the air, of the springs, running, dressed in dew, light of foot,
nurturers of fruit, of the meadows, winding, pure, cave-loving, delighting in grottoes, roaming the air, of the springs, running, dressed in dew, light of foot,
Interpretation
nurturers of fruit, nymphs of the meadows, winding, pure, lovers of caves, delighting in grottoes, roaming the air, nymphs of the springs, running, clothed in dew, light of foot,
The Odyssey describes a cave of this kind on Ithaca, sacred to the Nymphs called Naiads. Inside are mixing bowls and jars of stone where bees store their honey, and long stone looms on which the Nymphs weave sea-purple cloth, and the cave has two entrances, one for mortals and one for the gods. These lines give the Nymphs the same haunts, and the same nature as the water they live in: winding, running, light of foot.
51.7
The Orphic Hymns 51.7 · Leaping with Pan over the mountains
Seen and unseen, the Nymphs leap over the mountains with Pan and raise the Bacchic cry. Their springs pour from the rock with a clear, humming sound.
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seen and unseen, of the glens, rich in flowers, leaping with Pan over the mountains, crying euoi, flowing from the rocks, clear-voiced, humming, roaming the mountains,