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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 59, lines 19–20 · Hear my libations and prayers
59.19
The Orphic Hymns 59.19 · Hear my libations and prayers
The last request: hear the libations and prayers, and come to the initiates kindly.
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Μοῖραι1
Moîrai
Fates
, ἀκούσατʼ2
akoúsat’
hear
ἐμῶν3
emôn
my
ὁσίων4
hosíōn
holy
λοιβῶν5
loibôn
libationsdrink-offerings
τε6
te
—
καὶ7
kaì
and
εὐχῶν8
euchôn
prayers
, ἐρχόμεναι9
erchómenai
coming
μύσταις10
mýstais
to the initiates
with
εὔφρονι11
eúphroni
kindly
βουλῇ12
boulêi
will
, λαθικηδέες13
lathikēdées
banishing carecare-forgetting
. Fates, hear my holy libations and prayers, coming to the initiates with kindly will, banishing care.
Fates, hear my holy libations and prayers, coming to the initiates with kindly will, banishing care.
Interpretation
Fates, hear my holy libations and prayers, and come to the initiates with kindly will, banishing their cares.
The singer pours drink-offerings, loibai, as he prays, and asks the Fates to hear both. After this line the manuscripts add one more, which Abel keeps out of the text and records in his notes: "The song of the Moirai, which Orpheus wove, has reached its end." It is probably a closing formula added by a copyist. The verb is a fitting one for these goddesses, since the Fates were spinners and the song is said to have been woven.
60.1
The Orphic Hymns 60.1 · Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrosyne
A hymn to the Graces, the three sisters who bring beauty and good cheer.
· · ·
Of the Graces. Incense: storax. Hear me, O Graces of great name, splendidly honored, daughters of Zeus and of deep-bosomed Eurynome, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne rich in blessings,