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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 60, lines 10–11 · Givers of happiness
60.10
The Orphic Hymns 60.10 · Givers of happiness
The closing prayer asks the Graces, givers of happiness, to come and to stay kind to the initiates.
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εὐκταῖαι1
euktaîai
prayed for
, κυκλάδες2
kykládes
circlingmoving in a ring
, καλυκώπιδες3
kalykṓpides
rosy-facedwith faces like flower-buds
, ἱμερόεσσαι4
himeróessai
lovely
; ἔλθοιτʼ5
élthoit’
may you come
, ὀλβοδότειραι6
olbodóteirai
givers of happiness
, ἀεὶ7
aeì
always
προσηνεῖς8
prosēneîs
kind
μύστῃσι9
mýstēisi
to the initiates
. prayed for, circling, rosy-faced, lovely; may you come, givers of happiness, always kind to the initiates.
prayed for, circling, rosy-faced, lovely; may you come, givers of happiness, always kind to the initiates.
Interpretation
prayed for, circling, rosy-faced, lovely: may you come, givers of happiness, always kind to the initiates.
The Graces are kyklades, "circling," because they dance in a ring, and Greek art often shows them as three young women moving hand in hand. Kalykōpides, "rosy-faced," means literally "with faces like flower-buds," the same word the hymn to Aphrodite used of her nymphs (55). The last request is for them to come as olbodoteirai, "givers of happiness," and to stay kind.
61.1
The Orphic Hymns 61.1 · All-seeing Nemesis
A hymn to Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, who watches the lives of all mortals; its heading names no incense.
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A hymn of Nemesis. O Nemesis, I call you, goddess, greatest queen, all-seeing, who watch the life of mortals of many tribes;