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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 61, lines 3–5 · Hating the many-colored word
61.3
The Orphic Hymns 61.3 · Hating the many-colored word
Nemesis delights only in the just and hates shifty speech; all mortals fear her and bow under her yoke.
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ἀιδίη1
aidíē
eternal
, πολύσεμνε2
polýsemne
most revered
, χαίρουσα3
chaírousa
delighting
μόνη4
mónē
only
δικαίοις5
dikaíois
in the just
, ἀλλʼ6
all’
but
ἔχθουσα7
échthousa
hating
πολυποίκιλον8
polypoíkilon
many-coloredmuch-embroidered
λόγον9
lógon
speech
, αἰεί10
aieí
ever
ἄστατον11
ástaton
unstablenever standing still
; ἣν12
hḕn
whom
πάντες13
pántes
all
βροτοὶ14
brotoì
mortals
δεδίασι15
dedíasi
fear
, θέντες16
théntes
having put
ζυγὸν17
zygòn
the yoke
αὐχένι18
auchéni
on their neck
; eternal, most revered, delighting only in the just, but hating many-colored speech, ever unstable; whom all mortals fear, having put the yoke on their neck;
eternal, most revered, delighting only in the just, but hating many-colored speech, ever unstable; whom all mortals fear, having put the yoke on their neck;
Interpretation
eternal, most revered, delighting only in the just, but hating speech that is many-colored and never stands still; all mortals fear you, and have put the yoke on their necks;
Poikilos is the word for anything dappled or embroidered, and from there for anything complex or cunning; Homer calls Odysseus poikilomētēs, "of many-colored wiles." Nemesis hates speech of that kind, dappled and never standing still, the word that shifts with every listener. The just are the only ones she enjoys. Everyone else fears her, and the hymn pictures them as oxen with the yoke laid on their necks.
61.6
The Orphic Hymns 61.6 · You see all and hear all
Nothing escapes Nemesis: she sees, hears and judges everything, and the judgments of mortals rest with her.
· · ·
For the mind of all always matters to you, nor does a soul escape you scorning reason with undiscerning impulse. You see all things and you hear all things, you judge all things; and the judgments of mortals are with you, power most high.