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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 68, lines 3–5 · Through you every house blooms
68.3
The Orphic Hymns 68.3 · Through you every house blooms
What health does: disease fades, homes flourish, work prospers, and the whole world longs for her.
· · ·
γὰρ1
gàr
For
ἐκ2
ek
through
σέο3
séo
you
μὲν4
mèn
—
νοῦσοι5
noûsoi
diseases
ἀποφθινύθουσι6
apophthinýthousi
waste awayperish
βροτοῖσι7
brotoîsi
for mortals
, δὲ8
dè
and
πᾶς9
pâs
every
δόμος10
dómos
house
θάλλει11
thállei
blooms
πολυγηθὴς12
polygēthḕs
full of joymuch-cheering
εἵνεκα13
heíneka
because of
σεῖο14
seîo
you
, καὶ15
kaì
and
τέχναι16
téchnai
the crafts
βρίθουσι17
bríthousi
thriveare weighed down
; δέ18
dé
and
κόσμος19
kósmos
the world
ποθεῖ20
potheî
longs for
σε21
se
you
, ἄνασσα22
ánassa
queen
, For through you diseases waste away for mortals, and every house blooms full of joy because of you, and the crafts thrive; and the world longs for you, queen,
For through you diseases waste away for mortals, and every house blooms full of joy because of you, and the crafts thrive; and the world longs for you, queen,
Interpretation
For through you diseases waste away for mortals, every house blooms full of joy because of you, and the crafts thrive; the whole world longs for you, queen,
Brithousi, said here of the crafts, is a farmer's word. In Homer it describes a vineyard heavy with grapes and trees weighed down with fruit, and here it is the work of human hands that bears a heavy crop when people are well. The house that "blooms," thallei, belongs to the same picture of growth.
68.6
The Orphic Hymns 68.6 · Only Hades hates her
One power hates Health: Hades, lord of the dead. For mortals she is rest, and their first prayer.
· · ·
and only Hades, who destroys life, always hates you, ever-blooming one, most prayed for, rest of mortals;