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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 69, lines 10–11 · The eye of Justice
69.10
The Orphic Hymns 69.10 · The eye of Justice
Their task: to watch all humankind with the eye of Justice, as judges who never rest.
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αἵτʼ1
haít’
who
αἰεὶ2
aieì
always
ἐφορᾶτε3
ephorâte
watchlook upon
with
ὄμμα4
ómma
the eye
Δίκης5
Díkēs
of Justice
ἐπʼ6
ep’
over
ἀπείρονα7
apeírona
the countlessboundless
φῦλα8
phŷla
races
πάντων9
pántōn
of all
θνητῶν10
thnētôn
mortals
, ἐοῦσαι11
eoûsai
being
δικασπόλοι12
dikaspóloi
judges
αἰὲν13
aièn
forever
. who always watch with the eye of Justice over the countless races of all mortals, being judges forever.
who always watch with the eye of Justice over the countless races of all mortals, being judges forever.
Interpretation
you who forever turn the eye of Justice over the countless races of all mortals, judges for all time.
The phrase "the eye of Justice" opens the hymn to Dike, Justice, earlier in this book (62): "I sing the eye of all-seeing Justice." Here the Erinyes lend her their eyes. Dikaspoloi, "judges," is a Homeric word for the men who give judgment in a community; in the first book of the Iliad Achilles swears by the staff that such judges carry in their hands.
69.12
The Orphic Hymns 69.12 · Turn to a gentle mind
The prayer: the snake-haired goddesses, here called Fates, are asked to judge our life gently.
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But, goddesses, Fates, snake-haired, of many forms, change your judgment of our life to a gentle, soft-hearted one.