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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 78, lines 10–13 · Every creature rejoices
78.10
The Orphic Hymns 78.10 · Every creature rejoices
At dawn all living things rejoice, and the day gives everyone a living to work for. The hymn ends with a prayer for the initiates.
· · ·
δὲ1
dè
and
πᾶς2
pâs
every
βροτὸς3
brotòs
mortal
γήθει4
gḗthei
rejoices
, πᾶν5
pân
every
ἑρπετὸν6
herpetòn
creeping thing
τε7
te
and
ἄλλα8
álla
the other
φῦλα9
phŷla
tribes
τετραπόδων10
tetrapódōn
of four-footed beasts
, πτηνῶν11
ptēnôn
birds
τε12
te
—
καὶ13
kaì
and
πολυεθνῶν14
polyethnôn
the countlessmany-peopled
εἰναλίων15
einalíōn
creatures of the sea
; γὰρ16
gàr
for
πορίζεις17
porízeis
you provide
πᾶσι18
pâsi
all
θνητοῖσι19
thnētoîsi
mortals
with
βίοτον20
bíoton
a livelihood
ἐργάσιμον21
ergásimon
to work forthat can be worked
. ἀλλά22
allá
But
, μάκαιρʼ23
mákair’
blessed one
, ἁγνή24
hagnḗ
pure one
, αὔξοις25
aúxois
may you increase
ἱερὸν26
hieròn
the sacred
φάος27
pháos
light
μύσταις28
mýstais
for the initiates
. and every mortal rejoices, every creeping thing and the other tribes of four-footed beasts, birds and the countless creatures of the sea; for you provide all mortals with a livelihood to work for. But, blessed one, pure one, may you increase the sacred light for the initiates.
and every mortal rejoices, every creeping thing and the other tribes of four-footed beasts, birds and the countless creatures of the sea; for you provide all mortals with a livelihood to work for. But, blessed one, pure one, may you increase the sacred light for the initiates.
Interpretation
and every mortal rejoices, every creeping thing and the other tribes of four-footed beasts, birds, and the countless creatures of the sea; for you give all mortals a livelihood to work for. But, blessed and pure one, increase the sacred light for the initiates.
The list covers every kind of animal: creeping things, four-footed beasts, birds and the creatures of the sea, and all of them wake with the dawn. The last line asks for more "sacred light" for the initiates, and to them the words meant more than daybreak. Several ancient writers describe initiation as a passage out of darkness and fear into a wonderful light, and the prayer asks Dawn to make that light grow.
79.1
The Orphic Hymns 79.1 · Themis, child of Heaven and Earth
The hymn to Themis, sung over frankincense. Themis is the goddess of what is right and established, and the hymn begins with her parents, Heaven and Earth.
· · ·
Of Themis. Incense: frankincense. I call the pure child of Heaven, Themis, daughter of a noble father, the young offshoot of Earth, rosy-faced maiden,