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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 78, lines 4–6 · Night sent under the earth
78.4
The Orphic Hymns 78.4 · Night sent under the earth
When Dawn rises, the dark journey of Night goes down under the earth, and the day's work begins.
· · ·
ἣ1
hḕ
you who
at
ταῖς2
taîs
—
σαῖς3
saîs
your
ἀντολίαις4
antolíais
rising
πέμπεις5
pémpeis
send
ζοφόεντα6
zophóenta
the gloomy
κελαινόχρωτα7
kelainóchrōta
darkblack-skinned
πορείην8
poreíēn
journey
νυκτὸς9
nyktòs
of night
ὑπὸ10
hypò
down to
νέρτερα11
nértera
the depths
γαίης12
gaíēs
of the earth
; ἡγήτειρα13
hēgḗteira
leader
ἔργων14
érgōn
of work
, πρόπολε15
própole
attendantservant who goes before
βίου16
bíou
of life
θνητοῖσιν17
thnētoîsin
for mortals
; you who at your rising send the gloomy, dark journey of night down to the depths of the earth; leader of work, attendant of life for mortals;
you who at your rising send the gloomy, dark journey of night down to the depths of the earth; leader of work, attendant of life for mortals;
Interpretation
you who at your rising send the gloomy, dark journey of Night down to the depths of the earth; leader of work, attendant on the life of mortals;
Hymn 3 described the same moment from the other side, in almost the same words: there Night sends the light hypo nertera, "down below," and then flees into Hades herself. Now Dawn does the sending. She is also "leader of work," which is how a farmer saw her. Hesiod says in the Works and Days that dawn takes a third share of the day's work, and that when she appears she sets many men on the road and puts the yoke on many oxen.
78.7
The Orphic Hymns 78.7 · No one flees your face
Every human being is glad of the dawn. No one hides from her face when she shakes sleep from their eyes.
· · ·
the race of mortal men delights in you; nor is there anyone who flees your face when it is high above, when you shake sweet sleep from their eyelids,