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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 9, lines 7–9 · Delighting in quiet and the kindly night
9.7
The Orphic Hymns 9.7 · Delighting in quiet and the kindly night
The Moon keeps watch all night among crowds of stars, and she loves the quiet of the night.
· · ·
πανδερκές1
panderkés
all-seeing
, φιλάγρυπνε2
philágrypne
wakefullover of sleeplessness
, βρύουσα3
brýousa
teeming
καλοῖς4
kaloîs
with beautiful
ἄστροισι5
ástroisi
stars
, χαίρουσα6
chaírousa
delighting
ἡσυχίῃ7
hēsychíēi
in quiet
καὶ8
kaì
and
ὀλβιομοίρῳ9
olbiomoírōi
in the blessed
εὐφρόνῃ10
euphrónēi
kindly nightthe kindly time
, λαμπετίη11
lampetíē
shining one
, χαριτῶπι12
charitôpi
grace-eyed
, κερασφόρε13
kerasphóre
horned
, ἄγαλμα14
ágalma
ornamentdelight
νυκτὸς15
nyktòs
of night
, all-seeing, wakeful, teeming with beautiful stars, delighting in quiet and in the blessed, kindly night, shining one, grace-eyed, horned, ornament of night,
all-seeing, wakeful, teeming with beautiful stars, delighting in quiet and in the blessed, kindly night, shining one, grace-eyed, horned, ornament of night,
Interpretation
all-seeing, wakeful, teeming with beautiful stars, delighting in quiet and in the blessed, kindly night, shining one, grace-eyed, horned, ornament of the night,
Euphronē, "the kindly time," was a polite word for night, used since Hesiod, much as the left hand was called "the well-named" (Hymn 8). The manuscripts here have euphrosynē, "good cheer," and the corrected text gives the Moon the night itself to delight in. "Delighting in quiet" repeats what Hymn 3 says of Night herself.
9.10
The Orphic Hymns 9.10 · Come, and keep your new suppliants safe
The Moon, queen of the stars, is asked to come shining and to keep safe the new suppliants who pray to her.
· · ·
queen of the stars, with flowing robe, running in curves, all-wise maiden, come, blessed one, kindly, fair star, shining with your light, saving your new suppliants, maiden.