Diotimos Library · Greek Antiquity Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
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Facing Pages · Branch 16 of 147
III. To Nyx · Lines 8–14
Ancient Greek
p. 26III. ΝΥΚΤΟΣ
θυμίαμα δαλούς
ἡμιτελές, χθονίη ἠδ’ οὐρανίη πάλιν αὐτή,
ἐγκυκλίη, παίκτειρα διώγμασιν ἠεροφοίτοις,
ἣ φάος ἐκπέμπεις ὑπὸ νέρτερα καὶ πάλι φεύγεις
εἰς Ἀίδην · δεινὴ γὰρ ἀνάγκη πάντα κρατύνει.
νῦν δέ, μάκαιρ’ ὦ Νύξ, πολυόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινή,
εὐάντητε, κλύουσα λόγων ἱκετηρίδα φωνὴν
ἔλθοις εὐμενέουσα, φόβους δ’ ἀπόπεμπε νυχαυγεῖς.
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns: III. To Nyx
p. 27III. To Nyx
fumigation from torches
half-complete, of the earth and again of heaven yourself,
circling, player, in pursuits that roam the air,
you who send light down to the lower places and flee again
into Hades; for dread necessity masters all things.
and now, blessed Nyx, rich in blessing, longed for by all,
kindly met, hearing the suppliant voice of these words,
may you come with favour, and send away the night-gleaming fears.
Socrates
Reading The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns · III. To Nyx · III. To Nyx · Lines 8–14
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The eighty-eight Orphic Hymns and the Prayer to Musaeus, in Ancient Greek and English, with the supplied critical apparatus, explanatory notes, introduction, glossary and editorial matter.
Historical Text and Translation
Orphic Hymns, attributed to Orpheus. Greek text after Eugenius Abel, Orphica (Leipzig and Prague, 1885), pages 57–102.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The ancient Greek source and the 1885 Abel edition are public-domain material. The supplied new English translation and editorial matter are published with the site owner’s authorization. Both supplied original files remain unchanged.