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Diotimos Library · Greek Antiquity Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Orpheus

The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns

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The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The HymnsX. To Physis · Lines 21–30

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English Page · Branch 28 of 147

X. To Physis · Lines 21–30

Ancient Greek

p. 50

X. ΦΥΣΕΩΣ

θυμίαμα ἀρώματα

ἀιδίη, κινησιφόρος, πολύπειρε, περίφρον,

ἀενάῳ στροφάλιγγι θοὸν ῥύμα δινεύουσα,

πάνρυτε, κυκλοτερής, ἀλλοτριομορφοδίαιτε,

εὔθρονε, τιμήεσσα, μόνη τὸ κριθὲν τελέουσα,

σκηπτούχων ἐφύπερθε βαρυβρεμέτειρα κρατίστη,

ἄτρομε, πανδαμάτειρα, πεπρωμένη αἶσα, πυρίπνους,

ἀίδιος ζωὴ ἠδ’ ἀθανάτη τε πρόνοια·

πάντα σὺ ἔσσι· τὰ πάντα σὺ γὰρ μούνη τάδε τεύχεις.

ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε σὺν εὐόλβοισιν ἐν ὥραις

εἰρήνην, ὑγίειαν ἄγειν, αὔξησιν ἁπάντων.

50

The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns: X. To Physis

p. 51

X. To Physis

fumigation from aromatics

everlasting, bringer of motion, of much experience, deep in counsel,

whirling a swift current in an ever-flowing eddy,

all-flowing, circle-shaped, living in shapes not your own,

fair-throned, held in honour, alone accomplishing what is decreed,

mightiest, thundering heavily above the bearers of sceptres,

fearless, all-subduing, destiny, allotment, fire-breathing,

everlasting life and immortal providence;

you are all things: for you alone make all these.

But, goddess, I beseech you, in seasons of good fortune,

to bring peace and health, and the increase of all things.

51

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.