Orphic Hymn 10

To Nature

THE FUMIGATION FROM AROMATICS. Nature, all-parent, ancient and divine, O much mechanic mother, art is thine; Heav’nly, abundant, venerable queen, In ev’ry part of thy dominions seen. Untam’d, all taming, ever splendid light, All ruling, honour’d, and supremely bright. Immortal, first-born, ever still the same, Nocturnal, starry, shining, powerful dame. Thy feet’s still traces in a circling course, By thee are turn’d, with unremitting force. Pure ornament of all the Pow’rs divine, Finite and infinite alike you shine; To all things common, and in all things known, Yet incommunicable and alone. Without a father of thy wondrous frame, Thyself the father whence thy essence came; Mingling, all-flourishing, supremely wise, And bond connective of the earth and skies. Leader, life-bearing queen, all various nam’d, And for commanding grace and beauty fam’d. Justice, supreme in might, whose general sway The waters of the restless deep obey. Etherial, earthly, for the pious glad, Sweet to the good, but bitter to the bad: All-wise, all-bounteous, provident, divine, A rich increase of nutriment is thine; And to maturity whate’er may spring, You to decay and dissolution bring. Father of all, great nurse, and mother kind, Abundant, blessed, all-spermatic mind: Mature, impetuous, from whose fertile seeds And plastic hand this changing scene proceeds. All-parent pow’r, in vital impulse seen, Eternal, moving, all-sagacious queen. By thee the world, whose parts in rapid flow, Like swift descending streams, no respite know, On an eternal binge; with steady course, Is whirl’d with matchless, unremitting force. Thron’d on a circling car, thy mighty hand Holds and directs the reins of wide command: Various thy essence, honour’d, and the best, Of judgment too, the general end and test. Intrepid, fatal, all-subduing dame, Life everlasting, Parca, breathing flame. Immortal Providence, the world is thine, And thou art all things, architect divine. O, blessed Goddess, bear thy suppliants’ pray’r, And make their future life thy constant care; Give plenteous seasons and sufficient wealth, And crown our days with lasting peace and health.