Orphic Hymn 13

To Saturn

THE FUMIGATION FROM STORAX. Etherial father, mighty Titan, hear, Great sire of Gods and men, whom all revere; Endu’d with various counsel, pure and strong, To whom increase and decrement belong. Hence matter’s flowing forms thro’ thee that die, By thee restor’d, their former place supply. The world immense in everlasting chains, Strong and ineffable thy pow’r contains; Father of vast eternity, divine, O mighty Saturn, various speech is thine; Blossom of earth and of the starry skies, Husband of Rhea, and Prometheus wise. Obsteteric pow’r and venerable root, From which the various forms of being shoot; No parts peculiar can thy pow’r enclose, Diffus’d thro’ all, from which the world arose. O best of beings, of a subtle mind, Propitious hear, to suppliant pray’rs inclin’d; The sacred rites benevolent attend, And grant a blameless life, a blessed end.