Orphic Hymn 22

To Tethys

THE FUMIGATION FROM FRANKINCENSE AND MANNA. Tethys I call, with eyes cerulean bright, Hid in a veil obscure from human sight: Great Ocean’s empress, wand’ring thro’ the deep, And pleas’d, with gentle gales, the earth to sweep; Whose ample waves in swift succession go, And lash the rocky shore with endless flow: Delighting in the sea serene to play, In ships exulting, and the wat’ry way. Mother of Venus, and of clouds obscure, Great nurse of beasts, and source of fountains pure. O venerable Goddess, hear my pray’r, And make benevolent my life thy care; Send, blessed queen, to ships a prosp’rous breeze, And waft them safely o’er the stormy seas.