Orphic Hymn 27

To The Mother Of The Gods

THE FUMIGATION FROM A VARIETY OF ODORIFEROUS SUBSTANCES. Mother of Gods, great nurse of all, draw near, Divinely honour’d, and regard my pray’r. Thron’d on a car, by lions drawn along, By bull-destroying lions, swift and strong, Thou sway’st the sceptre of the pole divine, And the world’s middle seat, much fam’d, is thine. Hence earth is thine, and needy mortals share Their constant food, from thy protecting care. From thee at first both Gods and men arose; From thee the sea and ev’ry river flows. Vesta and source of wealth thy name we find To mortal men rejoicing to be kind; For ev’ry good to give thy soul delights. Come, mighty pow’r, propitious to our rites, All-taming, blessed, Phrygian Saviour, come, Saturn’s great queen, rejoicing in the drum. Celestial, ancient, life-supporting maid, Inspiring fury; give thy suppliant aid; With joyful aspect on our incense shine, And pleas’d, accept the sacrifice divine.