Orphic Hymn 36

To Diana

THE FUMIGATION FROM MANNA. Hear me, Jove’s daughter, celebrated queen, Bacchian and Titan, of a noble mien: In darts rejoicing, and on all to shine, Torch-bearing Goddess, Dictynna divine. O’er births presiding, and thyself a maid, To labour pangs imparting ready aid: Dissolver of the zone, and wrinkled care, Fierce huntress, glorying in the silvan war: Swift in the course, in dreadful arrows skill’d, Wand’ring by night, rejoicing in the field: Of manly form, erect, of bounteous mind, Illustrious dæmon, nurse of humankind: Immortal, earthly, bane of monsters fell, ‘Tis thine, blest maid, on woody mounts to dwell: Foe of the stag, whom woods and dogs delight, In endless youth you flourish fair and bright. O universal queen, august, divine, A various form, Cydonian pow’r, is thine. Dread guardian Goddess, with benignant mind, Auspicious come, to mystic rites inclin’d; Give earth a store of beauteous fruits to bear, Send gentle Peace, and Health with lovely hair, And to the mountains drive Disease and Care.