Orphic Hymn 57

To The Terrestrial Hermes

THE FUMIGATION FROM STORAX. Hermes, I call, whom Fate decrees to dwell Near to Cocytos, the fam’d stream of hell, And in Necessity’s dread path, whose bourn To none that reach it e’er permits return. O Bacchic Hermes, progeny divine Of Dionysius, parent of the vine, And of celestial Venus, Paphian queen, Dark-eyelash’d Goddess, of a lovely mien: Who constant wand’rest thro’ the sacred seats Where Hell’s dread empress, Proserpine, retreats; To wretched souls the leader of the way, When Fate decrees, to regions void of day. Thine is the wand which causes sleep to fly, Or lulls to slumb’rous rest the weary eye; For Proserpine, thro’ Tart’rus dark and wide, Gave thee for ever flowing souls to guide. Come, blessed pow’r, the sacrifice attend, And grant thy mystics’ works a happy end.