Orphic Hymn 61

To Nemesis

Thee, Nemesis, I call, almighty queen, By whom the deeds of mortal life are seen: Eternal, much rever’d, of boundless sight. Alone rejoicing in the just and right: Changing the counsels of the human breast For ever various, rolling without rest. To ev’ry mortal is thy influence known, And men beneath thy righteous bondage groan; For ev’ry thought within the mind conceal’d Is to thy sight perspicuously reveal’d. The soul unwilling reason to obey, By lawless passion rul’d, thine eyes survey. All to see, bear, and rule, O pow’r divine, Whose nature equity contains, is thine. Come, blessed, holy Goddess, hear my pray’r, And make thy mystics’ life thy constant care: Give aid benignant in the needful hour, And strength abundant to the reas’ning pow’r; And far avert the dire, unfriendly race Of counsels impious, arrogant, and base.