Orphic Hymn 68

To Health

THE FUMIGATION FROM MANNA. O much desir’d, prolific, gen’ral queen, Hear me, life-bearing Health, of beauteous mien, Mother of all; by thee diseases dire, Of bliss destructive, from our life retire; And ev’ry house is flourishing and fair, If with rejoicing aspect thou art there. Each dædal art thy vig’rous force inspires, And all the world thy helping hand desires, Pluto, life’s bane, alone resists thy will, And ever hates thy all-preserving skill. O fertile queen, from thee for ever flows To mortal life from agony repose; And men without thy all-sustaining ease Find nothing useful, nothing form’d to please. Without thy aid, not Pluto’s self can thrive, Nor man to much afflicted age arrive; For thou alone, of countenance serene, Dost govern all things, universal queen. Assist thy mystics with propitious mind, And far avert disease of ev’ry kind.