Orphic Hymn 70

To The Furies

THE FUMIGATION FROM AROMATICS. Hear me, illustrious Furies, mighty nam’d, Terrific pow’rs, for prudent counsel fam’d; Holy and pure, from Jove terrestrial born, And Proserpine, whom lovely locks adorn: Whose piercing sight with vision unconfin’d Surveys the deeds of all the impious kind. On Fate attendant, punishing the race (With wrath severe) of deeds unjust and base. Dark-colour’d queens, whose glittering eyes are bright With dreadful, radiant, life-destroying light: Eternal rulers, terrible and strong, To whom revenge and tortures dire belong: Fateful, and horrid to the human sight, With snaky tresses, wand’ring in the night: Hither approach, and in these rites rejoice, For ye I call with holy suppliant voice.