Orphic Hymn 76

To The Muses

THE FUMIGATION FROM FRANKINCENSE. Daughters of Jove, loud-sounding, and divine, Renown’d, Pierian, sweetly speaking Nine; To those whose breasts your sacred furies fire, Much form’d, the objects of supreme desire. Sources of blameless virtue to mankind, Who form to excellence the youthful mind: Who nurse the soul, and give her to descry The paths of right with reason’s steady eye. Commanding queens, who lead to sacred light The intellect refin’d from Error’s night; And to mankind each holy rite disclose, For mystic knowledge from your nature flows. Clio, and Erato who charms the sight, With thee, Euterpe, minist’ring delight: Thalia flourishing; Polymnia fam’d, Melpomene from skill in music nam’d: Terpsichore, Urania heav’nly bright, With thee who gav’st me to behold the light. Come, venerable, various pow’rs divine, With fav’ring aspect on your mystics shine; Bring glorious, ardent, lovely, fam’d desire, And warm my bosom with your sacred fire.