Religion

Hymn XIV: To Rhea

by Orpheus (Orphic Hymns) hymns c. 2nd–3rd c. AD (ascribed to the legendary Orpheus)

Translated by Thomas Taylor (1824) · From The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus (1824)

Religion

Illustrious Rhea, to my pray'r incline,
Daughter of various-form'd Protogonus divine,
Who driv'st thy sacred car with speed along,
Drawn by fierce lions, terrible and strong.
Mother of Jove, whose mighty arm can wield
Th' avenging bolt and shake the dreadful shield.
Brass-sounding, honour'd, Saturn's blessed queen,
Drum-beating, fury-loving, of a splendid mien.
Thou joy'st in mountains and tumultuous fight,
And mankind's horrid howlings thee delight.
War's parent, mighty, of majestic frame,
Deceitful saviour, liberating dame.
Mother of Gods and men, from whom the earth
And spacious heav'ns derive their glorious birth.
Th' etherial gales, the deeply spreading sea,
Goddess, aerial-form'd, proceed from thee.
Come, pleas'd with wand'rings, blessed and divine,
With peace attended on our labours shine ;
Bring rich abundance ; and, wherever found,
Drive dire disease to earth's remotest bound.

✦ ✦ ✦

The fumigation from aromatics.

MLA

Orpheus (Orphic Hymns). “Hymn XIV: To Rhea.” Translated by Thomas Taylor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/orpheus/14/.

Chicago

Orpheus (Orphic Hymns). “Hymn XIV: To Rhea.” Translated by Thomas Taylor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/orpheus/14/.

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