Hymn LIX: To the Fates

Daughters of darkling Night, much nam'd, draw near,
Infinite Fates, and listen to my pray'r;
Who in the heavenly lake (where waters white
Burst from a fountain hid in depths of night,
And thro' a dark and stony cavern glide,
A cave profound, invisible) abide ;
From whence, wide coursing round the boundless earth,
Your pow'r extends to those of mortal birth ;
To men with hope elated, trifling, gay,
A race presumptuous, born but to decay.
To these acceding, in a purple veil
To sense impervious, you yourselves conceal,
When in the plain of Fate you joyful ride
In one great car, with Glory for your guide;
Till all-complete your heav'n appointed round,
At Justice, Hope, and Care's concluding bound,
The terms absolv'd, prescrib'd by ancient law,
Of pow'r immense, and just without a flaw.
For Fate alone with vision unconfin'd
Surveys the conduct of the mortal kind.
Fate is Jove's perfect and eternal eye,
For Jove and Fate our ev'ry deed descry.
Come, gentle pow'rs, well born, benignant, fam'd,
Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho nam'd ;
Unchang'd, aerial, wand'ring in the night,
Untam'd, invisible to mortal sight ;
Fates all-producing, all-destroying, hear,
Regard the incense and the holy pray'r ;
Propitious listen to these rites inclin'd,
And far avert distress, with placid mind.