To the God of Thunderbolts Divine #HymnsOfOrpheus

Translated by Catherine Proppe  November 16, 2015

19. Κεραυνοῦ Διός, θυμίαμα στύρακα
 
To the God of Thunderbolts Divine
Divine medium: styrax
 
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὑψίδρομον πυραυγέα κόσμον ἐλαύνων,
Father Zeus[1], coursing above, driving fiery bright light of the cosmos,
 
στράπτων αἰθερίου στεροπῆς πανυπέρτατον αἴγλην,
Flash of ether, dazzling light, above all radiant
 
παμμακάρων ἕδρανον θείαις βρονταῖσι τινάσσων,
All-blessed throne, divine thunderclaps brandishing,
 
νάμασι παννεφέλοις στεροπὴν φλεγέθουσαν ἀναίθων·
Streaming from all clouds, flashing lightning, scorching, blazing
 
λαίλαπας, ὄμβρους, πρηστῆρας κρατερούς τε κεραυνούς,
Mighty storm-flashing tornado, fierce thunderbolt,
 
βάλλων ἐς ροθίους φλογερούς, βεφέεσσι καλύπτων
Hurling, roaring, inflamed tunnel veiled,
 
παμφλέκτους, κρατερούς, φρικώδεας, ὀμβριμοθύμους,
Burning all, fierce spine-tingling soul of torrential rain,
 
πτηνὸν ὅπλον δεινόν, κλονοκάρδιον, ὀρθοέθειρον,
Winged armaments terrifying, heart-stirring, hair-raising,
 
αἰφνίδιον, βρονταῖον, ἀνίκητον βέλος ἁγνόν
Unforeseeable thundering decisive bolts pure,
 
ῥοίζου ἀπειρεσίου δινεύμασι παμφάγον ὁρμῆι,
Whizzing, rushing, piercing, whirling, all-devouring onslaught,
 
ἄρρηκτον, βαρύθυμον, ἀμαιμάκετον πρηστῆρος
Rending, impassioned, violent raging fiery whirl,
 
οὐράνιον βέλος ὀξὺ καταιβάτου αἰθαλόεντος,
Ouranian[2] bolts dazzling descent burnt to ashes
 
ὃν καὶ γαῖα πέφρικε θάλασσά τε παμφανόωντα,
And Gaia[3] bristles, Thalassa,[4] too, all-radiant,
 
καὶ θῆρες πτήσσουσιν, ὅταν κτύπος οὖας ἐσέλθηι·
And wild beasts crouch in abject fear when they hear the mind-numbing crash
 
μαρμαίρει δὲ πρόσωπ' αὐγαῖς, σμαραγεῖ δὲ κεραυνὸς
Flashing the face of dawn, roaring thunderbolts,
 
αἰθέρος ἐν γυάλοισι· διαρρήξας δὲ χιτῶνα
The aithereal vault’s undergarment[5] torn-asunder,
 
οὐράνιον προκάλυμμα βάλλεις ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν.
Heaven’s veil hurls bright glancing thunder
 
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, θυμὸν κύμασι πόντου
But yet, blest soul of pregnant swollen seas,
 
ἠδ' ὀρέων κορυφαῖσι· τὸ σὸν κράτος ἴσμεν ἅπαντες.
And, too, mountain summits, with equal power over all,
 
ἀλλὰ χαρεὶς λοιβαῖσι δίδου φρεσὶν αἴσιμα πάντα
Yet rejoice in these libations[6], offered with mind to the decree of fate,
 
ζωήν τ' ὀλβιόθυμον, ὁμοῦ θ' ὑγίειαν ἄνασσαν,
To all life extend whole life spirit, with dear Queen Hygieia,[7]
 
εἰρήνην τε θεόν, κουροτρόφον, ἀγλαότιμον,
Divine Eirene[8], child-nurturing, gloriously honored,
 
καὶ βίον εὐθύμοισιν ἀεὶ θάλλοντα λογισμοῖς.
And let mortal life’s pure spirit eternally bloom—with reason.
 


[1] Zeus is the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.

[2] Ouranos is the immortal God of the heavens.

[3] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.

[4] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the sea.

[5] A chiton is a robe or tunic worn next to the skin, a foundation garment.

[6] A libation is a poured drink offering.

[7] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health.

[8] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.