Translated by Catherine Proppe, September 15, 2016
62. Δίκης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Dike, Goddess of Justice
Divine medium: libanon (frankincense)
Ὄμμα Δίκης μέλπω πανδερκέος, ἀγλαομόρφου,
I sing of the all-seeing, glorious Eye of Dike,
ἣ καὶ Ζηνὸς ἄνακτος ἐπὶ θρόνον ἱερὸν ἵζει
Sharing Zenos’ rule upon the throne’s holy seat,
οὐρανόθεν καθορῶσα βίον θνητῶν πολυφύλων,
From heaven clearly observing the lives of mortals’ many tribes
τοῖς ἀδίκοις τιμωρὸς ἐπιβρίθουσα δικαία,
So that wrongs are avenged with the weight of Justice.
ἐξ ἰσότητος ἀληθείαι συνάγουσἀ νόμοια·
Extract equally desire for truth joined to law,
πάντα γάρ, ὅσσα κακαῖς γνώμαις θνητοῖσιν ὀχεῖται
Always, when rumorous stunted mortal verdicts hold, then let
δύσκριτα, βουλομένοις τὸ πλέον βουλαῖς ἀδίκοισι,
Difficult counsel judgments abide over a multitude of counsels unjust.
μούνη ἐπεμβαίνουσα δίκην ἀδίκοις ἐπεγείρεις·
Solely stand upon Dike when injustice arises.
ἐχθρὰ τῶν ἀδίκων, εὔφρων δὲ σύνεσσι δικαίοις.
Fix enmity toward injustice—let wisdom sync with Dike.
ἀλλά, θεά, μόλ’ ἐπὶ γνώμαις ἐσθλαῖσι δικαία,
Oh, Goddess, convey noble justice upon verdicts,
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ βιοτῆς τὸ πεπρωμένον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθοι.
Bring forth an ascent to eternal life, gentle power, day by day, come.
NOTES:
Dike (Δίκης), the Goddess of justice, is always described as “all-seeing” in classic literature. It is a modern characterization to depict Justice as blind.
Aeschylus (500 BCE) says that, “Justice, voiceless, unseen, seeth thee when thou sleepest and when thou goest forth and when thou liest down. Continually doth she attend thee.”[1]
Demosthenes (350 BCE) warns jurors, “You must magnify the Goddess of Order who loves what is right and preserves every city and every land; and before you cast your votes, each juryman must reflect that he is being watched by hallowed and inexorable Justice, who, as Orpheus, that prophet of our most sacred mysteries, tells us…oversees all the works of men [sic].”[2]
Quintus Smyrnaeus (350 CE) says, “The myriad tribes of much-enduring men dwelt in fair cities. Justice watched o'er all.”[3]
Zenos (Ζηνὸς) is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life:
Aletheia (Ἀλήθεια) is the immortal Goddess of truth and reality.
[1] Stobaeus, Anthology i. 3. 98 (Wachsmuth i. 57), Theophilus, To Autolycus ii. 37. p. 178. (Assigned to Aeschylus by Hermann.)
[2] “Against Aristogeiton 25.11,” Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1939.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Dem.+25+11&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0074
[3] Quintus Smyrnaeus. The Fall of Troy 5.44. Translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913. http://www.theoi.com/Text/QuintusSmyrnaeus5.html
62. Δίκης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Dike, Goddess of Justice
Divine medium: libanon (frankincense)
Ὄμμα Δίκης μέλπω πανδερκέος, ἀγλαομόρφου,
I sing of the all-seeing, glorious Eye of Dike,
ἣ καὶ Ζηνὸς ἄνακτος ἐπὶ θρόνον ἱερὸν ἵζει
Sharing Zenos’ rule upon the throne’s holy seat,
οὐρανόθεν καθορῶσα βίον θνητῶν πολυφύλων,
From heaven clearly observing the lives of mortals’ many tribes
τοῖς ἀδίκοις τιμωρὸς ἐπιβρίθουσα δικαία,
So that wrongs are avenged with the weight of Justice.
ἐξ ἰσότητος ἀληθείαι συνάγουσἀ νόμοια·
Extract equally desire for truth joined to law,
πάντα γάρ, ὅσσα κακαῖς γνώμαις θνητοῖσιν ὀχεῖται
Always, when rumorous stunted mortal verdicts hold, then let
δύσκριτα, βουλομένοις τὸ πλέον βουλαῖς ἀδίκοισι,
Difficult counsel judgments abide over a multitude of counsels unjust.
μούνη ἐπεμβαίνουσα δίκην ἀδίκοις ἐπεγείρεις·
Solely stand upon Dike when injustice arises.
ἐχθρὰ τῶν ἀδίκων, εὔφρων δὲ σύνεσσι δικαίοις.
Fix enmity toward injustice—let wisdom sync with Dike.
ἀλλά, θεά, μόλ’ ἐπὶ γνώμαις ἐσθλαῖσι δικαία,
Oh, Goddess, convey noble justice upon verdicts,
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ βιοτῆς τὸ πεπρωμένον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθοι.
Bring forth an ascent to eternal life, gentle power, day by day, come.
NOTES:
Dike (Δίκης), the Goddess of justice, is always described as “all-seeing” in classic literature. It is a modern characterization to depict Justice as blind.
Aeschylus (500 BCE) says that, “Justice, voiceless, unseen, seeth thee when thou sleepest and when thou goest forth and when thou liest down. Continually doth she attend thee.”[1]
Demosthenes (350 BCE) warns jurors, “You must magnify the Goddess of Order who loves what is right and preserves every city and every land; and before you cast your votes, each juryman must reflect that he is being watched by hallowed and inexorable Justice, who, as Orpheus, that prophet of our most sacred mysteries, tells us…oversees all the works of men [sic].”[2]
Quintus Smyrnaeus (350 CE) says, “The myriad tribes of much-enduring men dwelt in fair cities. Justice watched o'er all.”[3]
Zenos (Ζηνὸς) is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life:
Aletheia (Ἀλήθεια) is the immortal Goddess of truth and reality.
[1] Stobaeus, Anthology i. 3. 98 (Wachsmuth i. 57), Theophilus, To Autolycus ii. 37. p. 178. (Assigned to Aeschylus by Hermann.)
[2] “Against Aristogeiton 25.11,” Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1939.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Dem.+25+11&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0074
[3] Quintus Smyrnaeus. The Fall of Troy 5.44. Translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913. http://www.theoi.com/Text/QuintusSmyrnaeus5.html
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