Translated by Catherine Proppe, April 8, 2014.
73. Δαίμονος, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Daimonos[1]
Divine connection/incense: libanon (frankincense)
Δαίμονα κικλήσκω μεγάλαν ἡγήτορα φρικτόν,
Daimona[2], come forth, majestic commander of frisson,
μειλίχιον Δία, παγγενέτην, βιοδώτορα θνητῶν,
Gentle Dia[3], all-generative life-giver of mortality,
Ζῆνα μέγαν, πολύπλαγκτον, ἀλάστορα, παμβασιλῆα,
Zena[4] majestic, so unpredictable yet fundamental, all-Basileia[5],
πλουτοδότην, ὁπόταν γε βρυάζων οἶκον ἐσέλθηι,
Plouto-giving[6] upon Ge’s[7] swollen home of Selene[8] divine,
ἔμπαλι δὲ τρύχοντα βίον θνητῶν πολυμόχθων·
When completely stretched ragged by mortal life’s many hardships
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ λύπης τε χαρᾶς κληῖδες ὀχοῦνται.
In union generate pain then happily release the foundation in exchange.
τοιγάρ τοι, μάκαρ, ἁγνέ, πολύστονα κήδε’ ἐλάσσας,
Therefore then, happily, purely, many sighing cares release,
ὅσσα βιοφθορίην πέμπει κατὰ γαῖαν ἅπασαν,
Signaling life’s abortion, send in accordance with Gaia’s[9] whole
ἔνδοξον βιοτῆς γλυκερὸν τέλος ἐσθλὸν ὀπάζοις.
Expectation of life-sustaining sweetly completed, let goodness follow.
[1] Daimonos means “divine power.”
[2] It should be noted that Daimona (Δαίμονα) literally means directing (Δ) + blood (αίμα).
[3] Dia means Deity.
[4] According to the Liddell-Scoot Lexicon, Zena is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of rainstorms and the male fertilizing principle, however, the female suffixes suggest a female deity. Zenion (Ζήνιον) means rain. Zesis (ζησις) means vitalization. Ze (ζη) is the imperative of zo (ζω) (life).
[5] Basileia means Queen.
[6] Plouto is the immortal God of the afterlife and wealth.
[7] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
[8] Selene is the immortal Goddess of the moon and is associated with the phases of menstruation and pregnancy.
[9] Gaia is another name for the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
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