To Notos #HymnsOfOrpheus

Translated by Catherine Proppe
May 5, 2015


82. Νότου, θυμίαμα λίβανον.

To Notos[1]

Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)

 

Λαιψηρὸν πήδημα δι’ ἠέρος ὑγροπόρευτον,

Swift leaping air, water conveying

 

ὠκείαις πτερύγεσσι δονούμενον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

Quick winged, shaking powerfully, enthused and enthused

 

ἔλθοις σὺν νεφέλαις νοτίαις, ὄμβροιο γενάρχα·

Come with Nephelai[2], southern rain-generating architect

 

τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκ Διός ἐστι σέθεν γέρας ἠερόφοιτον,

Too then generate out of Dios’[3] essence together with ancient air-wandering

 

ὀμβροτόκους νεφέλας ἐξ ἠέρος εἰς χθόνα πέμπειν.

Rain-birthing clouds out of air’s essence earth-directed

 

τοιγάρ τοι λιτόμεσθα, μάκαρ, ἱεροῖσι χαρέντα

Then generating too, simple medium, blessed, holy, gracious

 

πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.

Send fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[4].


[1] Notos is the immortal God of the south wind, literally “prevailing (Ν) + entity of (ό) + stretch/extension (του).”  Presumably, stretching/extending life.


[2] The Nephelai are the immortal Goddesses of the clouds.


[3] Dios refers to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.


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