Translated by Catherine Proppe
2. Προθυραίας, θυμίαμα στύρακα.
To Prothyraia, “Approaching the Doorway”
Divine connection: storax, styrax
Κλῦθί μοι, ὦ πολύσεμνε θεά, πολυώνυμε δαῖμον,
Hear me, O much-revered Goddess, many-realmed power
ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγέ, λεχῶν ἡδεῖα πρόσοψι,
In travail of childbirth upon your aid women give birth sweetly before long,
θηλειῶν σώτειρα μόνη, φιλόπαις, ἀγανόφρον,
Women’s sole savior, lover of children, gentle counselor
ὠκυλόχεια, παροῦσα νέαις θνητῶν, Προθυραία,
Bring swift childbirth for new mortals approaching the doorway
κλειδοῦχ', εὐάντητε, φιλοτρόφε, πᾶσι προσηνής,
Key holder, pure antidote, loving nurturer of all, guide
ἣ κατέχεις οἴκους πάντων θαλίαις τε γέγηθας,
And catalyst, house of all joy of earthborn rejoicing
λυσίζων', ἀφανής, ἔργοισι δὲ φαίνῃ ἅπασι,
Loosen the zone, invisibly work to bring all to light
συμπάσχεις ὠδῖσι καὶ εὐτοκίηισι γέγηθας,
In sympathy with suffering in labor and childbirth, earthborn rejoicing
Εἰλείθυια, λύουσα πόνους δειναῖς ἐν ἀνάγκαις·
Eileithyia[1], unbind the toil and suffering of Ananke[2]
μούνην γὰρ σὲ καλοῦσι λεχοὶ ψυχῆς ἀνάπαυμα·
Solely for thou call women in labor for Psyche’s[3] repose
ἐν γὰρ σοὶ τοκετῶν λυσιπήμονές εἰσιν ἀνῖαι,
Engender childbirth, release suffering and grief
Ἄρτεμις Εἰλείθυια, καὶ , ἡ σεμνή, Προθυραία.
Artemis[4] Eileithyia and revered Prothyraia
κλῦθι, μάκαιρα, δίδου δὲ γονὰς ἐπαρωγὸς ἐοῦσα
Come blessed one, give of offspring, aide their being
καὶ σῴζ', ὥσπερ ἔφυς αἰεὶ σώτειρα προπάντων.
And save from death as Nature’s[5] eternal savior of all.
[1] Eileithyia is the immortal Goddess of childbirth and parturitiom.
[2] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of what is necessary.
[3] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
[4] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence.
[5] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of nature.
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