Translated by Catherine Proppe, May 7, 2014.
69. Ἐρινύων, θυμίαμα στύρακα καὶ μάνναν.
To the Erinys[1]
Divine connection/incense: styrax and manna[2]
Κλῦτε, θεαὶ πάντιμοι, ἐρίβρομοι, εὐάστειραι,
Be open, Goddesses of all that is due, mighty outflow of fair stars,
Τισιφόνη τε καὶ Ἀλληκτὼ καὶ δῖα Μέγαιρα·
Tisiphonee[3], too, and Alleekto[4], and divine Megaira[5].
νυκτέριαι, μύχιαι, ὑπὸ κεύθεσιν οἰκί’ ἔχουσαι
In Night’s[6] inmost realm below concealed, housed in the foundation
ἄντρωι ἐν ἠερόεντι παρὰ Στυγὸς ἱερὸν ὕδωρ,
Within caves midair by Stygos’[7] holy water,
οὐχ ὁσίαις βουλαῖσι βροτῶν κεκοτημέναι αἰεί,
Fixating righteous counselors’ mortal wrath, eternally
λυσσήρεις, ἀγέρωχοι, ἐπευάζουσαι ἀνάγκαις,
Maddening the arrogant, with approving shouts from Ananke[8],
θηρόπεπλοι, τιμωροί, ἐρισθενέες, βαρυαλγεῖς,
Beast-robed, paying what is due, tremendously strong, profoundly painful,
Ἀίδεω χθόνιαι, φοβεραὶ κόραι, αἰολόμορφοι,
Aideo’s[9] foundational divinities, terrifying children, nimbly changing form,
ἠέριαι, ἀφανεῖς, ὠκυδρόμοι ὥστε νόημα·
Aerial, invisible, quick-coursing, evoking apprehension.
οὔτε γὰρ ἠελίου ταχιναὶ φλόγες οὔτε σελήνης
Unseen by Helios’[10] swift blazing light nor Selene’s[11],
καὶ σοφίης ἀρετῆς τε καὶ ἐργασίμου θρασύτητος
But Sophia[12], Aretee[13], too, and hard work’s pride,
εὔχαρι οὔτε βίου λιπαρᾶς περικαλλέος ἥβης
Charmed not by a life of fat wealth with beautiful Hebe[14],
ὑμῶν χωρὶς ἐγείρει ἐυφροσύνας βιότοιο·
You alone independently arouse right-intentions and life extension.
ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ θνητῶν πάντων ἐπ’ ἀπείρονα φῦλα
But, eternally, mortals’ everywhere in unbroken generations
ὄμμα Δίκης ἐφορᾶτε, δικασπόλοι αἰὲν ἐοῦσαι.
The eye of Dike[15] observes, judge eternal She is.
ἀλλά, θεαὶ Μοῖραι, ὀφιοπλόκαμοι, πολύμορφοι,
Yet, Goddesses of Fate[16], serpent-haired, of many forms,
πραΰνοον μετάθεσθε βίου μαλακόφρονα δόξαν.
Soften, transfer your position in life, melt the voice of judgment.
[1] The Erinys are the immortal Goddesses who give what is due: Essence (ε) + outflow-of (ρ) + divine power (ι) + prevailing (ν).
[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[3] Tisiphone is the immortal Goddess of payment of what is due (Τισι) + to those who shed blood (φόνη): avenging murder.
[4] Allekto is the immortal Goddess who punishes those who possess another’s (Ἀλλη) + property, possession (κτὼ): punishing thieves.
[5] Megaira is the immortal Goddess who punishes those who greatly (Μέγ) + take (αιρα) more than is their due: redressing greed.
[6] Night is the immortal Goddess of Night.
[7] Stygos (Styx) is the dreaded river of the afterlife. Oaths sworn on Stygos/Styx are unbreakable. http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosStyx.html
[8] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of Necessity, of what must be.
[9] Aideo is Hades, the afterlife.
[10] Helios is the immortal God of the Sun.
[11] Selene is the immortal Goddess of the Moon.
[12] Sophia is the immortal Goddess of Wisdom.
[13] Arete is the immortal Goddess of Earned Merit.
[14] Hebe is the immortal Goddess of Puberty/the prime of life/youthful vigor.
[15] Dike is the immortal Goddess of Justice.
[16] The Moirai are the immortal Goddesses of Fate.
69. Ἐρινύων, θυμίαμα στύρακα καὶ μάνναν.
To the Erinys[1]
Divine connection/incense: styrax and manna[2]
Κλῦτε, θεαὶ πάντιμοι, ἐρίβρομοι, εὐάστειραι,
Be open, Goddesses of all that is due, mighty outflow of fair stars,
Τισιφόνη τε καὶ Ἀλληκτὼ καὶ δῖα Μέγαιρα·
Tisiphonee[3], too, and Alleekto[4], and divine Megaira[5].
νυκτέριαι, μύχιαι, ὑπὸ κεύθεσιν οἰκί’ ἔχουσαι
In Night’s[6] inmost realm below concealed, housed in the foundation
ἄντρωι ἐν ἠερόεντι παρὰ Στυγὸς ἱερὸν ὕδωρ,
Within caves midair by Stygos’[7] holy water,
οὐχ ὁσίαις βουλαῖσι βροτῶν κεκοτημέναι αἰεί,
Fixating righteous counselors’ mortal wrath, eternally
λυσσήρεις, ἀγέρωχοι, ἐπευάζουσαι ἀνάγκαις,
Maddening the arrogant, with approving shouts from Ananke[8],
θηρόπεπλοι, τιμωροί, ἐρισθενέες, βαρυαλγεῖς,
Beast-robed, paying what is due, tremendously strong, profoundly painful,
Ἀίδεω χθόνιαι, φοβεραὶ κόραι, αἰολόμορφοι,
Aideo’s[9] foundational divinities, terrifying children, nimbly changing form,
ἠέριαι, ἀφανεῖς, ὠκυδρόμοι ὥστε νόημα·
Aerial, invisible, quick-coursing, evoking apprehension.
οὔτε γὰρ ἠελίου ταχιναὶ φλόγες οὔτε σελήνης
Unseen by Helios’[10] swift blazing light nor Selene’s[11],
καὶ σοφίης ἀρετῆς τε καὶ ἐργασίμου θρασύτητος
But Sophia[12], Aretee[13], too, and hard work’s pride,
εὔχαρι οὔτε βίου λιπαρᾶς περικαλλέος ἥβης
Charmed not by a life of fat wealth with beautiful Hebe[14],
ὑμῶν χωρὶς ἐγείρει ἐυφροσύνας βιότοιο·
You alone independently arouse right-intentions and life extension.
ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ θνητῶν πάντων ἐπ’ ἀπείρονα φῦλα
But, eternally, mortals’ everywhere in unbroken generations
ὄμμα Δίκης ἐφορᾶτε, δικασπόλοι αἰὲν ἐοῦσαι.
The eye of Dike[15] observes, judge eternal She is.
ἀλλά, θεαὶ Μοῖραι, ὀφιοπλόκαμοι, πολύμορφοι,
Yet, Goddesses of Fate[16], serpent-haired, of many forms,
πραΰνοον μετάθεσθε βίου μαλακόφρονα δόξαν.
Soften, transfer your position in life, melt the voice of judgment.
[1] The Erinys are the immortal Goddesses who give what is due: Essence (ε) + outflow-of (ρ) + divine power (ι) + prevailing (ν).
[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[3] Tisiphone is the immortal Goddess of payment of what is due (Τισι) + to those who shed blood (φόνη): avenging murder.
[4] Allekto is the immortal Goddess who punishes those who possess another’s (Ἀλλη) + property, possession (κτὼ): punishing thieves.
[5] Megaira is the immortal Goddess who punishes those who greatly (Μέγ) + take (αιρα) more than is their due: redressing greed.
[6] Night is the immortal Goddess of Night.
[7] Stygos (Styx) is the dreaded river of the afterlife. Oaths sworn on Stygos/Styx are unbreakable. http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/PotamosStyx.html
[8] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of Necessity, of what must be.
[9] Aideo is Hades, the afterlife.
[10] Helios is the immortal God of the Sun.
[11] Selene is the immortal Goddess of the Moon.
[12] Sophia is the immortal Goddess of Wisdom.
[13] Arete is the immortal Goddess of Earned Merit.
[14] Hebe is the immortal Goddess of Puberty/the prime of life/youthful vigor.
[15] Dike is the immortal Goddess of Justice.
[16] The Moirai are the immortal Goddesses of Fate.
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