Orphic Hymns

Daughters of darkling Night [Nyx], much-nam'd, draw near infinite Fates [Moirai], and listen to my pray'r;

Who in the heav'nly lake (where waters white burst from a fountain hid in depths of night,

And thro' a dark and stony cavern glide, a cave profound, invisible) abide;

From whence, wide coursing round the boundless earth, your pow'r extends to those of mortal birth

To men with hope elated, trifling, gay, a race presumptuous, born but to decay;

Whose life 'tis your's in darkness to conceal to sense impervious, in a purple veil,

When thro' the fatal plain they joyful ride in one great car, Opinion for their guide;

'Till each completes his heav'n-appointed round at Justice, Hope, and Care's concluding bound,

The terms absolv'd, prescrib'd by ancient law of pow'r immense, and just without a flaw;

For Fate [Moira] alone with vision unconfin'd, surveys the conduct of the mortal kind.

Fate is Jove's [Zeus'] perfect and eternal eye, for Jove [Zeus] and Fate [Moira] our ev'ry deed descry.

Come, gentle pow'rs, well born, benignant, fam'd, Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho nam'd:

Unchang'd, aerial, wand'ring in the night, restless, invisible to mortal fight;

Fates [Moirai] all-producing all-destroying hear, regard the incense and the holy pray'r;

Propitious listen to these rites inclin'd, and far avert distress with placid mind.