Far-darter, in goodly Pytho, ever doth the oil drop dank from thy locks.
Come thou to this house with a gracious heart, come with counselling
Zeus, and lend grace to my song.

XXIV. TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO

From the Muse I shall begin and from Apollo and Zeus. For it is from the
Muses and far-darting Apollo that minstrels and harpers are upon the
earth, but from Zeus come kings. Fortunate is he whomsoever the Muses
love, and sweet flows his voice from his lips. Hail, ye children of
Zeus, honour ye my lay, and anon I shall be mindful of you and of another
hymn.

XXV. TO DIONYSUS

Of ivy-tressed uproarious Dionysus I begin to sing, the splendid son of
Zeus and renowned Semele. Him did the fair-tressed nymphs foster,
receiving him from the king and father in their bosoms, and needfully
they nurtured him in the glens of Nyse. By his father's will he waxed
strong in the fragrant cavern, being numbered among the Immortals. Anon
when the Goddesses had bred him up to be the god of many a hymn, then
went he wandering in the woodland glades, draped with ivy and laurel, and
the nymphs followed with him where he led, and loud rang the wild
woodland. Hail to thee, then, Dionysus of the clustered vine, and grant
to us to come gladly again to the season of vintaging, yea, and
afterwards for many a year to come.

XXVI. TO ARTEMIS

I sing of Artemis of the Golden Distaff, Goddess of the loud chase, a
maiden revered, the slayer of stags, the archer, very sister of Apollo of
the golden blade. She through the shadowy hills and the windy headlands
rejoicing in the chase draws her golden bow, sending forth shafts of
sorrow. Then tremble the crests of the lofty mountains, and terribly the
dark woodland rings with din of beasts, and the earth shudders, and the
teeming sea. Meanwhile she of the stout heart turns about on every side
slaying the race of wild beasts. Anon when the Archer Huntress hath
taken her delight, and hath gladdened her heart, she slackens her bended
bow, and goes to the great hall of her dear Phoebus Apollo, to the rich
Delphian land; and arrays the lovely dance of Muses and Graces. There
hangs she up her bended bow and her arrows, and all graciously clad about
she leads the dances, first in place, while the others utter their
immortal voice in hymns to fair-ankled Leto, how she bore such children
pre-eminent among the Immortals in counsel and in deed. Hail, ye
children of Zeus and