numerable: his fertile field
is laden, his meadows are rich in cattle, his house filled with all good
things. Such men rule righteously in cities of fair women, great wealth
and riches are theirs, their children grow glorious in fresh delights:
their maidens joyfully dance and sport through the soft meadow flowers in
floral revelry. Such are those that thou honourest, holy Goddess, kindly
spirit. Hail, Mother of the Gods, thou wife of starry Ouranos, and
freely in return for my ode give me sufficient livelihood. Anon will I
be mindful of thee and of another lay.
XXX. TO HELIOS
Begin, O Muse Calliope, to sing of Helios the child of Zeus, the splendid
Helios whom dark-eyed Euryphaessa bore to the son of Earth and starry
Heaven. For Hyperion wedded Euryphaessa, his own sister, who bore him
goodly children, the rosy-armed Dawn, and fair-tressed Selene, and the
tireless Helios, like unto the Immortals, who from his chariot shines on
mortals and on deathless Gods, and dread is the glance of his eyes from
his golden helm, and bright rays shine forth from him splendidly, and
round his temples the shining locks flowing down from his head frame
round his far-seen face, and a goodly garment wrought delicately shines
about his body in the breath of the winds, and stallions speed beneath
him when he, charioting his horses and golden-yoked car, drives down
through heaven to ocean. Hail, Prince, and of thy grace grant me
livelihood enough; beginning from thee I shall sing the race of heroes
half divine, whose deeds the Goddesses have revealed to mortals.
XXXI. TO THE MOON
Ye Muses, sing of the fair-faced, wide-winged Moon; ye sweet-voiced
daughters of Zeus son of Cronos, accomplished in song! The heavenly
gleam from her immortal head circles the earth, and all beauty arises
under her glowing light, and the lampless air beams from her golden
crown, and the rays dwell lingering when she has bathed her fair body in
the ocean stream, and clad her in shining raiment, divine Selene, yoking
her strong-necked glittering steeds. Then forward with speed she drives
her deep-maned horses in the evening of the mid-month when her mighty orb
is full; then her beams are brightest in the sky as she waxes, a token
and a signal to mortal men. With her once was Cronion wedded in love,
and she conceived, and brought forth Pandia the maiden, pre-eminent in
beauty among the immortal Gods. Hail, Queen, white-armed Goddess, divi
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