Orphic Hymn XXVI. TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS [METER THEON]

Hilaria

Mother of Gods [Meter Theon], great nurse of all, draw near, divinely honor’d, and regard my pray’r:
Thron’d on a car, by lions drawn along, by bull-destroying lions, swift and strong,
Thou sway’st the sceptre of the pole divine, and the world’s middle seat, much-fam’d, is thine.
Hence earth is thine, and needy mortals share their constant food, from thy protecting care:
From thee at first both Gods and men arose; from thee, the sea and ev’ry river flows.
Vesta [Hestia], and source of good, thy name we find to mortal men rejoicing to be kind;
For ev’ry good to give, thy soul delights; come, mighty pow’r, propitious to our rites,
All-taming, blessed, Phrygian saviour, come, Saturn’s [Kronos’] great queen, rejoicing in the drum.
Celestial, ancient, life-supporting maid, fanatic Goddess, give thy suppliant aid;
With joyful aspect on our incense shine, and, pleas’d, accept the sacrifice divine.