Orphic Hymn to Hermes

Recite,

Hermes, draw near, and to my pray'r incline,

Angel of Zeus, and Maia's son divine;

Studious of contests, ruler of mankind,

with heart almighty, and a prudent mind.

Celestial messenger, of various skill,

Whose pow'rful arts could watchful Argus kill:

With winged feet, 'tis thine thro' air to course,

O friend of man, and prophet of discourse:

Great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine,

in arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine:

With pow'r endu'd all language to explain,

Of care the loos'ner, and the source of gain.

Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod,

Corucian, blessed, profitable God;

Of various speech, whose aid in works we find,

And in necessities to mortals kind:

Dire weapon of the tongue, which men revere,

be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear.

Assist my works, conclude my life with peace,

Give graceful speech, and me memory's increase.