The Orphic Hymn to Selene

 

Hear, goddess queen, diffusing silver light, bull-horn'd and wand'ring thro' the gloom of night. With stars surrounded, and with circuit wide night's torch extending, thro' the heav'ns you ride. Female and male with borrow'd rays you shine, and now full-orb'd, now tending to decline. Mother of ages, fruit-producing Moon, whose amber orb makes night's reflected noon. Lover of horses, splendid, queen of night, all-seeing pow'r bedeck'd with starry light. Lover of vigilance, the foe of strife, in peace rejoicing, and a prudent life. Fair lamp of night, its ornament and friend, who giv'st to nature's works their destin'd end. Queen of the stars, all-wife Artemis hail! Deck'd with a graceful robe and shining veil. Come, blessed goddess, prudent, starry, bright, come moony-lamp with chaste and splendid light, shine on these sacred rites with prosp'rous rays, and pleas'd accept thy suppliant's mystic praise.

 

 

Extracted from The Orphic Hymns