Hymn to the Fates

"Daughters of darkling Nyx, much named, draw near, infinite Moirai, and listen to my prayer; who in the heavenly lake, where waters white burst from a fountain hid in depths of night, and through a dark and stony cavern glide, a cave profound, invisible abide; from whence, wide coursing round the boundless earth, your power extends to those of mortal birth; To these acceding, in a purple veil to sense impervious, you yourselves conceal, when in the plain of Moira you joyful ride in one great car, with glory for your guide; till all-complete, your heaven appointed round, at justice, hope, and care's concluding bound, the terms absolved, prescribed by ancient law, of power immense, and just without a flaw. For Moira alone with vision unconfined surveys the conduct of the mortal kind. . . Come, gentle powers, well born, benignant, famed, Atropos, Lachesis and Clotho named; unchanged, aerial, wandering in the night, untamed, invisible to mortal sight; Moirai all-producing, all-destroying, hear, regard the incense and the holy prayer; propitious listen to these rites inclined, and far avert distress, with placid mind."

(The Fates painting by Alfred Agache, circa 1885. Hymn to the Moirai, Fumigation from Aromatics, Orphic Hymn, trans. Taylor)

Hymn to the Fates

Daughters of darkling night, much-named,

draw near Infinite Fates, and listen to my prayer;
Who in the heavenly lake where waters white
burst from a fountain hid in depths of night,
and through a dark and stony cavern glide,
a cave profound, invisible abide.
From whence, wide coursing round the boundless earth,
Your power extends to those of mortal birth.
To men with hope elated, trifling, gay,
a race presumptuous, born but to decay;
whose life 'tis yours in darkness to conceal,
to sense impervious, in a purple veil.
When through the fatal plain they joyful ride
in one great car, Opinion for their guide;
'til each completes his heaven-appointed round
at Justice, Hope, and Care's concluding bound.
The terms absolved, prescribed by ancient law
of power immense, and just without a flaw;
For Fate alone with vision unconfined,
surveys the conduct of the mortal kind.
Fate is Jove's perfect and eternal eye,
for Jove and Fate our every deed descry.
Come, gentle powers, well born, benignant, famed,
Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho named:
unchanged, aerial, wandering in the night,
restless, invisible to mortal fight.
Fates all-producing all-destroying hear,
regard the incense and the holy prayer;
propitious listen to these rites inclined,
and far avert distress with placid mind.

 

The Fumigation from Aromatics. LVIII.
Hymns of Orpheus, trans. T. Taylor

 

 

(Photo of relief of the three Moirai, from the tomb of Count Alexander von der Mark, by the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow. Old National Gallery Berlin.)