"Hear me, illustrious Graces, mighty named,
From Jove descended and Eunomia famed;
Thalia, and Aglaia fair and bright,
And blest Euphrosyne whom joys delight:
Mothers of mirth, all lovely to the view,
Pleasure abundant pure belongs to you:
Various, forever flourishing and fair,
Desired by mortals, much invoked in prayer:
Circling, dark-eyed, delightful to mankind,
Come, and your mystics bless with bounteous mind."
From Jove descended and Eunomia famed;
Thalia, and Aglaia fair and bright,
And blest Euphrosyne whom joys delight:
Mothers of mirth, all lovely to the view,
Pleasure abundant pure belongs to you:
Various, forever flourishing and fair,
Desired by mortals, much invoked in prayer:
Circling, dark-eyed, delightful to mankind,
Come, and your mystics bless with bounteous mind."
("Hymns of Orpheus", trans. Taylor; painting of section of "Primavera" by Sandro Botticelli)
