Thee, Nemesis we call, Almighty Queen,
by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen:
Eternal, much revered, of boundless sight,
alone rejoicing in the just and right:
Changing the counsels of the human breast
for ever various, rolling without rest.
To every mortal is thy influence known,
and men beneath thy righteous bondage groan;
For every thought within the mind concealed
is to thy fight perspicuously revealed.
The soul unwilling reason to obey
by lawless passion ruled, thy eyes survey.
All to see, hear, and rule, O Power Divine
whose nature Equity contains, is thine.
Come, blessed, holy Goddess, hear our prayer,
and make our life, thy constant care:
Give aid benignant in the needful hour,
and strength abundant to the reasoning power;
And far avert the dire, unfriendly race
of counsels impious, arrogant, and base.
by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen:
Eternal, much revered, of boundless sight,
alone rejoicing in the just and right:
Changing the counsels of the human breast
for ever various, rolling without rest.
To every mortal is thy influence known,
and men beneath thy righteous bondage groan;
For every thought within the mind concealed
is to thy fight perspicuously revealed.
The soul unwilling reason to obey
by lawless passion ruled, thy eyes survey.
All to see, hear, and rule, O Power Divine
whose nature Equity contains, is thine.
Come, blessed, holy Goddess, hear our prayer,
and make our life, thy constant care:
Give aid benignant in the needful hour,
and strength abundant to the reasoning power;
And far avert the dire, unfriendly race
of counsels impious, arrogant, and base.
Orphic Hymn to Nemesis
(trans. T. Taylor)
("Nemesis", painting by Gheorghe Tattarescu, Museum of Bucharest)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
