Invocations, Pleas,
Poems, Prayers, Hymns and Other Homage to HER:
3.
Revered, golden-crowned, and beautiful Aphrodite
is Whom I shall sing,
Whose dominion is the walled cities
of all sea-set
where the water force of the western wind, breathing
bore Her over the waves of the much-resounding sea
in soft foam.
And the Hours in their golden diadems
received Her with joy,
clothed Her in ambrosial garments,
and placed a well-wrought crown, beautiful and golden,
on Her immortal head
and flowers of copper and precious gold
in the pierced lobes of Her ears.
They adorned Her delicate neck and silver-white breasts
with necklaces
such as the golden-diademed Hours Themselves wear when
They go to the lovely
dance of the Gods in the house of Their father.
When They had placed all this adornment
on Her flesh
They led Her to the immortals,
who, seeing, welcomed Her
and gave Her their hands;
and each of them prayed
that he might lead Her home
to be his wedded wife,
marveling at the form
of the Cytherean, crowned in violets.
Hail, You of the quick-darting eyelids,
sweet-smiling,
grant that I may win this contest
and order my song,
and I will remember You in another.
Sixth Homeric Hymn
(probably composed to be sung at a contest)
translation synthesized from C. Boer and Hugh G. Evelyn-White
MA.PF 58