r goodly mysteries, holy mysteries
which none may violate, or search into, or noise abroad, for the great
curse from the Gods restrains the voice. Happy is he among deathly men
who hath beheld these things! and he that is uninitiate, and hath no lot
in them, hath never equal lot in death beneath the murky gloom.

Now when the Goddess had given instruction in all her rites, they went to
Olympus, to the gathering of the other Gods. There the Goddesses dwell
beside Zeus the lord of the thunder, holy and revered are they. Right
happy is he among mortal men whom they dearly love; speedily do they send
as a guest to his lofty hall Plutus, who giveth wealth to mortal men. But
come thou that holdest the land of fragrant Eleusis, and sea-girt Paros,
and rocky Antron, come, Lady Deo! Queen and giver of goodly gifts, and
bringer of the Seasons; come thou and thy daughter, beautiful Persephone,
and of your grace grant me goodly substance in requital of my song; but I
will mind me of thee, and of other minstrelsy.

V. TO APHRODITE

I shall sing of the revered Aphrodite, the golden-crowned, the beautiful,
who hath for her portion the mountain crests of sea-girt Cyprus. Thither
the strength of the west wind moistly blowing carried her amid soft foam
over the wave of the resounding sea. Her did the golden-snooded Hours
gladly welcome, and clad her about in immortal raiment, and on her
deathless head set a well-wrought crown, fair and golden, and in her ears
put earrings of orichalcum and of precious gold. Her delicate neck and
white bosom they adorned with chains of gold, wherewith are bedecked the
golden-snooded Hours themselves, when they come to the glad dance of the
Gods in the dwelling of the Father. Anon when they had thus adorned her
in all goodliness they led her to the Immortals, who gave her greeting
when they beheld her, and welcomed her with their hands; and each God
prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so much they
marvelled at the beauty of the fair-garlanded Cytherean. Hail, thou of
the glancing eyes, thou sweet winsome Goddess, and grant that I bear off
the victory in this contest, and lend thou grace to my song, while I
shall both remember thee and another singing.

VI. TO DIONYSUS

[Dionysus sailing in his sacred ship. (Interior Design on a Kylix by
Exekias in Munich.): lang213.jpg]

Concerning Dionysus the son of renowned Semele shall I sing; how once he
appeared up