EURIPIDES
Artemis!
We are the wards of your care. 60
(The Chorus of huntsmen chant.)
Hail, Holy and Gracious!
Hail, Daughter of Zeus!
Hail, Maiden Daughter of Zeus and Leto! 65
Dweller in the spacious sky!
Maid of the Mighty Father!
Maid of the Golden Glistening House!
Hail!
Maiden Goddess most beautiful of all the Heavenly Host
that lives in Olympus! 70
(Hippolytus advances to the altar of Artemis and
lays a garland on it, praying.)
My Goddess Mistress, I bring you ready woven
this garland. It was I that plucked and wove it,
' plucked it for you in your inviolate Meadow.
No shepherd darfcs to feed his flock within it: 75
no reaper plies a busy scythe within it:
only the bees in springtime haunt the inviolate Meadow,
Its gardener is the spirit Reverence who
, refreshes it with water from the river.
Not those who by instruction have profited
to learn, but in whose very soul the seed 80
of Chastity toward all things alike
nature has deeply rooted, they alone
may gather flowers there! the wicked may not.
Loved mistress, here I offer you this coronal;
it is a true worshipper's hand that gives it you
to crown the golden glory of your hair.
With no man else I share this privilege
that I am with you and to your words 85
can answer words. True, I may only hear:
I may not see God face to face.
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