The mystical hymns of Orpheus / Translated from the Greek, and demonstrated to be the invocations which were used in the Eleusinian mysteries, by Thomas Taylor.

Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mystical hymns of Orpheus / Translated from the Greek, and demonstrated to be the invocations which were used in the Eleusinian mysteries, by Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Diana and Minerva which she contains, is said to remain a virgin; but according to the prolific power of Proserpine, she is said to proceed forth, and to be conjoined with the third demiurgus, and to bring forth, as Orpheus says,u nine azure-eyed, lloAver-producing daughters fvvea Qvyartpag y\avicoj7ridag avQtcnovpyovg’ since the Diana and the Minerva w hich she contains pre¬ serve their virginity always the same. For the former of these is characterized according to her stability, but the latter according to her convertive energy. But that which is generative is allotted in her a middle order. They say too, that she aspires after virginity, since the form of her is comprehended in the vivific fountain, and she understands fontal virtue, gives subsistence to supermundane and ana- gogic virtue, and despises all material sexual connexion, though she inspects the fruits arising from it. She appears also to be averse to the generations and progressions of things, but to introduce perfections to them. And she gives perfection indeed to souls through a life according to Airtue; but to mortal animals she imparts a restitution to form. But that there is a great union between Diana, the mundane Hecate, and Core, is evident to those that are in the least degree conversant with the writings of Orpheus ; from which it appears that Latona is compre¬ hended in Ceres, and together with Jupiter gives subsist¬ ence to Core, and the mundane Hecate. To which we may also add, that Orpheus41 calls Diana Hecate. So that it is nothing wonderful, if Ave should elsew here call the Diana contained in Core Hecate. The Avise man venerates the last and mundane pro¬ gressions of the Gods, though, as Plato says, they are sports through these Gods [i. e. Venus and Bacchus] being lovers of sport. For as he says of the terminations of the other Gods, that they are terrible, and that they avenge and O H S' atox fxaTTi ■craAof /j.eXr\ aiA Xvwoiwa A>jtS'j; s'jzr}.OKCtfj.'to xip) -3rfO<re(?>rraT' oXv/awov.