King of Darkness, posting the gleam you like to lend into ritual true blessing of wedded virgin!

Sappho, Fragment 111 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric We) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : “On the highest new rooftop–Hymenaios (Hymenaeus)!–arise, your carpenters–Hymenaios! new groom is coming.”

Maids out of Troy, don your own smartest clothing : started, and play my personal marriage-tune, hail the fresh spouse Eros (Love) and you will Fate appoint for me personally!

Euripides, Trojan Feminine 310 ff (trans. Vellacott) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : “Kassandra (Cassandra) [lamenting the fall of Troy and enslavement of Troe! Flooding the brand new structure with holy white! Worship brand new Almighty Hymen (Hymenaeus), Jesus from emnon, grasp regarding my maiden flesh, Queen out-of Argos, take me personally! Heaven’s true blessing drops into the myself and you will falls for you. Tune in to the scream away from worship, Hymen, God off Relationships! Mother [Hekabe, Hecuba], because you crouch and you will cry poor that have rips and you may loud that have suffering getting my precious dead urban area and you will my slain father, I have put them–torches to possess my personal wedding-night, leaping white and you may dance flames, on the honor, Hymen, Jesus out of sizzling hot attention! Performers, already been! Loose your own leaping foot, crazy with drink of ecstasy! Glorify my father’s happy fate! Jesus Apollon, direct which holy routine moving! On your forehead-court, under your immortal laurel-forest, We the priestess ask your! Hymen, mighty god, Hymen, listen to! Come and you can moving, mother, dance beside me; appeal the fresh new Vitality that have happy conditions, loudly chant your own daughter’s relationship-tune! Extremely whirl and be within the purest ecstasy! “

Aristophanes, Birds 1720 (trans. O’Neill) (Greek funny C5th so you can 4th B.C.) : “[A marriage song :] Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios (Hymenaeus)! Rosy Eros (Love) toward wonderful wings held the latest reins and you may guided the fresh new chariot; ‘twas he, just who presided over the connection out of Zeus as well as the fortunate Hera. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios!”

Aristophanes, Tranquility 1316 ff : “[An old Greek relationship song (hymenaios) :] Trygaios (Trygaeus) : Already been, partner, with the fields and you will search, my charm, to brighten and enliven my night. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios (Hymenaeus)! Chief of your Chorus (singing) : Oh! thrice happy people, whom very well need your own fortune! Oh! Hymen! oh oh! Hymenaios! Chorus (singing) : Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Trygaios (singing) : What shall i do in order to their particular? Chorus (singing) : What should we do in order to her? Trygaios (singing) : We’ll collect their particular kisses. Chorus (singing) : We’re going to assemble her kisses. Chief of your own Chorus (singing) : However, come, comrades, we who’re in the first row, let us choose brand new bridegroom and you may carry your into the triumph. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Trygaios (singing) : You shall enjoys a fine house, no cares together with most readily useful out of figs. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Commander of one’s Chorus (singing) : The brand new bridegroom’s fig is very good and you can thick; the latest bride’s most mellow and delicate. Trygaios (singing) : While you are dinner and ingesting strong draughts out-of wine, still recite: Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios, Hail, hail, my pals. All the just who feature me personally shall possess cakes galore.”

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica cuatro. 1158 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : “[New Phaiakes (Phaeacians) enjoy the marriage from Iason (Jason) and you can Medea :] Following their temples wreathed which have leafy branches, it performed this new hymneia-tune in unison away from wedding chamber toward obvious cards regarding Orpheus’ lyre.”

C.) : “Kleio (Clio) the brand new Mousa (Muse) fell in love with men, based on Likymnios (Licymnius), and many thought Hymenaios (Hymenaeus) is actually their particular child

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 23 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd An excellent.D.) : “Magnes [Queen of Magnesia] . . . got an effective young man, Hymenaios (Hymenaeus), respected from the all over to possess their looks. Apollon spotted the latest chap and fell in love with your and you may wouldn’t go out out-of Magnes.”