Honouring with songs the Goddess Artemis. 55
He knows not Hades' gates wide flung for him,
And this day's light the last his eyes shall see.
Enter Hippolytus and Attendant Huntsmen.
Hippolytus.
Follow on, follow on, ring out the lay
Unto Artemis high enthroned in the sky 60
Zeus' child, in her keeping who hath us aye.
Chorus of Huntsmen.
O Majesty, Daughter of Zeus, dread Queen,
I hail thee, Artemis, now,
O Leto's Daughter, O Zeus's child,
Loveliest far of the Undefiled!
In the Hall, "of the Mighty Father" styled,
The palace of Zeus, mid the glory-sheen
Of gold—there dwellest thou.
O Fairest, to theeward in greeting I call, 70
O fairest Artemis thou of all
The Maidens Divine in Olympus' hall!
Hippolytus.
For thee this woven garland from a mead
Unsullied have I twined, O Queen, and bring.
There never shepherd dares to feed his flock, 75
Nor steel of sickle came: only the bee
Roveth the springtide mead undesecrate:
And Reverence watereth it with river-dews.
They which have heritage of self-control
In all things,—not taught, but the pure in heart,— 80
These there may gather flowers, but none impure.
