Orphic Scroll #18

ΕΙΣ ΠΛΟΥΤΩΝΑ

To Hades

Ω τόν υποχθόνιον ναίων δόμον, οβριμόθυμε,

(Oh toh-n ee-poh-chthoh-nee-oh-n neh-oh-n doh-moh-n, ov-ree-moh-thee-meh)

O Thee who dwells in the katachthonio world, strong-hearted,

Ταρτάριον λειμώνα βαθύσκιον ηδέ λιπαυγή,

(Tar-tah-ree-oh-n lee-moh-nah vah-thees-kee-oh-n ee-deh lee-pav-gee)

Deep in shadow and without dawn's light, in the wet-lands of Tartaros,

Ζεύ χθόνιε σκηπτούχε, τάδ'ιερά δέξο προθύμως,

(Zev chthoh-nee-eh skee-ptoo-heh, tah-dee-eh-rah deh-ksoh proh-thee-moh-s)

O Chthonion-Zeus with sceptre, willingly accept this sacrifice.

Πλούτων, ός κατέχεις γαίης κληίδας απάσης,

(Ploo-toh-n, oh-s kah-teh-hees geh-ees klee-ee-dah-s ah-pah-sees)

O Pluto, who holds the keys of all the earth,

πλουτοδοτών γενεήν βροτέην καρποίς ενιαυτών,

(ploo-toh-doh-toh-n geh-neh-een vroh-teh-een kar-pees eh-nee-av-toh-n)

Giver of the wealth of the yearly fruits to the generation of mortals,

ός τριτάτης μοίρης έλαχες χθόνα παμβασίλειαν,

(os tree-tah-tees mee-rees eh-lah-heh-s chthoh-nah pam-vah-see-lee-an)

Who rules the third part of the earth, Absolute Ruler of the Underworld,

έδρανον αθανάτων, θνητών στήριγμα κραταιόν,

(eh-drah-noh-n ah-thah-nah-toh-n, thnee-toh-n stee-reeg-mah krah-teh-oh-n)

Seat of the Immortals, great and powerful supporter of the mortal world,

ός θρόνον εστήριξας υπό ζοφειδέα χώρον,

(os throh-noh-n eh-stee-ree-ksas ee-poh zoh-foh-ee-deh-ah ho-roh-n)

Thee who established His throne in the Dark World,

τηλεπόρον τ'ακάμαντα, λιπόνοον, άκριτον Αδην, κυανεόν,

(tee-leh-poh-roh-n tah-kah-man-tah, lee-poh-noh-oh-n, ah-kree-toh-n ah-deen, kee-ah-neh-oh-n)

Distant eternal one, without life, the cold-hearted black Hades,

τ'Αχέρονθ, ός έχει ριζώματα γαίης,

(tah-heh-ronth, os eh-hee ree-zoh-mah-tah geh-ees)

O Acheron, who holds the roots of the earth,

ός κρατέεις θνητών θανάτου χάριν, ώ πολυδέγμον Εύβουλ,

(os krah-teh-ees thnee-toh-n thah-nah-too ha-reen, oh poh-lee-deg-moh-n Ev-vool)

Thee who art the Lord of Death before mortals, O Evoul who welcomes all,

αγνοπόλου Δημήτερος ός ποτε παίδα νυμφεύσας

(ag-noh-poh-loo Dee-mee-teh-roh-s os poh-teh peh-dah neem-fev-sas)

Who took for his bride the child of Demetra Pure,

λειμώνος αποσπαδίην διά πόντου,

(lee-moh-noh-s ah-poh-spah-dee-een dee-ah pohn-too)

taking her from the fields and through the sea,

τετραώροις ίπποισιν υπ'Ατθίδος ήγαγες άντρον,

(teh-trah-oh-rees eep-pee-seen eep-at-thee-dos ee-gah-gehs an-troh-n)

upon a chariot drawn by four steads, to some cave in Attica,

δήμου Ελευσίνος, τόθι περ πύλαι είσ'Αιδαο,

(dee-moo Eh-lev-see-nohs, toh-thee peh-r pee-leh ees-eh-dah-oh)

in the city of Eleusis, where there is a Gate to the Underworld, the Aedao,

μούνος έφυς αφανών έργων φανερών τε βραβευτής,

(moo-nohs eh-fees ah-fah-noh-n er-goh-n teh vrah-vev-tees)

Thee alone rewards both the visible and invisible works,

ένθεε, παντοκράτωρ, ιερώτατος, αγλαότιμε,

(en-theh-eh, pan-toh-krah-tor, ee-eh-roh-tah-toh-s, ah-glah-oh-tee-meh)

Divine Inspiration, Lord of All, Sacred One, Honoured with Brightness,

σεμνοίς μυστοπόλοις χαίρων οσίοις τε σεβασμοίς,

(sem-nees mees-toh-poh-lees heh-roh-n oh-see-ees teh sev-as-mees)

who is glad with the mysterious rites celebrated in his Honour,

ίλαον αγκαλέω σε μολείν κεχαρητότα μύσταις.

(ee-lah-oh-n ah-gah-leh-oh seh moh-leen keh-ha-ree-toh-tah mees-tes)

Thus I beseech thee come upon your mystae with blessings and in good spirit.