HYMN TO ZEUS

Supreme of gods, by titles manifold
Invoked, O thou who over all dost hold
Eternal dominance, Nature's author, Zeus,
Guiding a universe by Law controlled;

Hail! for 'tis meet that men should call on thee
Whose seed we are; and ours the destiny
Alone of all that lives and moves on earth,
A mirror of thy deity to be.

Therefore I hymn thee and thy power I praise;
For at thy word, on their appointed ways
The orbs of heaven in circuit round the earth
Move, and submissive each thy rule obeys.

Who holdest in thy hands invincible
So dread a minister to work thy will -
The eternal bolt of fire, two-edged, whose blast
Thro' all the powers of nature strikes a chill -

Whereby thou guid'st the universal force,
Reason, through all things interfused, whose course
Commingles with the great and lesser lights -
Thyself of all the sovran and the source;

For nought is done on earth apart from thee,
Nor in thy vault of heaven, nor in the sea;
Save for the reckless deeds of sinful men
Whose own hearts lead them to perversity.

But skill to make the crooked straight is thine,
To turn disorder to a fair design;
Ungracious things are gracious in thy sight,
For ill and good thy power doth so combine

That out of all appears in unity
Eternal Reason, which the wicked flee
And disregard, who long for happiness,
Yet God's great Law can neither hear nor see;

Ill-fated folk! for would they but obey
With understanding heart, from day to day
Their life were full of blessing, but they turn
Each to his sin, by folly led astray.

Glory would some thro' bitter strife attain
And some are eager after lawless gain;
Some lust for sensual delights, but each
Finds that too soon his pleasure turns to pain.

But, Zeus all-bountiful! the thunder-flame
And the dark cloud thy majesty proclaim;
From ignorance deliver us, that leads
The sons of men to sorrow and to shame.

Wherefore dispel it, Father, from the soul
And grant that Wisdom may our life control,
Wisdom which teaches thee to guide the world
Upon the path of justice to its goal.

So winning honour thee shall we requite
With honour, lauding still thy works of might;
Since gods nor men find worthier meed than this -
The universal Law to praise aright.

     CLEANTHES