What follows is my new new interlinear translation of Proclus’s Hymn #6. This translation is © Copyright 2021 and will appear in my forthcoming book, Interlinear Magic: An Anthology of the Greco-Egyptian Magical Papyri.
- Χαῖρε, θεῶν μῆτερ, πολυώνυμε, καλλιγένεθλε·
Hail, O mother of the gods, many-named, blessed with beautiful offspring, - χαῖρ’, Ἑκάτη προθύραιε, μεγασθενές. ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς
Hail, O Hekate before the door, of great strength. But also he: - χαῖρ’, Ἴανε προπάτορ, Ζεῦ ἄφθιτε· χαῖρ’, ὕπατε Ζεῦ.
Hail, O forefather Janus, imperishable Zeus. Hail, O most exalted Zeus. - τεύχετε δ’ αἰγλήεσσαν ἐμοῦ βιότοιο πορείην
Make radiant the course of my life - βριθομένην ἀγαθοῖσι, κακὰς δ’ ἀπελαύνετε νούσους
laden with good things, but drive away evil illnesses - ἐκ ῥεθέων, ψυχὴν δὲ περὶ χθονὶ μαργαίνουσαν
from (my) limbs, and (my) soul, furiously raging around the earth - ἕλκετ’ ἐγερσινόοισι καθηραμένην τελετῇσι.
attract (it), after it has been purified by intellect-stirring rites. - ναί, λίτομαι, δότε χεῖρα, θεοφραδέας τε κελεύθους
Truly, I beg, give a hand, and the roads revealed by the gods - δείξατέ μοι χατέοντι. φάος δ’ ἐρίτιμον ἀθρήσω,
show to me, the one in need. And the precious light I will observe, - κυανέης ὅθεν ἔστι φυγεῖν κακότητα γενέθλης.
from which comes (the opportunity) to flee the misery of dark birth. - ναί, λίτομαι, δότε χεῖρα, καὶ ὑμετέροισιν ἀήταις
Truly, I beg, give a hand, and with your winds
- ὅρμον ἐς εὐσεβίης με πελάσσατε κεκμηῶτα.
bring me, exhausted, to the harbor of piety.
- χαῖρε, θεῶν μῆτερ, πολυώνυμε, καλλιγένεθλε·
Hail, O mother of the gods, many-named, blessed with beautiful offspring, - χαῖρ’, Ἑκάτη προθύραιε, μεγασθενές. ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς
Hail, O Hekate before the door, of great strength. But also he: - χαῖρ’, Ἴανε προπάτορ, Ζεῦ ἄφθιτε· χαῖρ’, ὕπατε Ζεῦ.
Hail, O forefather Janus, imperishable Zeus. Hail, O most exalted Zeus.