To Heaven. The Fumigation from Frankincense.
Great Heav'n, whose mighty frame no respite knows,
Father of all, from whom the world arose:
Hear, bounteous parent, source and end of all,
Forever whirling round this earthly ball;
Abode of Gods, whose guardian pow'r surrounds
Th' eternal World with ever during bounds
Whose ample bosom and encircling folds
The dire necessity of nature holds.
Ætherial, earthly, whose all-various frame
Azure and full of forms, no power can tame.
All-seeing Heav'n, progenitor of Time,
Forever blessed, deity sublime,
Propitious on a novel mystic shine,
And crown his wishes with a life divine.
To Fire. The Fumigation from Saffron.
O Ever untam'd Fire, who reign'st on high!
In Jove's dominions ruler of the sky
The glorious sun with dazzling lustre bright,
And moon and stars from thee derive their light
All taming pow'r, ætherial shining fire,
Whose vivid blasts the heat of life inspire:
The world's best element, light-bearing pow'r,
With starry radiance shining, splendid flow'r,
O hear my suppliant pray'r, and may thy frame
Be ever innocent, serene, and tame.
To Protogonus, or the First-born. The Fumigation from Myrrh.
O Mighty first-begotten, hear my pray'r,
Two-fold, egg-born, and wand'ring thro' the
Bull-roarer, glorying in thy golden wings,
From whom the race of Gods and mortals springs,
Ericapæus, celebrated pow'r,
Ineffable, occult, all shining flow'r.
From eyes obscure thou wip'st the gloom of night,
All-spreading splendour, pure and holy light;
Hence Phanes call'd, the glory of the sky,
On waving pinions thro' the world you fly.
Priapus, dark-ey'd splendour, thee I sing,
Genial, all-prudent, ever-blessed king,
With joyful aspect on our rights divine
And holy sacrifice propitious shine,
To the Stars. The Fumigation from Aromatics.
With holy voice I call the stars on high,
Pure sacred lights and genii of the sky.
Celestial stars, the progeny of Night,
In whirling circles beaming far your light,
Refulgent rays around the heav'ns ye throw.
Eternal fires, the source of all below.
With flames significant of Fate ye shine,
And aptly rule for men a path divine,
In seven bright zones ye run with wand'ring flames,
And heaven and earth compose your lucid frames:
With course unwearied, pure and fiery bright
Forever shining thro' the veil of Night.
Hail twinkling, joyful, ever wakeful fires
Propitious shine on all my just desires
These sacred rites regard with conscious rays,
And end our works devoted to your praise,
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