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Ave,
Horcus!
Unseen Dweller in darkness,
Guardian of oaths and promises,
Undying memory of words and deeds,
Hades Aidoneus
Final King and orderer of mortal lives,
We honor You whom we can never fathom,
but can never long resist.
Eubeleus, Good Counselor,
You teach us
that everything is perpetually perishing,
every moment is precious
every choice, eternal.
Send forth to us your good daimon to caution us
before making promises that will echo in our hearts.
As we journey through dark places,
guide us to deeper understanding and compassion.
And in our time, receive us with kindness,
And I will honor You with another song.
Words and image copyright 2002 Christa Landon
The painting was inspired by an unpainted Neo-classical woodcarving. |
The road to justice is the better way,
For Justice in the end will win the race
And Pride will lose: the simpleton must learn
This fact through suffering. The god of Oaths
Runs faster than a crooked verdict; when
Justice is dragged out of the way by men
Who judge dishonestly and swallow bribes,
A struggling sound is heard; then she returns
Back to the city and the homes of men,
Wrapped in a mist and weeping, and she brings
Harm to the crooked men who drove her out.
-----Hesiod, Works and Days |
"Of all the Gods,
only Death craves nothing.
Neither gifts, nor sacrifice, nor drink-offerings
avail;
He has no altars,
nor is he soothed by hymns of praise.
Friendly Persuasion seeks out all the other Gods,
but Hades remains aloof."
Frag. 146 (525–456 B.C.E.) |
