6 Hymn to Delos (147-164)

The “Hymn to Delos”

There,

on Delos:

even into the present day

it holds, just as was promised.

As proof:

All the tribes of Ionian Greeks

— clad in the white of trailing-chiton robes–

assemble together there,

though they come from many places, far across the sea,

they are again united as one people

bringing even their children and reverent wives.

[They come in honour of you and her, through you.]

Through the arts of boxing, dance, and song

Through the celebration of their sacred festival games 150

they joyfully make you ever-present in their minds. 149

Listener,

picture yourself at this festival

–a chance visitor who happens upon the Ionians–

Your first impression: reverent awe.

You wonder:

Have you somehow stumbled into the blessed assembly

of the ever-young immortals?

Feel your heart sing further with joy at each new sight;

Look at the grace possessed by the men and lovely-sashed women both;

it is like the grace of the gods themselves!

Such fast ships! Such immense wealth! 155

Then, your breath catches.

Behold — something even more marvelous than the rest:

young women who are immortal…

in their reputation and honors:

the Delian choir

servants of the Lord-whose-arrows-travel-far.

The Delian Choir

Listen… you can hear their song.

Apollo, is summoned at the start

Leto is hymned next with

Artemis, who-rains-down-arrows. 

Then, in the minds of all,

they make present

all men and women past 160

They weave a deep enchantment and

all helplessly fall under their spell;

In their mastery, you hear and see mirrored

all the many people of the world

in their myriad voices and rhythms

— though of impossibly many variations–

Now you hear…

Wait?

Can it be? Was that your own voice?

which you heard

echoing back?

Perhaps; though in truth, they are still singing.

That is how masterful their performance is.

[Let us join them in their ending:]

Come to us Apollo and Artemis, grant us your favour!  165

[With you now present before our minds,

I address you directly again, as I once did

–A chance visitor, a man of wandering sorrow–]

Choir,

it is time that I must again leave and bid you farewell,

but, in all the time to come

I ask that you

make me ever-present

in the minds and memory of all

whenever any of the wandering men who dwell across the Earth

–some stranger of constant sorrow —

arrives here again and asks, as I did and do:

“I seek your judgement:

who has the best songs-tales of those who have visited?

Who is most capable of bringing joy and solace into the heart?” 170

I ask that all of you give this answer in unison:

“listen to the blind man, from rugged Chios.

His song-tales are the best of all

that are,

were,

or will ever be.”

In exchange I will increase your honor and reputation.

I will spread your fame to every land,

to every populous city of humankind.

 we will visit them all, together,. 175

In my tales, you will be present before them [and they before you] —

since to experience my songs

is to experience that which is.

Outro (I)

[Here we come to an end, but not the end.]

For my tale-song will continue to sing of  Lord Apollo

with-power-stretching far,

lord-of-the-silver-bow,

born to Leto with-hair-which-effortlessly-seduced

[But this ends the tale of firsts 

Of Apollo — the strong and deadly archer —

Of Apollo’s birth

Of Delos.]

My king, you hold power over so many lands:

Lycia  

beautiful Maeonia

desirable city by the sea: Miletus 180

but, in person, you hold court in only a single place:

only on the first

only on that island,

-surrounded-by-waves–

only on

Delos.