- Source
- Anonymous. Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Evelyn-White, Hugh G., editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: The Macmillan Co., 1914.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0013.tlg027.humanitext-grc2:1-22
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
This hymn describes the majestic figure of Artemis engaged in hunting, and her graceful appearance as she finishes her hunt to sing and dance with the Muses and Graces at Apollo's house, praising Leto and her outstanding children.
Ἄρτεμιν ἀείδω χρυσηλάκατον, κελαδεινήν,
I sing of Artemis of the golden distaff, the goddess of the loud chase,
παρθένον αἰδοίην, ἐλαφηβόλον, ἰοχέαιραν,
the revered virgin, who shoots deer, who delights in arrows,
αὐτοκασιγνήτην χρυσαόρου Ἀπόλλωνος,
the own sister of Apollo of the golden sword,
ἣ κατ’ ὄρη σκιόεντα καὶ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας
who over the shadowy mountains and windy peaks,
ἄγρῃ τερπομένη παγχρύσεα τόξα τιταίνει
rejoicing in the chase, draws her all-golden bow
πέμπουσα στονόεντα βέλη· τρομέει δὲ κάρηνα
and sends forth groaning shafts. And the summits
ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων, ἰάχει δ’ ἔπι1 δάσκιος ὕλη
of the high mountains tremble, and the shaded forest
δεινὸν ὑπὸ κλαγγῆς θηρῶν, φρίσσει δέ τε γαῖα
echoes terribly with the crying of beasts, and the earth shudders,
πόντος τ’ ἰχθυόεις· ἣ δ’ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχουσα
and the fish-teeming sea. But she, keeping a courageous heart,
πάντη ἐπιστρέφεται θηρῶν ὀλέκουσα γενέθλην.
turns everywhere, destroying the race of wild beasts.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τερφθῇ θηροσκόπος ἰοχέαιρα,
But when the beast-watching, arrow-delighting goddess has enjoyed her sport,
εὐφρήνῃ δὲ νόον, χαλάσασ’ εὐκαμπέα τόξα
and gladdened her mind, she relaxes her well-curved bow,
ἔρχεται ἐς μέγα δῶμα κασιγνήτοιο φίλοιο,
and goes to the great house of her dear brother,
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος, Δελφῶν ἐς πίονα δῆμον,
Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi,
Μουσῶν καὶ Χαρίτων καλὸν χορὸν ἀρτυνέουσα.2
to arrange the beautiful dance of the Muses and the Graces.
ἔνθα κατακρεμάσασα παλίντονα τόξα καὶ ἰοὺς
There, having hung up her backward-bent bow and arrows,
ἡγεῖται χαρίεντα περὶ χροῒ κόσμον ἔχουσα,
she leads them, wearing lovely adornment about her body,
ἐξάρχουσα χορούς· αἳ δ’3 ἀμβροσίην ὄπ’ ἰεῖσαι
starting the dances; while they, sending forth their divine voice,
ὑμνεῦσιν Λητὼ καλλίσφυρον, ὡς4 τέκε παῖδας
hymn fair-ankled Leto, how she bore children
ἀθανάτων βουλῇ τε καὶ ἔργμασιν ἔξοχ’ ἀρίστους.
far outstanding in excellence among the immortals, both in counsel and in deeds.
χαίρετε, τέκνα Διὸς καὶ Λητοῦς ἠυκόμοιο·
Hail, children of Zeus and beautiful-haired Leto!
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑμέων τε καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομ’ ἀοιδῆς.
And I will remember both you and another song.
- 7ἰάχει δ’ ἔπι
An example of tmesis where the preposition ἐπί is separated from the verb ἰάχω, functioning together as the compound verb ἐπιάχω (to resound, echo). Alternatively, ἔπι could be interpreted as a postpositioned preposition, but it is standard to treat it as a poetic separation of the verb.
- 15ἀρτυνέουσα
Future participle nominative feminine singular of ἀρτύνω (to arrange, prepare), expressing the purpose ('in order to arrange') of the main verb ἔρχεται.
- 18αἳ δ’
The nominative feminine plural article used as a demonstrative pronoun, referring back to the Muses and the Graces (Μουσῶν καὶ Χαρίτων).
- 19ὡς
A conjunction introducing an indirect question clause meaning 'how,' explaining the content of what they hymn (ὑμνεῦσιν), i.e., how Leto bore such outstanding children.