{"collection":"Classics","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cla/hoo/hoo55.htm","path":"cla/hoo/hoo55.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/hoo55.htm","text":"NYMPHS, who from Ocean's stream derive your birth,\n Who dwell in liquid caverns of the earth\nNurses of Bacchus secret-coursing pow'r,\n Who fruits sustain, and nourish ev'ry flow'r:\n Earthly, rejoicing, who in meadows dwell, 5\n And caves and dens, whose depths extend to hell:\n Holy, oblique, who swiftly soar thro' air,\n Fountains and dews, and mazy streams your care:\n Seen and unseen, who joy with wand'rings wide\n And gentle course, thro' flow'ry vales to glide; 10\n With Pan exulting on the mountains height,\n Loud-founding, mad, whom rocks and woods delight:\n Nymphs od'rous, rob'd in white, whose streams exhale\n The breeze refreshing, and the balmy gale;\n With goats and pastures pleas'd, and beasts of prey, 15\n Nurses of fruits, unconscious of decay:\n In cold rejoicing, and to cattle kind,\n Sportive thro' ocean wand'ring unconfin'd:\n Nysian, fanatic Nymphs, whom oaks delight,\n Lovers of Spring, P\u00e6onian virgins bright. 20\n With Bacchus, and with Ceres, hear my pray'r.\n And to mankind abundant favour bear;\n Propitious listen to your suppliants voice,\n Come, and benignant in these rites rejoice;\n Give plenteous Seasons, and sufficient wealth, 25\n And pour; in lasting streams, continued Health.","title":"The Initiations of Orpheus: L: To the Nymphs","type":"page"}