{"collection":"Classics","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cla/hoo/hoo61.htm","path":"cla/hoo/hoo61.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/hoo61.htm","text":"HERMES I call, whom Fate decrees to dwell\n In the dire path which leads to deepest hell\n O Bacchic Hermes, progeny divine\n Of Dionysius, parent of the vine,\nAnd of celestial Venus Paphian queen, 5\n Dark eye-lash'd Goddess of a lovely mien:\n Who constant wand'rest thro' the sacred feats\n Where hell's dread empress, Proserpine, retreats;\n To wretched souls the leader of thc way\n When Fate decrees, to regions void of day: 10\n Thine is the wand which causes sleep to fly,\n Or lulls to slumb'rous rest the weary eye;\n For Proserpine thro' Tart'rus dark and wide\n Gave thee forever flowing souls to guide.\n Come, blessed pow'r the sacrifice attend, 15\n And grant our mystic works a happy end.","title":"The Initiations of Orpheus: LVI: To the Terrestrial Hermes","type":"page"}