Daemonia Nymphe - Nymphs of the Seagod Nereus

[Νηρηίδων]

Νηρέος ειναλίου νύμφαι καλυκώπιδες, αγναί,
σφράγιαι βύθιαι, χοροπαίγμονες, υγροκέλευθοι,
πεντήκοντα κόραι περί κύμασι βακχεύουσαι,
Τριτώνων επ' όχοισιν αγαλλόμεναι περί νώτα
θηροτύποις μορφαίς, ών βόσκει σώματα πόντος,
άλλοις θ' οί ναίουσι βυθόν, Τριτώνιον οίδμα,
υδρόδομοι, σκιρτηταί, ελισσόμενοι περί κύμα,
ποντοπλάνοι δελφίνες, αλιρρόθιοι, κυαναυγείς.
υμάς κικλήσκω πέμπειν μύσταις πολύν όλβον:
υμείς γάρ πρώται τελετήν ανεδείξατε σεμνήν
ευιέρου Βάκχοιο καί αγνής Φερσεφονείης,
Καλλιόπηι σύν μητρί καί 'Απόλλωνι άνακτι.



[Latin transcription:]



[Niriidon]

Nireos einalioy nymphai kalykopides, agnai,
sfragiai bythiai, choropaigmones, ygrokeleythoi,
pentikonta korai peri kymasi bakcheyoysai,
Tritonon ep' ochoisin agallomenai peri nota
Thirotypois morfais, on boskei somata pontos,
allois th' oi naioysi bython, Tritonion oidma,
ydrodomoi, skirtitai, elissomenoi peri kyma,
pontoplanoi delfines, alirrothioi, kyanaygeis.
ymas kiklisko pempein mystais polyn olbon:
ymeis gar protai teletin anedeixate semnin
eyieroy Bakchoio kai agnis Fersefoneiis,
Kalliopii syn mitri kai 'Apolloni anakti.



[English translation:]



[To the Nereids]

Daughters of Nereus, resident in caves
Merg'd deep in Ocean, sporting thro' the waves;
Fanatic fifty nymphs, who thro' the main
Delight to follow in the Triton's train,
Rejoicing close behind their cars to keep;
Whose forms half wild, are nourish'd by the deep,
With other nymphs of different degree
Leaping and wand'ring thro' the liquid sea:
Bright, wat'ry dolphins, sonorous and gay,
Well pleas'd to sport with bachanalian play;
Nymphs beauteous-ey'd, whom sacrifice delights,
Send rich abundance on our mystic rites;
For you at first disclos'd the rites divine,
Of holy Bacchus and of Proserpine,
Of fair Calliope from whom I spring,
And of Apollo bright, the Muse's king.