Mortals

And so, farewell, Dionysus, Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call Thyone.

The Father of men and gods gave you birth remote from men and secretly from white-armed Hera.

And as these things are three, so shall mortals ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three years.

for now she plans an awful deed, to destroy the weakly tribes of earth-born men by keeping seed hidden beneath the earth, and so she makes an end of the honors of the undying gods.

Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl — a marvellous, radiant flower.

So she would have destroyed the whole race of man with cruel famine and have robbed them who dwell on Olympus of their glorious right of gifts and sacrifices, had not Zeus perceived and marked this in his heart.

Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honor:

For without you mortals hold no banquet, — where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last.

for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom and their strength.