Apuleius: Eternal Isis.

One of the most interesting novels from Antiquity is Apuleius’ Metamorphoses. Apart from it literary merits, it is also one of the few literary sources about the cult of Isis. Mystery cults were highly popular from the Hellenistic time onwards, as they promised a blessed existence after death and it was not uncommon to be initiated in various cults: one never knows! Little is known about their ritual practises and liturgy, but fortunately Apuleius reveals something in his novel and even recites a litany for Isis. To what extend this litany is exemplary for the hymns used is difficult to say, but its unusual structure with the use of much rhyme may indeed point to the use of such hymns.

Wish I – historian of religion – could go back to those times and return with a wealth of information about mystery cults. May Isis grant me that favour!

Apuleius, Metamorphoses, XI, 25.

Tu quidem sancta et humani generis sospitatrix perpetua,

semper fovendis mortalibus munifica,

dulcem matris adfectationem miserorum casibus tribuis.

Nec dies nec quies nulla ac ne momentum quidem tenue

tuis transcurrit beneficiis otiosum,

quin mari terraque protegas homines et depulsis

vitae procellis salutarem porrigas dexteram,

qua fatorum etiam inextricabiliter contorta

retractas licia

et Fortunae tempestates mitigas

et stellarum noxios meatus cohibes.

Te superi colunt,

observant inferi,

tu rotas orbem,

luminas solem,

regis mundum,

calcas tartarum.

Tibi respondent sidera,

redeunt tempora,

gaudent numina,

serviunt elementa.

Tuo nutu spirant flamina,

nutriunt nubila,

germinant semina,

crescunt germina.

Tuam maiestatem perhorrescunt aves caelo meantes,

ferae montibus errantes,

serpentes solo latentes,

beluae ponto natantes.

At ego referendis laudibus tuis exilis ingenio

et adhibendis sacrificiis tenuis patrimonio;

nec mihi vocis ubertas ad dicenda, quae de tua maiestate

sentio, sufficit

nec ora mille linguaeque totidem vel indefessi sermonis

aeterna series.

Ergo quod solum potest religiosus quidem, sed pauper

alioquin, efficere curabo:

divinos tuos vultus numenque sanctissimum intra

pectoris mei secreta conditum perpetuo custodiens imaginabor.

sospitatrix –icis (f.): she who saves

fovendis mortalibus munifica: generous for people needing support

miserorum casibus tribuis: you grant to the fates of those in 

misery

quies: night

momentum tenue: a slight moment

otiosum (encompassing dies, quies and momentum): free from, without (+ abl.)

quin: that not

mari terraque: locatives

depulsis vitae procellis: having driven away the storms of life

porrigo porrexi porrectum: to reach out

dexteram (manum), qua

inextricabiliter contorta licia: the inextricably twisted threads

retracto (-are): (here) to disentangle

meatus –us (m.): movement

cohibeo cohibui: to stop

superi…inferi: the gods above and the gods of the underworld

roto: to turn around

calco: to trample

redeunt tempora: (by your will) the seasons return

numina: the lower gods and daemons

nutus –us (m.): nod

nutriunt nubile: the clouds give rain

germino: to sprout

perhorresco perhorrui: to shiver greatly

meo: to move, pass

fera: wild animal

solum: ground

belua: (sea) monster

ego exilis ingenio (sum): I am (too) weak in talent

referendis laudibus tuis: for telling your praise

adhibeo sacrificia: to bring offers

patrimonium:  inheritance, wealth

vocis ubertas (sufficit): richness in language

totidem: as many

indefessi sermonis: of an inexhaustible language

quidem: however

alioquin: for the rest

divinos tuos vultus:  the plural refers to various aspects of isis

intra

intra pectoris mei secreta conditum: hidden in the secrets of my heart

imaginor imaginatus: (here) to keep in mind

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysteries_of_Isis

Translation by William Adlington (1566, this text is from the edition of 1639 with the original spelling.)

O holy and blessed dame, the perpetuall comfort of humane kind, who by thy bounty and grace nourishest all the world, and hearest a great affection to the adversities of the miserable, as a loving mother thou takest no rest, neither art thou idle at any time in giving thy benefits, and succoring all men, as well on land as sea; thou art she that puttest away all stormes and dangers from mans life by thy right hand, whereby likewise thou restrainest the fatall dispositions, appeasest the great tempests of fortune and keepest backe the course of the stars: the gods supernall doe honour thee: the gods infernall have thee in reverence: thou environest all the world, thou givest light to the Sunne, thou governest the world, thou treadest downe the power of hell: By thy meane the times returne, the Planets rejoyce, the Elements serve: at thy commandment the winds do blow, the clouds increase, the seeds prosper, and the fruits prevaile, the birds of the aire, the beasts of the hill, the serpents of the den, and the fishes of the sea, do tremble at thy majesty, but my spirit is not able to give thee sufficient praise, my patrimonie is unable to satisfie thy sacrifice, my voice hath no power to utter that which I thinke, no if I had a thousand mouths and so many tongues: Howbeit as a good religious person, and according to my estate, I will alwaies keepe thee in remembrance and close thee within my breast.