The Orphic Hymn to Dionysos
Translation copyright ©2002 Adam P. Forrest
Dionysou
thymiama styraka
1		Kiklêskô Dionyson Eribromon, Euastêra,	
2		Prôtogonon, Diphuê, Trigonon, Bakcheion, Anakta,	
3		Agrion, Arrêton, Kryphion, Dikerôta, Dimorphon,	
4		Kissobryon, Taurôpon, Arêion, Euion, Hagnon,	
5		Ômadion, Trietê, Botryêphoron, Ernesipeplon!	
6		Euboleus, Polyboulos, Dios kai Persephoneiês	
7		Arrêtois lektroisi teknôtheis, Ambrote Daimon!	
8		Klythi, Makar, phônês, hêdys d' epipneusoon amemphês	
9		Eumenes êtor echôn, syn euzôoisi tithênais.	

To Dionysos
With storax incense
1		I invoke Dionysos the Loud-Broming, He Who Shouts Euhoi	
2		The Firstborn, Two-Natured, Thriceborn Bakchean Lord,	
3		The Wild, Ineffable, Secret One of the Two Horns, of the Two Forms,	
4		The Ivy-lush, Bull-faced Warrior, He of the Euhoi, the Pure One,	
5		the Biennial God of Rawness, the Grape-Bearing, Foliage-Wearing God!	
6		O Eubouleus of much Counsel, born of 	
7		the ineffable bed of Zeus and Persephonê! O Immortal Spirit!	
8		Hear, O Blesséd One, my voice, and yet sweetly breathe Thou upon me, with a benevolent	
9		and propitious heart, Thou and Thy fair-girt Nurses.	

The Words of Dionysos Bromios
through His Maenad, Philentheos
		I am the Far-Reacher, I am the Earth-Shaker, I am the Loud-Shouter.	
		I am Dionysos Bromios and I sound My cry to awaken your heart.
	
		I am the White Bull of Harmony, I am the White Bull of the Anthesteria.	
		Nymphs, satyrs and beloved maenads follow behind Me.	
5		I am strong of flank and delicate of hoof.
	
		Where my foot falls, flowers spring forth, plucked by My devoted followers,
	
		Fashioned into garlands.
	
		Flower garlands twine about My thrusting horns and mighty neck.
	
		I am the White Bull of Spring, My nostrils exhale the breath of renewal.
	
10		My enticing broming calls forth the souls of the dead and for this brief moment
	
		They again dance and cry and look toward life renewed.
	
		I am the White Bull of Life Who carries strength and vigor on the tips of My horns.
	
		I am the piercer of the sack of life, I am the carrier of the sacred nectar.
	
		I am the joy and the ecstasy of the hive.
	
15		I am the great fountain of life and I bid you to drink from Me.
	
		I am all this, but I am more.
	
		I am the Black Bull of the seed of generations.
	
		I am the fullness of the phallus, I plow the earth with My seed as I dance.
	
		I am the Charger of Many Forms.
	
20		With Me you toss your head-in dance, you become the Black Bull
	
		I am the great earth shaker, I am the mover of mountains.
	
		I am the ripple, the swelling, the great excitement.
	
		I am the wild herder, I am the cutter and the sorter.
	
		By My ripping horns the mark is put upon those who will begin their death dance
	
25		And through Me a new seed is generated before death can claim.
	
		I am life eternal, I am the frenzy and the madness.
	
		I am the berserk lover who casts aside all inhibitions.
	
		My broming comes from the very depths of the heart.
	
		My wild cry bursts forth from containment to freedom.
	
30		I am the greening of the vine, the mover of the sap.
	
		I am the life force, I am the ultimate release.
	
		I am Zoe.
	
		I am all this, but I am more.
	
		I am the Red Bull of the sacrifice, the blood nourisher of the earth.	
35		My seed, deposited in the earth is fed by My sacrifice.	
		I am the heat of the flame, the intense scorcher.	
		At the tip of each horn burns the blue flame of My Divinity.	
		I am the bloodlust, the great trampler.	
		My hooves pound and the ground runs red.	
40		I am the Render of Souls, the Tearer of Hearts.	
		I am the Red Bull who illumines the ultimate Lysios.	
		I am the freedom bringer, for I take away all.	
		My awesome broming strikes fear in all who know not that	
		My ear shattering cry is meant to vibrate the soul.	
45		I am the Red Bull of the Fiery Blood, know Me in your heart.	
		Through fear, know excitement	
		Through excitement, know passion	
		Through passion, know ecstasy	
		Through ecstasy, know union	
50		Through union, know Zoe	
		Through Zoe, know the All	
		Through the All-Nothing	
		I am the Red Bull of the Fiery Heart, know Me.	
		I am all this, but I am more.
	
55		I am the Far-Reacher, I am the Earth-Shaker, I am the Loud-Shouter	
		I am Dionysos Bromios and I sound My cry to awaken your soul.