The Homeric Hymn to Artemis (Homeric Hymn 27)

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To Artemis


I sing Artemis, her spindle gold, fearful-exhorting,
Honoured and unwed, who hunts the deer and pours out arrows like rain,
Full-sister to Apollo of the golden blade:
She who down wooded hill-slope and over wind-stirred mountain peaks
Delighting in the hunt, draws her all-golden bow to full stretch,
and sends forth grievous arrows: the peaks
Of lofty mountains tremble, and the thick-shaded woodland resounds in dread
with the clamour of wild beasts, and the earth
And the fish-abounding sea both shiver in a holy awe.
She, possessed of a valiant heart,
Goes back and forth on all sides killing the offspring of beasts,
And when she has had her fill, the beast-scouter, arrow-pourer,
Glad at heart, slackening her well-bent bow,
She comes to the great hall of her well-loved true brother,
Phoibos Apollo, in the abundant land of Delphi,
Where she will set in order his noble chorus of Muses and Graces.
There, hanging up her back-bent bow and her arrows,
Since she has good order, she leads the graceful [ones], close-arrayed,
And begins the dances. And they, uttering divine voice
Celebrate fine-ankled Leto in hymn, how she brought forth children
Outstanding and noble among the immortals in deed and counsel.
Hail, children of Zeus and fine-haired Leto!
I for my part will remember both of you and another also in song.