HH.2.28   ἧστο θεῶν ἀπάνευθε πολυλλίστῳ ἐνὶ νηῷ
HH.2.28   Maiden invoking her father the scion of Cronus who sat far

HH.2.29   δέγμενος ἱερὰ καλὰ παρὰ θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
HH.2.29   Off and apart from the gods in his worshipful temple receiving

HH.2.30   τὴν δ' ἀεκαζομένην ἦγεν Διὸς ἐννεσίῃσι
HH.2.30   Manifold human petitions and beautiful offerings from men.

HH.2.31   πατροκασίγνητος πολυσημάντωρ πολυδέγμων
HH.2.31   It was with Zeus's connivance that Hades, his paternal brother,

HH.2.32   ἵπποις ἀθανάτοισι Κρόνου πολυώνυμος υἱός.
HH.2.32   Host and Director of Many, the Lord Who Has Several Titles,

HH.2.33   ὄφρα μὲν οὖν γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα
HH.2.33   Cronus' notorious son, had abducted the Maiden reluctant,

HH.2.34   λεῦσσε θεὰ καὶ πόντον ἀγάρροον ἰχθυόεντα
HH.2.34   Driving his immortal horses. So long as the goddess beheld the

HH.2.35   αὐγάς τ' ἠελίου, ἔτι δ' ἤλπετο μητέρα κεδνὴν
HH.2.35   Earth and the stars in the sky and the beams of the sun and the roaring

HH.2.36   ὄψεσθαι καὶ φῦλα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων,
HH.2.36   Sea full of fish, and the maiden expected the sight of her noble

HH.2.37   τόφρα οἱ ἐλπὶς ἔθελγε μέγαν νόον ἀχνυμένης περ:
HH.2.37   Mother as well as her kindred the gods who are ever-begotten,

HH.2.38   ἤχησαν δ' ὀρέων κορυφαὶ καὶ βένθεα πόντου
HH.2.38   Hope still enchanted her generous spirit in spite of her anguish ...

HH.2.39   φωνῇ ὑπ' ἀθανάτῃ, τῆς δ' ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ.
HH.2.39   Then did the heights of the mountains, and then did the depths of the ocean

HH.2.40   ὀξὺ δέ μιν κραδίην ἄχος ἔλλαβεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαίταις
HH.2.40   Echo her immortal voice; she was heard by her reverend mother.

HH.2.41   ἀμβροσίαις κρήδεμνα δαΐζετο χερσὶ φίλῃσι,
HH.2.41   Keen was the anguish that seized on her heart so she tore off the headdress

HH.2.42   κυάνεον δὲ κάλυμμα κατ' ἀμφοτέρων βάλετ' ὤμων,
HH.2.42   From her ambrosial hair, and she rent it with both of her dear hands;

HH.2.43   σεύατο δ' ὥς τ' οἰωνὸς ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ ὑγρὴν
HH.2.43   Shedding the coal-coloured cloak from her shoulders she fled like a sea-bird

HH.2.44   μαιομένη: τῇ δ' οὔ τις ἐτήτυμα μυθήσασθαι
HH.2.44   Over the wet and the dry ways of earth in pursuit of her daughter.

HH.2.45   ἤθελεν οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,
HH.2.45   No one was willing to tell her what happened exactly and fully,

HH.2.46   οὔτ' οἰωνῶν τις τῇ ἐτήτυμος ἄγγελος ἦλθεν.
HH.2.46   Neither her undying kindred nor men who are born but to perish,

HH.2.47   ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα κατὰ χθόνα πότνια Δηὼ
HH.2.47   None of the birds as reliable messenger flew to Demeter.

HH.2.48   στρωφᾶτ' αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσα,
HH.2.48   Searching, the Reverend Mother then wandered on earth holding kindled

HH.2.49   οὐδέ ποτ' ἀμβροσίης καὶ νέκταρος ἡδυπότοιο
HH.2.49   Torches aloft in her hands for nine days and nine nights without tasting

HH.2.50   πάσσατ' ἀκηχεμένη, οὐδὲ χρόα βάλλετο λουτροῖς.
HH.2.50   Either ambrosia or the sweet beverage nectar, in mourning,

HH.2.51   ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ δεκάτη οἱ ἐπήλυθε φαινολὶς Ἠὼς
HH.2.51   Not even bathing her body. But when the tenth radiant morning

HH.2.52   ἤντετό οἱ Ἑκάτη σέλας ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχουσα,
HH.2.52   Shone upon earth she encountered dear Hecate carrying brightness

HH.2.53   καί ῥά οἱ ἀγγελέουσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε:
HH.2.53   Held in her hands, who addressed her by name as if bringing her tidings,

HH.2.54   πότνια Δημήτηρ ὡρηφόρε ἀγλαόδωρε
HH.2.54   "Holy Demeter, great bringer of seasons and glorious giver,

HH.2.55   τίς θεῶν οὐρανίων ἠὲ θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
HH.2.55   Which of the heavenly gods or of men who are born but to perish

HH.2.56   ἥρπασε Περσεφόνην καὶ σὸν φίλον ἤκαχε θυμόν;
HH.2.56   Has, by abducting Persephone, thus so afflicted your dear heart?