(The fumigation from a variety of odiferous substances)

 

Mother of Gods, great nurse of all, draw near,

Divinely honor'd, and regard my pray'r:

Thron'd on a car, by lions drawn along,

By bull-destroying lions, swift and strong,

Thou sway'st the sceptre of the pole divine,

And the world's middle seat, much-fam'd, is thine.

Hence earth is thine, and needy mortals share

Their constant food, from thy protecting care:

From thee at first both Gods and men arose;

From thee, the sea and ev'ry river flows.

Vesta, and source of good, thy name we find

To mortal men rejoicing to be kind;

For ev'ry good to give, thy soul delights;

Come, mighty pow'r, propitious to our rites,

All-taming, blessed, Phrygian saviour, come,

Saturn's great queen, rejoicing in the drum.

Celestial, ancient, life-supporting maid,

Fanatic Goddess, give thy suppliant aid

With joyful aspect on our incense shine,

And, pleas'd, accept the sacrifice divine.