The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/Hymns/Hymn 8

by Homer

VIII. TO VENUS.

I will sing Cyprus-sprung Cytherea, who both gives pleasant gifts^[1] to mortals, and with pleasant visage is ever smiling, and bears a lovely flower [of beauty]. Hail! goddess, ruling over well-built Salamis and all Cyprus,^[2] and grant [me] pleasant song, but I will be mindful of thee, and of another song.

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1. Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 120, φίλια δώρα κυπρίας. Hesiod, Scut. Herc. τερπόμενος δῶροισι πολυχρύσου Ἀφροδίτης. See int. pp. on Virg. Æn. iv. 33.
2. In the cod. Mosc. there are evidently two versions of this hymn mixed up together, the following lines being added in Hermann's ed.:
   χαῖρε μάκαιρα, κυθήρης ἐϋκτιμένης μεδέουσα,
   Ἐιναλίης τε κύπρου· δὸς δ' ἰμερόεσσαν ἀοιδήν.