Homer's Hymn To The Earth: Mother Of All.

O universal Mother, who dost keep     From everlasting thy foundations deep,     Eldest of things, Great Earth, I sing of thee!     All shapes that have their dwelling in the sea,     All things that fly, or on the ground divine     Live, move, and there are nourished - these are thine;     These from thy wealth thou dost sustain; from thee     Fair babes are born, and fruits on every tree     Hang ripe and large, revered Divinity!     The life of mortal men beneath thy sway     Is held; thy power both gives and takes away!     Happy are they whom thy mild favours nourish;     All things unstinted round them grow and flourish.     For them, endures the life-sustaining field     Its load of harvest, and their cattle yield     Large increase, and their house with wealth is filled.     Such honoured dwell in cities fair and free,     The homes of lovely women, prosperously;     Their sons exult in youth's new budding gladness,     And their fresh daughters free from care or sadness,     With bloom-inwoven dance and happy song,     On the soft flowers the meadow-grass among,     Leap round them sporting - such delights by thee     Are given, rich Power, revered Divinity.     Mother of gods, thou Wife of starry Heaven,     Farewell! be thou propitious, and be given     A happy life for this brief melody,     Nor thou nor other songs shall unremembered be.