Mesomedes - Hymn to Nemesis

The Cretan lyric poet Mesomedes was a freed man writing for the Roman emperor Hadrian in the second century AD. Six of his works survive, only four of which have the original melody preserved along with them; this is one of them. It is his hymn to Nemesis, goddess of retribution and righteous anger. The Greek text reads (roughly): Nemesis, winged tilter of the scales of life, Dark-eyed goddess, daughter of Justice, The insolent and vain things of mortals You restrain with an unconquerable bridle. Hating the fatal wantonness of human beings, You drive out black envy. By thine unrelenting and holy wheel The murky fortune of men is turned, You walk right behind, escaping notice, You turn aside the voice of the proud. You perpetually measure out life by your arm, And you always nod with a furrowed brow, Holding fast the yoke with your arm. Be gracious, blessed lawgiver, Nemesis, winged tilter of the scales of life. We sing to the goddess Nemesis, eternal, The long wings of Victory, mighty And infallible adviser of Justice, The foolish pride of mortals You cast down into Tartarus with anger. [Translation by Daniel Lantz] This video was taken at the society&guest performance at Concordia Seminary, St. Catharines.