Canto I: Convocation of the Twelve

  The Aisar*

[*Aisar = Gods (Etruscan)]

Canto I:  Convocation of The Twelve

[The chorus stood and began to sing.]

Now come, ye Janae, sing the tale of old!
When Jana* wedded Jan'e**, now unfold!    [*cf. Dyana (Diana), pron. Dzhah-nah; **Dyanus (Dianus) or Janus, pron. Dzhah-neh]
For Jana is the Mother of our race,
The Goddess of the Night with shining face,
And Jan'e is our Father, brother dear
Of wife, and glowing face of day severe.
And so became the Twofold Godhead, famed
Throughout the world, and still in no way shamed.

The Shining Twins were trapped by Turan's* snares,      [*Venus]
And came to Uni*, Heaven's Queen, who shares             [*Juno]
The throne with Father Tin'*, whom also they                 [*Jupiter]
Beseeched to bless and set the wedding day.
The Regents bent their heads in grave assent,
And Tin' called Turm's*, the messenger, who went          [*Hermes]
Among the Gods and called Them to the feast,
And ere They all had heard, He never ceased.

First Turmus called the Gods who're named The Twelve,
Excepting Uni, Tin' — and Velchans* too,                         [*Vulcanus]
Who was invited by great Tin' Himself;
But we will sing the names of all The Twelve.

[The following verses was sung by different Gianae, solo or in small ensemble. Aquila (Eagle), contralto, and Cinxia (Bride's Girdle), soprano, sang first.]

Great Tinia is the Lord of Thunderbolts,
The God of Heaven and the shining sky.
And Uni is His sister and His wife,
The Goddess of fertility and light,
Who guardeth marriages, the wedding night,
The child in womb, at birth, or suckling still.

[The following verse was sung by Charis (Grace), a red-haired soprano.]

Velchans is the Father of the Earth,
Most ancient of the Gods, the Lord of Plants.
He throweth thunderbolts, and ruleth flames
That helpeth man or hurteth — ev'ry kind.

[Glauce (Bright Eyes), an alto, sang next.]

With Tin' and Uni, Mera* maketh Three;      [*Menrva = Minerva]
Her Gift is Prudence and Intelligence;
Protecteth she industrious people, schools,
And ev'ry kind of commerce in the land.

[The next was sung by Maia.]

With facile tongue, resourceful always, Turm's
Protecteth trav'lers, all interpreters,
And guardeth homes and flocks, and ruleth trade;
These offices both Turm's and Mera share.

[The next two verses were sung as a duet by Lupa (Wolf) and Volpes (Fox), twin Gianae.]

Two glowing glorious Twins command the Sky,
The Lord called Aplus* and the Lady Bold,      [*Apollo]
Swift Aritimi*, shining Queen of Night,            [*Artemis]
The Goddess of the forests and the chase.
This Moonchild overseeth all travail,
And yet may bring to women Sudden Death.

Bright Aplus is the Sunchild, King of Day,
Who bringeth many useful gifts to man:
Divining and the Art of Prophecy,
And building famous cities, saving crops,
And how to cultivate the living land.
He teacheth Music and the other Arts,
Protecteth also from disease and pests,
But bringeth plague and Sudden Death to Men.

[Columba, a tall, blond alto sang the next verse.]

Bright Turan* is the Queen of Dusk and Dawn,      [*Venus]
The radient Mistress of Desire and Love,
In all their aspects, pure and impure both;
She bringeth Fruitfulness and flow'ring Spring.
Fair Ornitrices* care for all Her needs.
    [*analogous to Graces, also Bellariae]

[The next verse was sung by Pica (Woodpecker), a Giana with fiery red hair.]

Strong Maris* is the God of Fruitfulness,      [*Mars]
Of all the Growing Things, of fertile Spring.
He ruleth War and Conflict of all kinds,
Protecteth nature, fields, and marriage too,
And taketh souls down into Eita's gloom.
His Consort beeth Ati* Turan, Dam              [*Mother]
To Sire, so Apa* Maris is he called,              [*Father, Marspiter]
And Conflict now with Concord hath been joined.

[The next verse was sung by two brown-haired, pregnant Gianae, Vacca (Cow) and Scrofa (Sow), one of Aranea's daughters.]

The Father and the Mother of the Earth:
Tellumo*, the Inseminating God,               [*Terrae Pater]
And lush Tellurus*, Goddess Nurturing,    [*Terra Mater, related to Ceres]
Are called Tellustres, Spirits of the Earth.

[The following verse was sung "di gusto" by Hinnulea (Fawn), Hedera (Ivy) and Ficus (Fig).]

Carousing lusty Fufluns*!      [*Bacchus]
Truly He
        Is Lord of Grapes,
Intoxication too,
        And of delights
        Of thriving Life,
All kinds!
Delights
        Of loving Life!
        Ih Oh!  Heu Hoi!
With Ves'na* danceth He      [*a lunar spirit]
        In Moon's pale light,
Aye!  danceth naked He!
        Ih Oh!  Heu Hoi!

[From behind the others, Umbra (Shadow) sang this quietly in her dusky contralto.]

Majestic Nethuns* ruleth all the Waves;      [*Neptune]
He governeth the Ocean's murky depths,
The Sea's Abyss, the Psyche's hidden core.

[After a silent moment, the full chorus sang.]

And thus invited were the Twelve High Gods
To celebrate the Wedding of the Twins,
Great bosomed Jana, forest nymph, the wife
To husband Jan'e, merging in one Life.

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Last updated: Sat April 21, 2012