Hymen (pron. i-mèn and cf. amen, p. 87, L

Hyménée, Both ternis are derived from Hymenaeus, in Greek mythology the god of marriage, whom they equally designate. Metaphorically and poetically both terms are likewise used to designate marriage itself , althoughthe first of the two is more common in this usage. In the tezt the distinction would seem to be that Hymen represents this seoondary sensé, — marriage, while Hyménée serves as a direct invocation to the god himself . Both are perhaps suggested also by the refrain of the Roman songs Hymen Hymenaee, which under its French fonn as given in the text may occur in modem marriage songs as well.