Prayer. Marcus Aurelius 5.7

Marcus likes simple prayers that express our desire freely.


Εὐχὴ Ἀθηναίων·

       ὗσον, ὗσον, ὦ φίλε
       Ζεῦ, κατὰ τῆς ἀρούρας
       τῆς Ἀθηναίων
       καὶ τῶν πεδίων.

ἤτοι οὐ δεῖ εὔχεσθαι ἢ οὕτως ἁπλῶς καὶ ἐλευθέρως.


A prayer offered by the Athenians:

       Rain, dear Zeus
       Upon our plains!
       Upon the field
       That bears our name!

We should either refrain from prayer, or make it simple and free, like this one.