Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 19, 2015
86. Ὀνείρου, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Dreams
Divine connection: aromatics
Κικλήσκω σε, μάκαρ, τανυσίπτερε, οὖλε Ὄνειρε,
I call blessed broad-winged Dreams[1]
ἄγγελε μελλόντων, θνητοῖς χρησμωιδὲ μέγιστε·
Angels[2] of the future, mortals’ chrees-conveying[3] majesty.
ἡσυχίαι γὰρ ὕπνου γλυκεροῦ σιγηλὸς ἐπελθών,
Rest brings Hypnos’[4] sweet silent arrival
προσφωνῶν ψυχαῖς θνητῶν νόον αὐτὸς ἐγείρεις,
Addressing Psyche’s[5] mortal mind autonomously awakened
καὶ γνώμας μακάρων αὐτὸς καθ’ ὕπνους ὑποπέμπεις,
And knowledge blessedly autonomous, pure Hypnos underlying
σιγῶν σιγώσαις ψυχαῖς μέλλοντα προφαίνων,
Silently silent Psyche’s future foreseen
οἷσιν ἐπ’ εὐσεβίηισι θεῶν νόος ἐσθλὸς ὁδεύει,
Thou upon revered deities’ thoughts safely travel
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ τὸ καλὸν μᾶλλον, γνώμηισι προληφθέν,
Bring forth arising eternal solid certain knowledge to forestall ruin
τερπωλαῖς ὑπάγηι βίον ἀνθρώπων προχαρέντων,
Delightfully bring forth life’s mortal foretold joy
τῶν δὲ κακῶν ἀνάπαυλαν, ὅπως θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐνίσπηι
Then from evil give pause in such manner as deities autonomously claim
εὐχωλαῖς θυσίαις τε χόλον λύσαντες ἀνάκτων.
Prayer offerings to wrath’s release ruling
εὐσεβέσιν γὰρ ἀεὶ τὸ τέλος γλυκερώτερόν ἐστι,
Venerably give eternal completion to sweet flowing essence
τοῖς δὲ κακοῖς οὐδὲν φαίνει μέλλουσαν ἀνάγκην
Then of hate be free of, bring to light destined Ananke[6]
ὄψις ὀνειρήεσσα, κακῶν ἐξάγγελος ἔργων,
Show in dream’s essence dreaded messenger of tasks
ὄφρα ἂν εὕρωνται λύσιν ἄλγεος ἐρχομένοιο.
To give rise to strong release from suffering to come
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, λίτομαί σε θεῶν μηνύματα φράζειν,
Yet with these blessed simple prayers thou divine guide, show the way
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ γνώμαις ὀρθαῖς κατὰ πάντα πελάζηις
Bring forth arising eternal knowledge upright and pure to all nearby
μηδὲν ἐπ’ ἀλλοκότοισι κακῶν σημεῖα προφαίνων.
And not strange hateful omens foresee.
[1] Oneire (Ὄνειρε) means dream: entity (Ὄ) + from the netherworld (νειρε).
[2] Aggele (ἄγγελε) are angels and/or birds of augury; indicators of divine intent.
[3] Chrees (χρήσ) is the ancient Greek word for the English term “oracle.” Chreestees (χρήστης) means one who conveys “chrees.”
[4] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep.
[5] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
[6] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of necessity, of what must be.