Hymn to Dreams #HymnsOfOrpheus

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.