Translated by Catherine Proppe March 3, 2016
86. Ὀνείρου, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Dreams
Divine connection: aromatics
Κικλήσκω σε, μάκαρ, τανυσίπτερε, οὖλε Ὄνειρε,
I call blessed, broad-winged[1], complete Dreams[2],
ἄγγελε μελλόντων, θνητοῖς χρησμωιδὲ μέγιστε·
Angels[3] of what is about to be, mortals’ great medium of prophecy[4].
ἡσυχίαι γὰρ ὕπνου γλυκεροῦ σιγηλὸς ἐπελθών,
Rest brings Sleep’s[5] sweet silent arrival,
προσφωνῶν ψυχαῖς θνητῶν νόον αὐτὸς ἐγείρεις,
Addressing the mortal Soul[6], mind solely awakens,
καὶ γνώμας μακάρων αὐτὸς καθ’ ὕπνους ὑποπέμπεις,
With blessed autonomous knowledge, and pure Sleep underlying,
σιγῶν σιγώσαις ψυχαῖς μέλλοντα προφαίνων,
Silently, the silent Soul shines a light upon what is to be,
οἷσιν ἐπ’ εὐσεβίηισι θεῶν νόος ἐσθλὸς ὁδεύει,
The fiber upon which revered deities’ noble intentions travel.
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ τὸ καλὸν μᾶλλον, γνώμηισι προληφθέν,
So that eternally, nobly, and above all, knowledgeably, ruin is forewarned.
τερπωλαῖς ὑπάγηι βίον ἀνθρώπων προχαρέντων,
Delightfully bring the joy of mortal life’s foretold blessings,
τῶν δὲ κακῶν ἀνάπαυλαν, ὅπως θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐνίσπηι
Then, of evil give pause, in such manner as only deities claim.
εὐχωλαῖς θυσίαις τε χόλον λύσαντες ἀνάκτων.
Let these imperfect offerings dissolve the bile of rage’s rule,
εὐσεβέσιν γὰρ ἀεὶ τὸ τέλος γλυκερώτερόν ἐστι,
Venerably bestow eternal, complete, sweet-flowing essence,
τοῖς δὲ κακοῖς οὐδὲν φαίνει μέλλουσαν ἀνάγκην
To be free of hate, bring to light destined Necessity[7],
ὄψις ὀνειρήεσσα, κακῶν ἐξάγγελος ἔργων,
Appear in dream’s essence, messenger of dreaded tasks,
ὄφρα ἂν εὕρωνται λύσιν ἄλγεος ἐρχομένοιο.
In order that we discover release from grievous suffering, come!
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, λίτομαί σε θεῶν μηνύματα φράζειν,
Yet, with blessed prayers, may thou Divinities bring information, show the way,
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ γνώμαις ὀρθαῖς κατὰ πάντα πελάζηις
Bring forth eternal knowledge, upright, pure, for all bring near,
μηδὲν ἐπ’ ἀλλοκότοισι κακῶν σημεῖα προφαίνων.
And for no one, portentous, hateful omens foresee.
[1] Interestingly, native Americans string “dreamcatchers” and hang them near the sleeping place of children to let the good dreams in and to screen out the bad dreams. Often, spider-web like dream-catchers are adorned with feathers. http://www.dream-catchers.org/
[2] Oneire (Ὄνειρε) means dream: entity (Ὄ) + from the netherworld (νειρε).
[3] Aggele (ἄγγελε) are angels and/or birds of augury; indicators of divine intent.
[4] Chrees (χρήσ) is the ancient Greek word for the English term “oracle.” Chreestees (χρήστης) means one who conveys “chrees,” that is, prophecies. Chrees (χρής) is usually translated as “oracle,” likely because of its close similarity to the word “Christ.”
[5] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep.
[6] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul, literally “incorporeal (ψ) + pure (υ) + foundation (χ) + αῖς.”
[7] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of necessity, of what must be.
86. Ὀνείρου, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Dreams
Divine connection: aromatics
Κικλήσκω σε, μάκαρ, τανυσίπτερε, οὖλε Ὄνειρε,
I call blessed, broad-winged[1], complete Dreams[2],
ἄγγελε μελλόντων, θνητοῖς χρησμωιδὲ μέγιστε·
Angels[3] of what is about to be, mortals’ great medium of prophecy[4].
ἡσυχίαι γὰρ ὕπνου γλυκεροῦ σιγηλὸς ἐπελθών,
Rest brings Sleep’s[5] sweet silent arrival,
προσφωνῶν ψυχαῖς θνητῶν νόον αὐτὸς ἐγείρεις,
Addressing the mortal Soul[6], mind solely awakens,
καὶ γνώμας μακάρων αὐτὸς καθ’ ὕπνους ὑποπέμπεις,
With blessed autonomous knowledge, and pure Sleep underlying,
σιγῶν σιγώσαις ψυχαῖς μέλλοντα προφαίνων,
Silently, the silent Soul shines a light upon what is to be,
οἷσιν ἐπ’ εὐσεβίηισι θεῶν νόος ἐσθλὸς ὁδεύει,
The fiber upon which revered deities’ noble intentions travel.
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ τὸ καλὸν μᾶλλον, γνώμηισι προληφθέν,
So that eternally, nobly, and above all, knowledgeably, ruin is forewarned.
τερπωλαῖς ὑπάγηι βίον ἀνθρώπων προχαρέντων,
Delightfully bring the joy of mortal life’s foretold blessings,
τῶν δὲ κακῶν ἀνάπαυλαν, ὅπως θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐνίσπηι
Then, of evil give pause, in such manner as only deities claim.
εὐχωλαῖς θυσίαις τε χόλον λύσαντες ἀνάκτων.
Let these imperfect offerings dissolve the bile of rage’s rule,
εὐσεβέσιν γὰρ ἀεὶ τὸ τέλος γλυκερώτερόν ἐστι,
Venerably bestow eternal, complete, sweet-flowing essence,
τοῖς δὲ κακοῖς οὐδὲν φαίνει μέλλουσαν ἀνάγκην
To be free of hate, bring to light destined Necessity[7],
ὄψις ὀνειρήεσσα, κακῶν ἐξάγγελος ἔργων,
Appear in dream’s essence, messenger of dreaded tasks,
ὄφρα ἂν εὕρωνται λύσιν ἄλγεος ἐρχομένοιο.
In order that we discover release from grievous suffering, come!
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, λίτομαί σε θεῶν μηνύματα φράζειν,
Yet, with blessed prayers, may thou Divinities bring information, show the way,
ὡς ἂν ἀεὶ γνώμαις ὀρθαῖς κατὰ πάντα πελάζηις
Bring forth eternal knowledge, upright, pure, for all bring near,
μηδὲν ἐπ’ ἀλλοκότοισι κακῶν σημεῖα προφαίνων.
And for no one, portentous, hateful omens foresee.
[1] Interestingly, native Americans string “dreamcatchers” and hang them near the sleeping place of children to let the good dreams in and to screen out the bad dreams. Often, spider-web like dream-catchers are adorned with feathers. http://www.dream-catchers.org/
[2] Oneire (Ὄνειρε) means dream: entity (Ὄ) + from the netherworld (νειρε).
[3] Aggele (ἄγγελε) are angels and/or birds of augury; indicators of divine intent.
[4] Chrees (χρήσ) is the ancient Greek word for the English term “oracle.” Chreestees (χρήστης) means one who conveys “chrees,” that is, prophecies. Chrees (χρής) is usually translated as “oracle,” likely because of its close similarity to the word “Christ.”
[5] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep.
[6] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul, literally “incorporeal (ψ) + pure (υ) + foundation (χ) + αῖς.”
[7] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of necessity, of what must be.
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