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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 62, lines 6–9 · Those who want the larger share
62.6
The Orphic Hymns 62.6 · Those who want the larger share
Where evil plans and greed make right and wrong hard to judge, Justice alone steps in against the unjust.
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γάρ1
gár
For
πάντα2
pánta
all things
ὅσσα3
hóssa
that
ὀχεῖται4
ocheîtai
are carried along
by
κακαῖς5
kakaîs
evil
γνώμαις6
gnṓmais
thoughts
θνητοῖσιν7
thnētoîsin
among mortals
βουλομένοις8
bouloménois
who want
τὸ9
tò
—
πλέον10
pléon
the larger sharemore
with
ἀδίκοισι11
adíkoisi
unjust
βουλαῖς12
boulaîs
plans
, δύσκριτα13
dýskrita
hard to judge
, you
μούνη14
moúnē
alone
, ἐπεμβαίνουσα15
epembaínousa
stepping intreading upon
, ἐπεγείρεις16
epegeíreis
rouse
δίκην17
díkēn
justice
ἀδίκοις18
adíkois
against the unjust
; ἐχθρὴ19
echthrḕ
hostile
τῶν20
tôn
to the
ἀδίκων21
adíkōn
unjust
, δὲ22
dè
but
εὔφρων23
eúphrōn
kindly
σύνεσσι24
sýnessi
you keep company
δικαίοις25
dikaíois
with the just
. For all things that are carried along by evil thoughts among mortals who want the larger share with unjust plans, hard to judge, you alone, stepping in, rouse justice against the unjust; hostile to the unjust, but kindly you keep company with the just.
For all things that are carried along by evil thoughts among mortals who want the larger share with unjust plans, hard to judge, you alone, stepping in, rouse justice against the unjust; hostile to the unjust, but kindly you keep company with the just.
Interpretation
For in all that is carried along by evil thoughts among mortals, things hard to judge, when men want the larger share with unjust plans, you alone step in and rouse justice against the unjust; you are hostile to the unjust, but you keep kindly company with the just.
The wrong this hymn has in mind is wanting to pleon, "the larger share," more than is fair. Greek moralists had a name for it, pleonexia, "having more," and in Plato's Republic Glaucon argues that every nature pursues it as a good and only law forces it to honor equality. Cases of that kind are dyskrita, "hard to judge," for any human court. Justice settles them by stepping in herself, and the next hymn says she hates the larger share at all times.
62.10
The Orphic Hymns 62.10 · The destined day
The prayer: come, so that each life may reach the day destined for it.
· · ·
But, goddess, just one, come to noble minds, so that the destined day of life may always come.