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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 69, lines 5–6 · Hovering over unholy plans
69.5
The Orphic Hymns 69.5 · Hovering over unholy plans
The Erinyes hover over every wicked plan that mortals make, and they revel in punishing.
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αἰεὶ1
aieì
always
πεποτημέναι2
pepotēménai
hoveringfluttering
over
βροτῶν3
brotôn
mortals'
βουλῇσι4
boulêisi
plans
that are
οὐχ5
ouch
not
ὁσίαις6
hosíais
holy
, λυσσήρεις7
lyssḗreis
raging
, ἀγέρωχοι8
agérōchoi
proud
, ἐπευάζουσαι9
epeuázousai
exulting overcrying euoi over
ἀνάγκαις10
anánkais
punishments
, always hovering over mortals' plans that are not holy, raging, proud, exulting over punishments,
always hovering over mortals' plans that are not holy, raging, proud, exulting over punishments,
Interpretation
always hovering over the unholy plans of mortals, raging, proud, exulting over punishments,
Pepotēmenai, "hovering," is a perfect of the verb for fluttering, and Odysseus' mother uses the same perfect in the Odyssey for the soul at death, which "flies off like a dream and flutters away." The Erinyes hover over boulai, plans: they watch what people mean to do, before the deed is done.
69.7
The Orphic Hymns 69.7 · Swift as thought
What the Erinyes are like: wild, strong, changing in shape, invisible and fast.
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clad in beast-skins, avengers, mighty, heavy with pain, of the underworld of Hades, fearful maidens, changing in form, of the air, unseen, swift-running as thought,