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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 85, lines 9–10 · Come gently, keep the initiates safe
85.9
The Orphic Hymns 85.9 · Come gently, keep the initiates safe
The prayer: may Sleep come gently and sweetly, and keep the initiates safe for the sacred work.
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ἀλλά1
allá
But
, μάκαρ2
mákar
blessed one
, λίτομαί3
lítomaí
I pray
σε4
se
you
ἱκάνειν5
hikánein
to come
κεκραμένον6
kekraménon
temperedmixed, as wine with water
and
ἡδὺν7
hēdỳn
sweet
, εὐμενέως8
eumenéōs
kindly
σώζοντʼ9
sṓzont’
keeping safe
μύστας10
mýstas
the initiates
ἐπʼ11
ep’
for
θείοισιν12
theíoisin
the divine
ἔργοις13
érgois
works
. But, blessed one, I pray you to come tempered and sweet, kindly keeping safe the initiates for the divine works.
But, blessed one, I pray you to come tempered and sweet, kindly keeping safe the initiates for the divine works.
Interpretation
But, blessed one, I pray you to come tempered and sweet, kindly keeping the initiates safe for the sacred work.
Kekramenos, "tempered," is the participle of the verb used for mixing wine with water, which Greeks did before they drank. Sleep is asked to come well mixed, mild and sweet, and to keep the initiates safe for "the divine works," the rites. Many of these rites were held at night, and the prayer may also be a practical one: sleep should come gently and leave the initiates fit for the sacred work.
86.1
The Orphic Hymns 86.1 · Dream, messenger of what is to come
The hymn to Dream, sung over aromatic herbs. Dream is the messenger who tells mortals what is going to happen.
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Of Dream. Incense: aromatics. I call you, blessed, long-winged, baneful Dream, messenger of things to come, greatest prophet to mortals;