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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 86, lines 1–2 · Dream, messenger of what is to come
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Hymn 86 · Dream
ΟΝΕΙΡΟΥ, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα
Of Dream · incense: aromatics
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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ΟΝΕΙΡΟΥ1
Oneírou
Of Dream
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
ἀρώματα3
arṓmata
aromatics
. Κικλήσκω4
Kiklḗskō
I call
σε5
se
you
, μάκαρ6
mákar
blessed
, τανυσίπτερε7
tanysíptere
long-wingedwith outstretched wings
, οὖλε8
oûle
baneful
Ὄνειρε9
Óneire
Dream
, ἄγγελε10
ángele
messenger
μελλόντων11
mellóntōn
of things to come
, μέγιστε12
mégiste
greatest
χρησμῳδὲ13
chrēsmōidè
prophetsinger of oracles
θνητοῖς14
thnētoîs
to mortals
; Of Dream. Incense: aromatics. I call you, blessed, long-winged, baneful Dream, messenger of things to come, greatest prophet to mortals;
Of Dream. Incense: aromatics. I call you, blessed, long-winged, baneful Dream, messenger of things to come, greatest prophet to mortals;
Interpretation
Of Dream. Incense: aromatics. I call you, blessed, long-winged, baneful Dream, messenger of things to come, greatest prophet to mortals;
The words oule Oneire, "baneful Dream," come straight from the second book of the Iliad, where Zeus calls a Dream to him and says "Go, baneful Dream," sending it to Agamemnon with a false promise of victory. The hymn keeps Homer's address but makes Dream the "greatest prophet" of mortals, a messenger of what is really to come. In Hesiod the Dreams are a whole tribe, children of Night, like Sleep, the god of the hymn before, and Death, the god of the hymn after.
86.3
The Orphic Hymns 86.3 · You wake the mind in sleep
Dream comes silently in the quiet of sleep and speaks to the soul, waking the mind while the body sleeps.
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For, coming silently in the quiet of sweet sleep, speaking to the souls of mortals, you yourself wake the mind,