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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 86, lines 12–15 · A sweeter end for the pious
86.12
The Orphic Hymns 86.12 · A sweeter end for the pious
For the pious the end is always sweeter; the wicked get no warning dream of the trouble that is coming.
· · ·
γὰρ1
gàr
For
εὐσεβέσιν2
eusebésin
to the pious
τὸ3
tò
the
τέλος4
télos
end
ἐστι5
esti
is
ἀεὶ6
aeì
always
γλυκερώτερόν7
glykerṓterón
sweeter
, δὲ8
dè
but
τοῖς9
toîs
—
κακοῖς10
kakoîs
to the wicked
ὀνειρήεσσα11
oneirḗessa
the dream
ὄψις12
ópsis
vision
, ἐξάγγελος13
exángelos
revealermessenger from within
κακῶν14
kakôn
of evil
ἔργων15
érgōn
deeds
, κεν16
ken
would
οὔ17
oú
not
φαίνοι18
phaínoi
show
μέλλουσαν19
méllousan
the approaching
ἀνάγκην20
anánkēn
doomnecessity
, ὄφρα21
óphra
so that
κεν22
ken
—
εὕρωνται23
heúrōntai
they might find
λύσιν24
lýsin
release
ἐρχομένοιο25
erchoménoio
from the coming
ἄλγεος26
álgeos
pain
. For to the pious the end is always sweeter, but to the wicked the dream vision, revealer of evil deeds, would not show the approaching doom, so that they might find release from the coming pain.
For to the pious the end is always sweeter, but to the wicked the dream vision, revealer of evil deeds, would not show the approaching doom, so that they might find release from the coming pain.
Interpretation
For the pious the end is always sweeter. But to the wicked the dream vision, which brings evil deeds to light, would not show the doom that is coming, to let them find a release from the pain on its way.
The dream is called an exangelos, a messenger who brings news out from inside; on the Greek stage the word named the messenger who came out of the palace to tell what had happened behind closed doors. So the dream knows the evil done in secret, and it keeps its warnings for the pious. Homer had already said that some dreams are true and some deceive: in the Odyssey Penelope speaks of two gates of dreams, one of horn for true dreams and one of ivory for false ones.
86.16
The Orphic Hymns 86.16 · Tell me the messages of the gods
The prayer: may Dream bring the messages of the gods with right counsel, and never show anyone signs of evil in strange shapes.
· · ·
But, blessed one, I pray you to tell the messages of the gods, so that you may come near, always with right counsels in all things, showing to no one signs of evils in strange forms.