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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 86, lines 5–7 · Silent to the silent souls
86.5
The Orphic Hymns 86.5 · Silent to the silent souls
In sleep Dream carries the counsels of the gods and shows the future, silently, to the souls of the pious.
· · ·
καὶ1
kaì
and
αὐτὸς2
autòs
you yourself
ὑποπέμπεις3
hypopémpeis
quietly sendsend under
γνώμας4
gnṓmas
the counsels
μακάρων5
makárōn
of the blessed
καθʼ6
kath’
in
ὕπνους7
hýpnous
sleep
, σιγῶν8
sigôn
in silence
προφαίνων9
prophaínōn
revealing
μέλλοντα10
méllonta
what is to come
σιγώσαις11
sigṓsais
to silent
ψυχαῖς12
psychaîs
souls
, οἷσιν13
hoîsin
to those whose
ἐσθλὸς14
esthlòs
good
νόος15
nóos
mind
ὁδεύει16
hodeúei
walkstravels
ἐπʼ17
ep’
in
εὐσεβίῃσι18
eusebíēisi
piety
θεῶν19
theôn
toward the gods
, and you yourself quietly send the counsels of the blessed in sleep, in silence revealing what is to come to silent souls, to those whose good mind walks in piety toward the gods,
and you yourself quietly send the counsels of the blessed in sleep, in silence revealing what is to come to silent souls, to those whose good mind walks in piety toward the gods,
Interpretation
and you yourself quietly send the counsels of the blessed gods in sleep, silently revealing what is to come to silent souls, to those whose good mind walks in piety toward the gods,
Sigōn sigōsais psychais, "silent to silent souls": the Greek sets the same verb twice side by side, so that the dream and the sleeper meet in one silence. The message is the gnōmai of the gods, their counsels or intentions. The hymn also says who receives such dreams: those whose mind walks in piety toward the gods. True dreams come as a reward for reverence, and that idea shapes the rest of the hymn.
86.8
The Orphic Hymns 86.8 · Rest from evils, and the gods appeased
Through dreams the pious foresee good things with joy, and learn how to appease the anger of the gods with prayers and sacrifices.
· · ·
so that the good, grasped beforehand in their minds, may lead on ever more with delights the life of men who rejoice in advance, and bring rest from evils, so that, as the god himself may tell, they may loosen the anger of the lords with prayers and sacrifices.