⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 86, lines 8–11 · Rest from evils, and the gods appeased
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.
· · ·
ὡς1
hōs
so that
ἂν2
àn
—
τὸ3
tò
the
καλὸν4
kalòn
good
, προληφθέν5
prolēphthén
grasped beforehand
γνώμῃσι6
gnṓmēisi
in their minds
, ὑπάγῃ7
hypágēi
may lead on
ἀεὶ8
aeì
ever
μᾶλλον9
mâllon
more
τερπωλαῖς10
terpōlaîs
with delights
βίον11
bíon
the life
ἀνθρώπων12
anthrṓpōn
of men
προχαρέντων13
procharéntōn
who rejoice in advance
, δὲ14
dè
and
bring
ἀνάπαυσιν15
anápausin
rest
τῶν16
tôn
—
κακῶν17
kakôn
from evils
, ὅπως18
hópōs
so that
, as
θεὸς19
theòs
the god
αὐτὸς20
autòs
himself
ἐνίσπῃ21
eníspēi
may tell
, λύσωσιν22
lýsōsin
they may loosen
χόλον23
chólon
the anger
ἀνάκτων24
anáktōn
of the lords
εὐχωλαῖς25
euchōlaîs
with prayers
τε26
te
and
θυσίαις27
thysíais
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.
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.
Interpretation
so that the good, grasped beforehand in their minds, may lead the life of men on with delights ever more, as they rejoice in advance, and bring rest from evils; so that, as the god himself may tell them, they may loosen the anger of the lords with prayers and sacrifices.
These lines describe what a true dream is for. Good things seen in advance give a man joy before they arrive, and a warning shows him how to turn away the anger of the gods with prayers and sacrifices. People in the hymns' own world acted on such dreams. In the second century AD the orator Aelius Aristides slept in the sanctuary of Asclepius at Pergamon and wrote down, in his Sacred Tales, the dreams in which the god told him what to do and what to offer.
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.
· · ·
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.