Euripides' Bacchae

Patrick Lyle /
  • Created on 2019-09-11 18:13:17
  • Modified on 2019-12-16 18:00:41
  • Translated by Buckley; MIT Classics
  • Aligned by Patrick Lyle
English
Ἑλληνική
English
Pentheus
Release his hands , for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me . But your body is not ill-formed , stranger , for women ' s purposes , for which reason you have come to Thebes . [ 455 ] For your hair is long , not through wrestling , scattered over your cheeks , full of desire ; and you have a white skin from careful preparation , hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun , but beneath the shade . [ 460 ] First then tell me who your family is .

Dionysus
I can tell you this easily , without boasting . I suppose you are familiar with flowery Tmolus .

Pentheus
I know of it ; it surrounds the city of Sardis .

Dionysus
I am from there , and Lydia is my fatherland .

Pentheus
[ 465 ] Why do you bring these rites to Hellas ?

Dionysus
Dionysus , the child of Zeus , sent me .

Pentheus
Is there a Zeus who breeds new gods there ?

Dionysus
No , but the one who married Semele here .

Pentheus
Did he compel you at night , or in your sight ?

Dionysus
[ 470 ] Seeing me just as I saw him , he gave me sacred rites .

Pentheus
What appearance do your rites have ?

Dionysus
They can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry .

Pentheus
And do they have any profit to those who sacrifice ?

Dionysus
It is not lawful for you to hear , but they are worth knowing .

Pentheus
[ 475 ] You have counterfeited this well , so that I desire to hear .

Dionysus
The rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety .

Pentheus
Are you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like ?

Dionysus
He was as he chose ; I did not order this .

Pentheus
Again you diverted my question well , speaking mere nonsense .

Dionysus
[ 480 ] One will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man .

Pentheus
Did you come here first , bringing the god ?

Dionysus
All the barbarians celebrate these rites .

Pentheus
Yes , for they are far more foolish than Hellenes .

Dionysus
In this at any rate they are wiser ; but their laws are different .

Pentheus
[ 485 ] Do you perform the rites by night or by day ?

Dionysus
Mostly by night ; darkness conveys awe .

Pentheus
This is treacherous towards women , and unsound .

Dionysus
Even during the day someone may devise what is shameful .

Pentheus
You must pay the penalty for your evil contrivances .

Dionysus
[ 490 ] And you for your ignorance and impiety toward the god .

Pentheus
How bold the Bacchant is , and not unpracticed in speaking !

Dionysus
Tell me what I must suffer ; what harm will you do to me ?

Pentheus
First I will cut off your delicate hair .

Dionysus
My hair is sacred . I am growing it for the god .

Pentheus
[ 495 ] Next give me this thyrsos from your hands .

Dionysus
Take it from me yourself . I bear it as the ensign of Dionysus .

Pentheus
We will guard your body within , in prison .

Dionysus
The god himself will release me , whenever I want .

Pentheus
Yes , when you call him , standing among the Bacchae .

Dionysus
[ 500 ] Even now he see my sufferings from close by .

Pentheus
Where is he ? He is not visible to my eyes .

Dionysus
Near me ; but you , being impious , do not see him .

Pentheus
To attendants
Seize him ; he insults me and Thebes !

Dionysus
I warn you not to bind me , since I am in my senses and you are not .

Pentheus
[ 505 ] And I , more masterful than you , bid them to bind you .

Dionysus
You do not know why you live , or what you are doing , or who you are .

Pentheus
I am Pentheus , son of Echion and Agave .

Dionysus
You are well-suited to be miserable in your name . 1

Pentheus
Go .

To attendants
Shut him up near the horse [ 510 ] stable , so that he may see only darkness .

To Dionysus
Dance there ; and as for these women whom you have led here as accomplices to your crimes , we will either sell them or , stopping their hands from this noise and beating of skins , I will keep them as slaves at the loom .

Dionysus
[ 515 ] I will go , for I need not suffer that which is not necessary . But Dionysus , who you claim does not exist , will pursue you for these insults . For in injuring us , you put him in bonds .
Πενθεύς
μέθεσθε χειρῶν τοῦδʼ · ἐν ἄρκυσιν γὰρ ὢν οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὠκὺς ὥστε μʼ ἐκφυγεῖν . ἀτὰρ τὸ μὲν σῶμʼ οὐκ ἄμορφος εἶ , ξένε , ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας , ἐφʼ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει · πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναός , οὐ πάλης ὕπο , γένυν παρʼ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος , πόθου πλέως · λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις , οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν , ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς , τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος . πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος .

Διόνυσος
οὐ κόμπος οὐδείς · ῥᾴδιον δʼ εἰπεῖν τόδε . τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων .

Πενθεύς
οἶδʼ , ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ .

Διόνυσος
ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι , Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς .

Πενθεύς
πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα ;

Διόνυσος
Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ , τοῦ Διός .

Πενθεύς
Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις , ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς ;

Διόνυσος
οὔκ , ἀλλʼ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις .

Πενθεύς
πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν ;

Διόνυσος
ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα , καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια .

Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι ;

Διόνυσος
ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν .

Πενθεύς
ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα ;

Διόνυσος
οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ , ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι .

Πενθεύς
εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας , ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω .

Διόνυσος
ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ .

Πενθεύς
τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς , ποῖός τις ἦν ;

Διόνυσος
ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ · οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε .

Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων .

Διόνυσος
δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν .

Πενθεύς
ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα ;

Διόνυσος
πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια .

Πενθεύς
φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ .

Διόνυσος
τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον · οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι .

Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς ;

Διόνυσος
νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά · σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος .

Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν .

Διόνυσος
κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν .

Πενθεύς
δίκην σε δοῦναι δεῖ σοφισμάτων κακῶν .

Διόνυσος
σὲ δʼ ἀμαθίας γε κἀσεβοῦντʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν .

Πενθεύς
ὡς θρασὺς βάκχος κοὐκ ἀγύμναστος λόγων .

Διόνυσος
εἴφʼ τι παθεῖν δεῖ · τί με τὸ δεινὸν ἐργάσῃ ;

Πενθεύς
πρῶτον μὲν ἁβρὸν βόστρυχον τεμῶ σέθεν .

Διόνυσος
ἱερὸς πλόκαμος · τῷ θεῷ δʼ αὐτὸν τρέφω .

Πενθεύς
ἔπειτα θύρσον τόνδε παράδος ἐκ χεροῖν .

Διόνυσος
αὐτός μʼ ἀφαιροῦ · τόνδε Διονύσου φορῶ .

Πενθεύς
εἱρκταῖσί τʼ ἔνδον σῶμα σὸν φυλάξομεν .

Διόνυσος
λύσει μʼ δαίμων αὐτός , ὅταν ἐγὼ θέλω .

Πενθεύς
ὅταν γε καλέσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν βάκχαις σταθείς .

Διόνυσος
καὶ νῦν πάσχω πλησίον παρὼν ὁρᾷ .

Πενθεύς
καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν ; οὐ γὰρ φανερὸς ὄμμασίν γʼ ἐμοῖς .

Διόνυσος
παρʼ ἐμοί · σὺ δʼ ἀσεβὴς αὐτὸς ὢν οὐκ εἰσορᾷς .

Πενθεύς
λάζυσθε · καταφρονεῖ με καὶ Θήβας ὅδε .

Διόνυσος
αὐδῶ με μὴ δεῖν σωφρονῶν οὐ σώφροσιν .

Πενθεύς
ἐγὼ δὲ δεῖν γε , κυριώτερος σέθεν .

Διόνυσος
οὐκ οἶσθʼ τι ζῇς , οὐδʼ δρᾷς , οὐδʼ ὅστις εἶ .

Πενθεύς
Πενθεύς , Ἀγαύης παῖς , πατρὸς δʼ Ἐχίονος .

Διόνυσος
ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομʼ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ .

Πενθεύς
χώρει · καθείρξατʼ αὐτὸν ἱππικαῖς πέλας φάτναισιν , ὡς ἂν σκότιον εἰσορᾷ κνέφας . ἐκεῖ χόρευε · τάσδε δʼ ἃς ἄγων πάρει κακῶν συνεργοὺς διεμπολήσομεν χεῖρα δούπου τοῦδε καὶ βύρσης κτύπου παύσας , ἐφʼ ἱστοῖς δμωίδας κεκτήσομαι .

Διόνυσος
στείχοιμʼ ἄν · τι γὰρ μὴ χρεών , οὔτοι χρεὼν παθεῖν . ἀτάρ τοι τῶνδʼ ἄποινʼ ὑβρισμάτων μέτεισι Διόνυσός σʼ , ὃν οὐκ εἶναι λέγεις · ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἀδικῶν κεῖνον εἰς δεσμοὺς ἄγεις .
PENTHEUS
Loose his hands ; for now that I have him in the net he is scarce swift enough to elude me . So , sir stranger , thou art not ill-favoured from a woman ' s point of view , which was thy real object in coming to Thebes ; thy hair is long because thou hast never been a wrestler , flowing right down thy cheeks most wantonly ; thy skin is white to help thee gain thy end , not tanned by ray of sun , but kept within the shade , as thou goest in quest of love with beauty ' s bait . Come , tell me first of thy race .

DIONYSUS
That needs no braggart ' s tongue , ' tis easily told ; maybe thou knowest Tmolus by hearsay .

PENTHEUS
I know it , the range that rings the city of Sardis round .

DIONYSUS
Thence I come , Lydia is my native home .

PENTHEUS
What makes thee bring these mysteries to Hellas ?

DIONYSUS
Dionysus , the son of Zeus , initiated me .

PENTHEUS
Is there a Zeus in Lydia , who begets new gods ?

DIONYSUS
No , but Zeus who married Semele in Hellas .

PENTHEUS
Was it by night or in the face of day that he constrained thee ?

DIONYSUS
' Twas face to face he intrusted his mysteries to me .

PENTHEUS
Pray , what special feature stamps thy rites ?

DIONYSUS
That is a secret to be hidden from the uninitiated .

PENTHEUS
What profit bring they to their votaries ?

DIONYSUS
Thou must not be told , though ' tis well worth knowing .

PENTHEUS
A pretty piece of trickery , to excite my curiosity !

DIONYSUS
A man of godless life is an abomination to the rites of the god .

PENTHEUS
Thou sayest thou didst see the god clearly ; what was he like ?

DIONYSUS
What his fancy chose ; I was not there to order this .

PENTHEUS
Another clever twist and turn of thine , without a word of answer .

DIONYSUS
He were a fool , methinks , who would utter wisdom to a fool .

PENTHEUS
Hast thou come hither first with this deity ?

DIONYSUS
All foreigners already celebrate these mysteries with dances .

PENTHEUS
The reason being , they are far behind Hellenes in wisdom .

DIONYSUS
In this at least far in advance , though their customs differ .

PENTHEUS
Is it by night or day thou performest these devotions ?

DIONYSUS
By night mostly ; darkness lends solemnity .

PENTHEUS
Calculated to entrap and corrupt women .

DIONYSUS
Day too for that matter may discover shame .

PENTHEUS
This vile quibbling settles thy punishment .

DIONYSUS
Brutish ignorance and godlessness will settle thine .

PENTHEUS
How bold our Bacchanal is growing ! a very master in this wordy strife !

DIONYSUS
Tell me what I am to suffer ; what is the grievous doom thou wilt inflict upon me ?

PENTHEUS
First will I shear off thy dainty tresses .

DIONYSUS
My locks are sacred ; for the god I let them grow .

PENTHEUS
Next surrender that thyrsus .

DIONYSUS
Take it from me thyself ; ' tis the wand of Dionysus I am bearing .

PENTHEUS
In dungeon deep thy body will I guard .

DIONYSUS
The god himself will set me free , whene ' er I list .

PENTHEUS
Perhaps he may , when thou standest amid thy Bacchanals and callest on his name .

DIONYSUS
Even now he is near me and witnesses my treatment .

PENTHEUS
Why , where is he ? To my eyes he is invisible .

DIONYSUS
He is by my side ; thou art a godless man and therefore dost not see him .

PENTHEUS
Seize him ! the fellow scorns me and Thebes too .

DIONYSUS
I bid you bind me not , reason addressing madness .

PENTHEUS
But I say " bind ! " with better right than thou .

DIONYSUS
Thou hast no knowledge of the life thou art leading ; thy very existence is now a mystery to thee .

PENTHEUS
I am Pentheus , son of Agave and Echion .

DIONYSUS
Well-named to be misfortune ' s mate !

PENTHEUS
Avaunt ! Ho ! shut him up within the horses ' stalls hard by , that for light he may have pitchy gloom . Do thy dancing there , and these women whom thou bringest with thee to share thy villainies I will either sell as slaves or make their hands cease from this noisy beating of drums , and set them to work at the loom as servants of my own .

DIONYSUS
I will go ; for that which fate forbids , can never befall me . For this thy mockery be sure Dionysus will exact a recompense of thee-even the god whose existence thou deniest ; for thou art injuring him by haling me to prison .

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( 476 ) 78% ENG - GRC
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