English

Ἑλληνική Transliterate

I’ve arrived here in the land of Thebes ,
I , Dionysus , son of Zeus , born to him
from Semele , Cadmus’ daughter , delivered
by a fiery midwife—Zeus’s lightning flash . ( 1 )
Yes , I’ve changed my form from god to human ,
appearing here at these streams of Dirce ,
the waters of Ismarus . I see my mother’s tomb—
for she was wiped out by that lightning bolt .
It’s there , by the palace , with that rubble ,
the remnants of her house , still smoldering
from Zeus’s living fire—Hera’s undying outrage
against my mother .

English

Ἑλληνική Transliterate

I’ve left the fabulously wealthy East ,
lands of Lydians and Phrygians ,
Persia’s sun-drenched plains , walled towns in Bactria .
I’ve moved across the bleak lands of the Medes ,
through rich Arabia , all Asian lands ,
along the salt-sea coast , through those towns
with their beautifully constructed towers ,
full of barbarians and Greeks all intermingled .
Now I’ve come to Thebes , city of Greeks ,
only after I’ve set those eastern lands
dancing in the mysteries I established ,
making known to men my own divinity .

English

Ἑλληνική Transliterate

Thebes is the first city of the Greeks
where I’ve roused people to shout out my cries
with this deerskin draped around my body
this ivy spear a thyrsus , in my hand .
For my mother’s sisters have acted badly ,
something they of all people should avoid .
They boasted aloud that I Dionysus ,
was no child of Zeus , claiming Semele ,
once she was pregnant by some mortal man ,
attributed her bad luck in bed to Zeus
a story made up ( they said ) to trick Cadmus .
Those sisters state that is why Zeus killed her ,
because she lied about the man she’d slept with .
So I’ve driven those women from their homes
in a frenzy they now live in the mountains
out of their minds .

English

Ἑλληνική Transliterate

Because of that offense
I have stung them with frenzy , hounded them from home
up to the mountains where they wander , crazed of mind
and compelled to wear my orgies ' livery .
Every woman in Thebes but the women only ;
I drove from home , mad . There they sit
rich and poor alike even the daughters of Cadmus ,
beneath the silver firs on the roofless rocks .
Like it or not this city must learn its lesson :
it lacks initiation in my mysteries ;
that I shall vindicate my mother Semele
and stand revealed to mortal eyes as the god
she bore to Zeus .
Cadmus the king has abdicated ,
leaving his throne and power to his grandson Pentheus ;
who now revolts against divinity , in me ;
thrusts me from his offerings ; forgets my name
in his prayers :

English

Ἑλληνική Transliterate

Therefore I shall prove to him
and every man in Thebes that i am god
indeed . And when my worship is established here ,
and all is well , then I shall go my way
and be revealed to other men in other lands .
But if the men of Thebes attempt to force
My Bacchae from the mountainside by threat of arms
I shall marshal my Maenads and take the field .
To these ends I have laid my deity aside
and go disguised as man .

On , my women ,
women who worship me , women whom I led
Out of Asia where Tmolus heaves its rampart
Over Lydia !
On , comrades of my progress here !
Come , and with your native Phrygian drum
Rhea ' s drum and mine , pound at the palace doors
of Pentheus ! Let the city of Thebes behold you