Bacchae 810-861 (Buckley)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-16 22:35:49
- Modified on 2023-07-03 17:24:51
- Translated by T. A. Buckley
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Διόνυσος
ἆ .
βούλῃ σφʼ ἐν ὄρεσι συγκαθημένας ἰδεῖν ;
Πενθεύς
μάλιστα , μυρίον γε δοὺς χρυσοῦ σταθμόν .
Διόνυσος
τί δʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τοῦδε πέπτωκας μέγαν ;
Πενθεύς
λυπρῶς νιν εἰσίδοιμʼ ἂν ἐξῳνωμένας .
Διόνυσος
ὅμως δʼ ἴδοις ἂν ἡδέως ἅ σοι πικρά ;
Πενθεύς
σάφʼ ἴσθι , σιγῇ γʼ ὑπʼ ἐλάταις καθήμενος .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ ἐξιχνεύσουσίν σε , κἂν ἔλθῃς λάθρᾳ .
Πενθεύς
ἀλλʼ ἐμφανῶς · καλῶς γὰρ ἐξεῖπας τάδε .
Διόνυσος
ἄγωμεν οὖν σε κἀπιχειρήσεις ὁδῷ ;
Πενθεύς
ἄγʼ ὡς τάχιστα , τοῦ χρόνου δέ σοι φθονῶ .
Διόνυσος
στεῖλαί νυν ἀμφὶ χρωτὶ βυσσίνους πέπλους .
Πενθεύς
τί δὴ τόδʼ ; ἐς γυναῖκας ἐξ ἀνδρὸς τελῶ ;
Διόνυσος
μή σε κτάνωσιν , ἢν ἀνὴρ ὀφθῇς ἐκεῖ .
Πενθεύς
εὖ γʼ εἶπας αὖ τόδʼ · ὥς τις εἶ πάλαι σοφός .
Διόνυσος
Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς ἐξεμούσωσεν τάδε .
Πενθεύς
πῶς οὖν γένοιτʼ ἂν ἃ σύ με νουθετεῖς καλῶς ;
Διόνυσος
ἐγὼ στελῶ σε δωμάτων ἔσω μολών .
Πενθεύς
τίνα στολήν ; ἦ θῆλυν ; ἀλλʼ αἰδώς μʼ ἔχει .
Διόνυσος
οὐκέτι θεατὴς μαινάδων πρόθυμος εἶ .
Πενθεύς
στολὴν δὲ τίνα φῂς ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐμὸν βαλεῖν ;
Διόνυσος
κόμην μὲν ἐπὶ σῷ κρατὶ ταναὸν ἐκτενῶ .
Πενθεύς
τὸ δεύτερον δὲ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τί μοι ;
Διόνυσος
πέπλοι ποδήρεις · ἐπὶ κάρᾳ δʼ ἔσται μίτρα .
Πενθεύς
ἦ καί τι πρὸς τοῖσδʼ ἄλλο προσθήσεις ἐμοί ;
Διόνυσος
θύρσον γε χειρὶ καὶ νεβροῦ στικτὸν δέρας .
Πενθεύς
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ αἷμα θήσεις συμβαλὼν βάκχαις μάχην .
Πενθεύς
ὀρθῶς · μολεῖν χρὴ πρῶτον εἰς κατασκοπήν .
Διόνυσος
σοφώτερον γοῦν ἢ κακοῖς θηρᾶν κακά .
Πενθεύς
καὶ πῶς διʼ ἄστεως εἶμι Καδμείους λαθών ;
Διόνυσος
ὁδοὺς ἐρήμους ἴμεν · ἐγὼ δʼ ἡγήσομαι .
Πενθεύς
πᾶν κρεῖσσον ὥστε μὴ ʼγγελᾶν βάκχας ἐμοί .
ἐλθόντʼ ἐς οἴκους ⋯ ἃν δοκῇ βουλεύσομαι .
Διόνυσος
ἔξεστι · πάντῃ τό γʼ ἐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς πάρα .
Πενθεύς
στείχοιμʼ ἄν · ἢ γὰρ ὅπλʼ ἔχων πορεύσομαι
ἢ τοῖσι σοῖσι πείσομαι βουλεύμασιν .
Διόνυσος
γυναῖκες , ἁνὴρ ἐς βόλον καθίσταται ,
ἥξει δὲ βάκχας , οὗ θανὼν δώσει δίκην .
Διόνυσε , νῦν σὸν ἔργον · οὐ γὰρ εἶ πρόσω ·
τεισώμεθʼ αὐτόν . πρῶτα δʼ ἔκστησον φρενῶν ,
ἐνεὶς ἐλαφρὰν λύσσαν · ὡς φρονῶν μὲν εὖ
οὐ μὴ θελήσῃ θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν ,
ἔξω δʼ ἐλαύνων τοῦ φρονεῖν ἐνδύσεται .
χρῄζω δέ νιν γέλωτα Θηβαίοις ὀφλεῖν
γυναικόμορφον ἀγόμενον διʼ ἄστεως
ἐκ τῶν ἀπειλῶν τῶν πρίν , αἷσι δεινὸς ἦν .
ἀλλʼ εἶμι κόσμον ὅνπερ εἰς Ἅιδου λαβὼν
ἄπεισι μητρὸς ἐκ χεροῖν κατασφαγείς ,
Πενθεῖ προσάψων · γνώσεται δὲ τὸν Διὸς
Διόνυσον , ὃς πέφυκεν ἐν τέλει θεός ,
δεινότατος , ἀνθρώποισι δʼ ἠπιώτατος .
ἆ .
βούλῃ σφʼ ἐν ὄρεσι συγκαθημένας ἰδεῖν ;
Πενθεύς
μάλιστα , μυρίον γε δοὺς χρυσοῦ σταθμόν .
Διόνυσος
τί δʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τοῦδε πέπτωκας μέγαν ;
Πενθεύς
λυπρῶς νιν εἰσίδοιμʼ ἂν ἐξῳνωμένας .
Διόνυσος
ὅμως δʼ ἴδοις ἂν ἡδέως ἅ σοι πικρά ;
Πενθεύς
σάφʼ ἴσθι , σιγῇ γʼ ὑπʼ ἐλάταις καθήμενος .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ ἐξιχνεύσουσίν σε , κἂν ἔλθῃς λάθρᾳ .
Πενθεύς
ἀλλʼ ἐμφανῶς · καλῶς γὰρ ἐξεῖπας τάδε .
Διόνυσος
ἄγωμεν οὖν σε κἀπιχειρήσεις ὁδῷ ;
Πενθεύς
ἄγʼ ὡς τάχιστα , τοῦ χρόνου δέ σοι φθονῶ .
Διόνυσος
στεῖλαί νυν ἀμφὶ χρωτὶ βυσσίνους πέπλους .
Πενθεύς
τί δὴ τόδʼ ; ἐς γυναῖκας ἐξ ἀνδρὸς τελῶ ;
Διόνυσος
μή σε κτάνωσιν , ἢν ἀνὴρ ὀφθῇς ἐκεῖ .
Πενθεύς
εὖ γʼ εἶπας αὖ τόδʼ · ὥς τις εἶ πάλαι σοφός .
Διόνυσος
Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς ἐξεμούσωσεν τάδε .
Πενθεύς
πῶς οὖν γένοιτʼ ἂν ἃ σύ με νουθετεῖς καλῶς ;
Διόνυσος
ἐγὼ στελῶ σε δωμάτων ἔσω μολών .
Πενθεύς
τίνα στολήν ; ἦ θῆλυν ; ἀλλʼ αἰδώς μʼ ἔχει .
Διόνυσος
οὐκέτι θεατὴς μαινάδων πρόθυμος εἶ .
Πενθεύς
στολὴν δὲ τίνα φῂς ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐμὸν βαλεῖν ;
Διόνυσος
κόμην μὲν ἐπὶ σῷ κρατὶ ταναὸν ἐκτενῶ .
Πενθεύς
τὸ δεύτερον δὲ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τί μοι ;
Διόνυσος
πέπλοι ποδήρεις · ἐπὶ κάρᾳ δʼ ἔσται μίτρα .
Πενθεύς
ἦ καί τι πρὸς τοῖσδʼ ἄλλο προσθήσεις ἐμοί ;
Διόνυσος
θύρσον γε χειρὶ καὶ νεβροῦ στικτὸν δέρας .
Πενθεύς
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ αἷμα θήσεις συμβαλὼν βάκχαις μάχην .
Πενθεύς
ὀρθῶς · μολεῖν χρὴ πρῶτον εἰς κατασκοπήν .
Διόνυσος
σοφώτερον γοῦν ἢ κακοῖς θηρᾶν κακά .
Πενθεύς
καὶ πῶς διʼ ἄστεως εἶμι Καδμείους λαθών ;
Διόνυσος
ὁδοὺς ἐρήμους ἴμεν · ἐγὼ δʼ ἡγήσομαι .
Πενθεύς
πᾶν κρεῖσσον ὥστε μὴ ʼγγελᾶν βάκχας ἐμοί .
ἐλθόντʼ ἐς οἴκους ⋯ ἃν δοκῇ βουλεύσομαι .
Διόνυσος
ἔξεστι · πάντῃ τό γʼ ἐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς πάρα .
Πενθεύς
στείχοιμʼ ἄν · ἢ γὰρ ὅπλʼ ἔχων πορεύσομαι
ἢ τοῖσι σοῖσι πείσομαι βουλεύμασιν .
Διόνυσος
γυναῖκες , ἁνὴρ ἐς βόλον καθίσταται ,
ἥξει δὲ βάκχας , οὗ θανὼν δώσει δίκην .
Διόνυσε , νῦν σὸν ἔργον · οὐ γὰρ εἶ πρόσω ·
τεισώμεθʼ αὐτόν . πρῶτα δʼ ἔκστησον φρενῶν ,
ἐνεὶς ἐλαφρὰν λύσσαν · ὡς φρονῶν μὲν εὖ
οὐ μὴ θελήσῃ θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν ,
ἔξω δʼ ἐλαύνων τοῦ φρονεῖν ἐνδύσεται .
χρῄζω δέ νιν γέλωτα Θηβαίοις ὀφλεῖν
γυναικόμορφον ἀγόμενον διʼ ἄστεως
ἐκ τῶν ἀπειλῶν τῶν πρίν , αἷσι δεινὸς ἦν .
ἀλλʼ εἶμι κόσμον ὅνπερ εἰς Ἅιδου λαβὼν
ἄπεισι μητρὸς ἐκ χεροῖν κατασφαγείς ,
Πενθεῖ προσάψων · γνώσεται δὲ τὸν Διὸς
Διόνυσον , ὃς πέφυκεν ἐν τέλει θεός ,
δεινότατος , ἀνθρώποισι δʼ ἠπιώτατος .
Dionysus
Wait ! Do you wish to see the women sitting in the mountains ?
Pentheus
Certainly . I’d pay an enormous amount of gold to see them .
Dionysus
Why do you want this so badly ?
Pentheus
I would be sorry to see them in their drunkenness .
Dionysus
But would you see gladly what is grievous to you ?
Pentheus
To be sure , sitting quietly under the pines .
Dionysus
But they will track you down , even if you go in secret .
Pentheus
You are right ; I will go openly .
Dionysus
Shall I guide you ? Will you attempt the journey ?
Pentheus
Lead me as quickly as possible . I grudge you the time .
Dionysus
Put clothes of eastern linen on your body then .
Pentheus
What is this ? Shall I then , instead of a man , be reckoned among the women ?
Dionysus
So that they don’t kill you if you appear there as a man .
Pentheus
Again you speak correctly ; how sophos you have been all along .
Dionysus
Dionysus gave me this education .
Pentheus
How can these things which you advise me so well be done ?
Dionysus
I will go inside and dress you .
Pentheus
In what clothing ? Female ? But shame [ aidōs ] holds me back .
Dionysus
Are you no longer eager to view the Maenads ?
Pentheus
What attire do you bid me to put on my body ?
Dionysus
I will spread out your hair at length on your head .
Pentheus
What is the second part of my outfit ?
Dionysus
A robe down to your feet . And you will wear a headband .
Pentheus
And what else will you add to this for me ?
Dionysus
A thyrsos in your hand , and dappled fawn-skin .
Pentheus
I could not possibly put on a woman’s dress .
Dionysus
But you will shed blood if you join battle with the Bacchae .
Pentheus
True . We must go first and spy .
Dionysus
This is more sophos than hunting trouble with trouble .
Pentheus
How will I go through the city without being seen by the Thebans ?
Dionysus
We will go on deserted roads . I will lead you .
Pentheus
Anything is better than to be mocked by the Bacchae . Let us two go into the house , and I will consider what seems best .
Dionysus
We can do what we like . I am at your service for anything .
Pentheus
I will go in . For I will either go bearing arms , or I will obey your guidance .
Dionysus
Women , the man is caught in our net . He will reach the Bacchae , where he will pay the penalty [ dikē ] with his death . Dionysus , now it is your task . You are not far off . Let us punish him : first drive him out of his phrenes , send upon him a dizzying madness , since if he is of sound phrenes he will not consent to wear women’s clothing , but he will put it on in insanity . I want him to be a source of laughter to the Thebans , led through the city in women’s guise after making such terrible threats in the past . I am going now . The costume [ kosmos ] that he will take with him to the house of Hādēs when he goes off to that place , slaughtered by the two hands of his own mother — that costume will I attach to Pentheus . And he will come to know the son of Zeus , Dionysus , the one who is by his own nature a god in the end [ telos ] , the one who is most terrifying [ deinos ] , but , for humans , also most gentle [ ēpios ] .
Wait ! Do you wish to see the women sitting in the mountains ?
Pentheus
Certainly . I’d pay an enormous amount of gold to see them .
Dionysus
Why do you want this so badly ?
Pentheus
I would be sorry to see them in their drunkenness .
Dionysus
But would you see gladly what is grievous to you ?
Pentheus
To be sure , sitting quietly under the pines .
Dionysus
But they will track you down , even if you go in secret .
Pentheus
You are right ; I will go openly .
Dionysus
Shall I guide you ? Will you attempt the journey ?
Pentheus
Lead me as quickly as possible . I grudge you the time .
Dionysus
Put clothes of eastern linen on your body then .
Pentheus
What is this ? Shall I then , instead of a man , be reckoned among the women ?
Dionysus
So that they don’t kill you if you appear there as a man .
Pentheus
Again you speak correctly ; how sophos you have been all along .
Dionysus
Dionysus gave me this education .
Pentheus
How can these things which you advise me so well be done ?
Dionysus
I will go inside and dress you .
Pentheus
In what clothing ? Female ? But shame [ aidōs ] holds me back .
Dionysus
Are you no longer eager to view the Maenads ?
Pentheus
What attire do you bid me to put on my body ?
Dionysus
I will spread out your hair at length on your head .
Pentheus
What is the second part of my outfit ?
Dionysus
A robe down to your feet . And you will wear a headband .
Pentheus
And what else will you add to this for me ?
Dionysus
A thyrsos in your hand , and dappled fawn-skin .
Pentheus
I could not possibly put on a woman’s dress .
Dionysus
But you will shed blood if you join battle with the Bacchae .
Pentheus
True . We must go first and spy .
Dionysus
This is more sophos than hunting trouble with trouble .
Pentheus
How will I go through the city without being seen by the Thebans ?
Dionysus
We will go on deserted roads . I will lead you .
Pentheus
Anything is better than to be mocked by the Bacchae . Let us two go into the house , and I will consider what seems best .
Dionysus
We can do what we like . I am at your service for anything .
Pentheus
I will go in . For I will either go bearing arms , or I will obey your guidance .
Dionysus
Women , the man is caught in our net . He will reach the Bacchae , where he will pay the penalty [ dikē ] with his death . Dionysus , now it is your task . You are not far off . Let us punish him : first drive him out of his phrenes , send upon him a dizzying madness , since if he is of sound phrenes he will not consent to wear women’s clothing , but he will put it on in insanity . I want him to be a source of laughter to the Thebans , led through the city in women’s guise after making such terrible threats in the past . I am going now . The costume [ kosmos ] that he will take with him to the house of Hādēs when he goes off to that place , slaughtered by the two hands of his own mother — that costume will I attach to Pentheus . And he will come to know the son of Zeus , Dionysus , the one who is by his own nature a god in the end [ telos ] , the one who is most terrifying [ deinos ] , but , for humans , also most gentle [ ēpios ] .