Bacchae 810-861 (Carson)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-30 23:42:52
- Modified on 2023-07-05 05:41:38
- Translated by Anne Carson
- 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 .
Dionysos
Aah .
Then how about this . Would you like to see
what the women are up to on that mountain ?
Pentheus
Oh I ' d give anything for that .
Dionysos
You ' re suddenly avid . Can you say why ?
Pentheus
Of course it would pain me to see women crazy with drink .
Dionysos
But a pain mixed with pleasure perhaps .
Pentheus
Exactly . I can sit quiet by a pine tree .
Dionysos
Hiding ? But they ' ll smell you out .
Pentheus
Good point . I ' ll stay in the open .
Dionysos
Then let ' s go . Are you ready ?
Pentheus
Ready ! Don ' t waste any more time !
Dionysos
First you must put on women ' s clothes .
Pentheus
Why ? Change myself to a woman ?
Dionysos
If they see a man there , you ' re dead .
Pentheus
Another good point .
Dionsysos
Dionysos taught me everything I know .
Pentheus
So how do we go about this ?
Dionysos
I ' ll come into the house and dress you myself .
Pentheus
Dress me as a woman ? I ' m too embarrassed !
Dionysos
Lost your appetite ? No more spying on maenads ?
Pentheus
What kind of women ' s dress did you have in mind ?
Dionysos
Well , first I ' ll give you long flowing hair .
Pentheus
Then what ? Jewellery ?
Dionysos
Then a dress to your ankles . And a binding for your hair .
Pentheus
Anything else ?
Dionysos
A thyrsos of course . And a fawnskin .
Pentheus
No , I can ' t do it . Dress as a woman . No .
Dionysos
Well , if you simply
march up the mountain and make war on them ,
you ' ll cause a blood bath .
Pentheus
True . I need to reconnoitre first .
Dionysos
Now you ' re thinking . No point hunting trouble with trouble , is there ?
Pentheus
But how shall I get through town unseen ?
Dionysos
I know a back way .
Pentheus
The important thing is , those women must not laugh at me .
Let ' s go inside , I ' ll decide what to do .
Dionysos
Fine . I ' m ready , whatever you choose .
Pentheus
Either make war on them or listen to you .
Dionysos
Ladies , the man is in the net !
He ' s on his way to the Bakkhai ,
he ' ll pay the ultimate price .
Dionysos , the rest is up to you .
You ' re close to us now ,
you ' re very close .
It ' s time to punish Pentheus : first
craze his brain ,
send a scamper of madness into it ––
otherwise he ' ll never put on women ' s clothes .
And
given the way he threatened me ,
I ' d like to see him made mock of ,
paraded through town in all his ridiculous female finery .
So
I ' ll go rig him up , put on his dress –– he ' ll
wear that dress to Hades
after his mother slaughters him with her own hands .
And he will come to know Dionysos ,
son of Zeus ,
true and consummate god ,
god of the intensities of terror ,
god of the gentlest human peace .
Aah .
Then how about this . Would you like to see
what the women are up to on that mountain ?
Pentheus
Oh I ' d give anything for that .
Dionysos
You ' re suddenly avid . Can you say why ?
Pentheus
Of course it would pain me to see women crazy with drink .
Dionysos
But a pain mixed with pleasure perhaps .
Pentheus
Exactly . I can sit quiet by a pine tree .
Dionysos
Hiding ? But they ' ll smell you out .
Pentheus
Good point . I ' ll stay in the open .
Dionysos
Then let ' s go . Are you ready ?
Pentheus
Ready ! Don ' t waste any more time !
Dionysos
First you must put on women ' s clothes .
Pentheus
Why ? Change myself to a woman ?
Dionysos
If they see a man there , you ' re dead .
Pentheus
Another good point .
Dionsysos
Dionysos taught me everything I know .
Pentheus
So how do we go about this ?
Dionysos
I ' ll come into the house and dress you myself .
Pentheus
Dress me as a woman ? I ' m too embarrassed !
Dionysos
Lost your appetite ? No more spying on maenads ?
Pentheus
What kind of women ' s dress did you have in mind ?
Dionysos
Well , first I ' ll give you long flowing hair .
Pentheus
Then what ? Jewellery ?
Dionysos
Then a dress to your ankles . And a binding for your hair .
Pentheus
Anything else ?
Dionysos
A thyrsos of course . And a fawnskin .
Pentheus
No , I can ' t do it . Dress as a woman . No .
Dionysos
Well , if you simply
march up the mountain and make war on them ,
you ' ll cause a blood bath .
Pentheus
True . I need to reconnoitre first .
Dionysos
Now you ' re thinking . No point hunting trouble with trouble , is there ?
Pentheus
But how shall I get through town unseen ?
Dionysos
I know a back way .
Pentheus
The important thing is , those women must not laugh at me .
Let ' s go inside , I ' ll decide what to do .
Dionysos
Fine . I ' m ready , whatever you choose .
Pentheus
Either make war on them or listen to you .
Dionysos
Ladies , the man is in the net !
He ' s on his way to the Bakkhai ,
he ' ll pay the ultimate price .
Dionysos , the rest is up to you .
You ' re close to us now ,
you ' re very close .
It ' s time to punish Pentheus : first
craze his brain ,
send a scamper of madness into it ––
otherwise he ' ll never put on women ' s clothes .
And
given the way he threatened me ,
I ' d like to see him made mock of ,
paraded through town in all his ridiculous female finery .
So
I ' ll go rig him up , put on his dress –– he ' ll
wear that dress to Hades
after his mother slaughters him with her own hands .
And he will come to know Dionysos ,
son of Zeus ,
true and consummate god ,
god of the intensities of terror ,
god of the gentlest human peace .