Bacchae 912-976 (Buckley)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-07-05 04:10:14
- Modified on 2023-08-15 22:45:28
- Translated by T. A. Buckley
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Διόνυσος
σὲ τὸν πρόθυμον ὄνθʼ ἃ μὴ χρεὼν ὁρᾶν
σπεύδοντά τʼ ἀσπούδαστα , Πενθέα λέγω ,
ἔξιθι πάροιθε δωμάτων , ὄφθητί μοι ,
σκευὴν γυναικὸς μαινάδος βάκχης ἔχων ,
μητρός τε τῆς σῆς καὶ λόχου κατάσκοπος ·
πρέπεις δὲ Κάδμου θυγατέρων μορφὴν μιᾷ .
Πενθεύς
καὶ μὴν ὁρᾶν μοι δύο μὲν ἡλίους δοκῶ ,
δισσὰς δὲ Θήβας καὶ πόλισμʼ ἑπτάστομον ·
καὶ ταῦρος ἡμῖν πρόσθεν ἡγεῖσθαι δοκεῖς
καὶ σῷ κέρατα κρατὶ προσπεφυκέναι .
ἀλλʼ ἦ ποτʼ ἦσθα θήρ ; τεταύρωσαι γὰρ οὖν .
Διόνυσος
ὁ θεὸς ὁμαρτεῖ , πρόσθεν ὢν οὐκ εὐμενής ,
ἔνσπονδος ἡμῖν · νῦν δʼ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν .
Πενθεύς
τί φαίνομαι δῆτʼ ; οὐχὶ τὴν Ἰνοῦς στάσιν
ἢ τὴν Ἀγαύης ἑστάναι , μητρός γʼ ἐμῆς ;
Διόνυσος
αὐτὰς ἐκείνας εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ σʼ ὁρῶν .
ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἕδρας σοι πλόκαμος ἐξέστηχʼ ὅδε ,
οὐχ ὡς ἐγώ νιν ὑπὸ μίτρᾳ καθήρμοσα .
Πενθεύς
ἔνδον προσείων αὐτὸν ἀνασείων τʼ ἐγὼ
καὶ βακχιάζων ἐξ ἕδρας μεθώρμισα .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἡμεῖς , οἷς σε θεραπεύειν μέλει ,
πάλιν καταστελοῦμεν · ἀλλʼ ὄρθου κάρα .
Πενθεύς
ἰδού , σὺ κόσμει · σοὶ γὰρ ἀνακείμεσθα δή .
Διόνυσος
ζῶναί τέ σοι χαλῶσι κοὐχ ἑξῆς πέπλων
στολίδες ὑπὸ σφυροῖσι τείνουσιν σέθεν .
Πενθεύς
κἀμοὶ δοκοῦσι παρά γε δεξιὸν πόδα ·
τἀνθένδε δʼ ὀρθῶς παρὰ τένοντʼ ἔχει πέπλος .
Διόνυσος
ἦ πού με τῶν σῶν πρῶτον ἡγήσῃ φίλων ,
ὅταν παρὰ λόγον σώφρονας βάκχας ἴδῃς .
Πενθεύς
πότερα δὲ θύρσον δεξιᾷ λαβὼν χερὶ
ἢ τῇδε , βάκχῃ μᾶλλον εἰκασθήσομαι ;
Διόνυσος
ἐν δεξιᾷ χρὴ χἅμα δεξιῷ ποδὶ
αἴρειν νιν · αἰνῶ δʼ ὅτι μεθέστηκας φρενῶν .
Πενθεύς
ἆρʼ ἂν δυναίμην τὰς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχὰς
αὐταῖσι βάκχαις τοῖς ἐμοῖς ὤμοις φέρειν ;
Διόνυσος
δύναιʼ ἄν , εἰ βούλοιο · τὰς δὲ πρὶν φρένας
οὐκ εἶχες ὑγιεῖς , νῦν δʼ ἔχεις οἵας σε δεῖ .
Πενθεύς
μοχλοὺς φέρωμεν ; ἢ χεροῖν ἀνασπάσω
κορυφαῖς ὑποβαλὼν ὦμον ἢ βραχίονα ;
Διόνυσος
μὴ σύ γε τὰ Νυμφῶν διολέσῃς ἱδρύματα
καὶ Πανὸς ἕδρας ἔνθʼ ἔχει συρίγματα .
Πενθεύς
καλῶς ἔλεξας · οὐ σθένει νικητέον
γυναῖκας · ἐλάταισιν δʼ ἐμὸν κρύψω δέμας .
Διόνυσος
κρύψῃ σὺ κρύψιν ἥν σε κρυφθῆναι χρεών ,
ἐλθόντα δόλιον μαινάδων κατάσκοπον .
Πενθεύς
καὶ μὴν δοκῶ σφᾶς ἐν λόχμαις ὄρνιθας ὣς
λέκτρων ἔχεσθαι φιλτάτοις ἐν ἕρκεσιν .
Διόνυσος
οὐκοῦν ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀποστέλλῃ φύλαξ ·
λήψῃ δʼ ἴσως σφᾶς , ἢν σὺ μὴ ληφθῇς πάρος .
Πενθεύς
κόμιζε διὰ μέσης με Θηβαίας χθονός ·
μόνος γὰρ αὐτῶν εἰμʼ ἀνὴρ τολμῶν τόδε .
Διόνυσος
μόνος σὺ πόλεως τῆσδʼ ὑπερκάμνεις , μόνος ·
τοιγάρ σʼ ἀγῶνες ἀναμένουσιν οὓς ἐχρῆν .
ἕπου δέ · πομπὸς δʼ εἶμʼ ἐγὼ σωτήριος ,
κεῖθεν δʼ ἀπάξει σʼ ἄλλος .
Πενθεύς
ἡ τεκοῦσά γε .
Διόνυσος
ἐπίσημον ὄντα πᾶσιν .
Πενθεύς
ἐπὶ τόδʼ ἔρχομαι .
Διόνυσος
φερόμενος ἥξεις ⋯
Πενθεύς
ἁβρότητʼ ἐμὴν λέγεις .
Διόνυσος
ἐν χερσὶ μητρός .
Πενθεύς
καὶ τρυφᾶν μʼ ἀναγκάσεις .
Διόνυσος
τρυφάς γε τοιάσδε .
Πενθεύς
ἀξίων μὲν ἅπτομαι .
Διόνυσος
δεινὸς σὺ δεινὸς κἀπὶ δείνʼ ἔρχῃ πάθη ,
ὥστʼ οὐρανῷ στηρίζον εὑρήσεις κλέος .
ἔκτεινʼ , Ἀγαύη , χεῖρας αἵ θʼ ὁμόσποροι
Κάδμου θυγατέρες · τὸν νεανίαν ἄγω
τόνδʼ εἰς ἀγῶνα μέγαν , ὁ νικήσων δʼ ἐγὼ
καὶ Βρόμιος ἔσται . τἄλλα δʼ αὐτὸ σημανεῖ .
σὲ τὸν πρόθυμον ὄνθʼ ἃ μὴ χρεὼν ὁρᾶν
σπεύδοντά τʼ ἀσπούδαστα , Πενθέα λέγω ,
ἔξιθι πάροιθε δωμάτων , ὄφθητί μοι ,
σκευὴν γυναικὸς μαινάδος βάκχης ἔχων ,
μητρός τε τῆς σῆς καὶ λόχου κατάσκοπος ·
πρέπεις δὲ Κάδμου θυγατέρων μορφὴν μιᾷ .
Πενθεύς
καὶ μὴν ὁρᾶν μοι δύο μὲν ἡλίους δοκῶ ,
δισσὰς δὲ Θήβας καὶ πόλισμʼ ἑπτάστομον ·
καὶ ταῦρος ἡμῖν πρόσθεν ἡγεῖσθαι δοκεῖς
καὶ σῷ κέρατα κρατὶ προσπεφυκέναι .
ἀλλʼ ἦ ποτʼ ἦσθα θήρ ; τεταύρωσαι γὰρ οὖν .
Διόνυσος
ὁ θεὸς ὁμαρτεῖ , πρόσθεν ὢν οὐκ εὐμενής ,
ἔνσπονδος ἡμῖν · νῦν δʼ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν .
Πενθεύς
τί φαίνομαι δῆτʼ ; οὐχὶ τὴν Ἰνοῦς στάσιν
ἢ τὴν Ἀγαύης ἑστάναι , μητρός γʼ ἐμῆς ;
Διόνυσος
αὐτὰς ἐκείνας εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ σʼ ὁρῶν .
ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἕδρας σοι πλόκαμος ἐξέστηχʼ ὅδε ,
οὐχ ὡς ἐγώ νιν ὑπὸ μίτρᾳ καθήρμοσα .
Πενθεύς
ἔνδον προσείων αὐτὸν ἀνασείων τʼ ἐγὼ
καὶ βακχιάζων ἐξ ἕδρας μεθώρμισα .
Διόνυσος
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἡμεῖς , οἷς σε θεραπεύειν μέλει ,
πάλιν καταστελοῦμεν · ἀλλʼ ὄρθου κάρα .
Πενθεύς
ἰδού , σὺ κόσμει · σοὶ γὰρ ἀνακείμεσθα δή .
Διόνυσος
ζῶναί τέ σοι χαλῶσι κοὐχ ἑξῆς πέπλων
στολίδες ὑπὸ σφυροῖσι τείνουσιν σέθεν .
Πενθεύς
κἀμοὶ δοκοῦσι παρά γε δεξιὸν πόδα ·
τἀνθένδε δʼ ὀρθῶς παρὰ τένοντʼ ἔχει πέπλος .
Διόνυσος
ἦ πού με τῶν σῶν πρῶτον ἡγήσῃ φίλων ,
ὅταν παρὰ λόγον σώφρονας βάκχας ἴδῃς .
Πενθεύς
πότερα δὲ θύρσον δεξιᾷ λαβὼν χερὶ
ἢ τῇδε , βάκχῃ μᾶλλον εἰκασθήσομαι ;
Διόνυσος
ἐν δεξιᾷ χρὴ χἅμα δεξιῷ ποδὶ
αἴρειν νιν · αἰνῶ δʼ ὅτι μεθέστηκας φρενῶν .
Πενθεύς
ἆρʼ ἂν δυναίμην τὰς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχὰς
αὐταῖσι βάκχαις τοῖς ἐμοῖς ὤμοις φέρειν ;
Διόνυσος
δύναιʼ ἄν , εἰ βούλοιο · τὰς δὲ πρὶν φρένας
οὐκ εἶχες ὑγιεῖς , νῦν δʼ ἔχεις οἵας σε δεῖ .
Πενθεύς
μοχλοὺς φέρωμεν ; ἢ χεροῖν ἀνασπάσω
κορυφαῖς ὑποβαλὼν ὦμον ἢ βραχίονα ;
Διόνυσος
μὴ σύ γε τὰ Νυμφῶν διολέσῃς ἱδρύματα
καὶ Πανὸς ἕδρας ἔνθʼ ἔχει συρίγματα .
Πενθεύς
καλῶς ἔλεξας · οὐ σθένει νικητέον
γυναῖκας · ἐλάταισιν δʼ ἐμὸν κρύψω δέμας .
Διόνυσος
κρύψῃ σὺ κρύψιν ἥν σε κρυφθῆναι χρεών ,
ἐλθόντα δόλιον μαινάδων κατάσκοπον .
Πενθεύς
καὶ μὴν δοκῶ σφᾶς ἐν λόχμαις ὄρνιθας ὣς
λέκτρων ἔχεσθαι φιλτάτοις ἐν ἕρκεσιν .
Διόνυσος
οὐκοῦν ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀποστέλλῃ φύλαξ ·
λήψῃ δʼ ἴσως σφᾶς , ἢν σὺ μὴ ληφθῇς πάρος .
Πενθεύς
κόμιζε διὰ μέσης με Θηβαίας χθονός ·
μόνος γὰρ αὐτῶν εἰμʼ ἀνὴρ τολμῶν τόδε .
Διόνυσος
μόνος σὺ πόλεως τῆσδʼ ὑπερκάμνεις , μόνος ·
τοιγάρ σʼ ἀγῶνες ἀναμένουσιν οὓς ἐχρῆν .
ἕπου δέ · πομπὸς δʼ εἶμʼ ἐγὼ σωτήριος ,
κεῖθεν δʼ ἀπάξει σʼ ἄλλος .
Πενθεύς
ἡ τεκοῦσά γε .
Διόνυσος
ἐπίσημον ὄντα πᾶσιν .
Πενθεύς
ἐπὶ τόδʼ ἔρχομαι .
Διόνυσος
φερόμενος ἥξεις ⋯
Πενθεύς
ἁβρότητʼ ἐμὴν λέγεις .
Διόνυσος
ἐν χερσὶ μητρός .
Πενθεύς
καὶ τρυφᾶν μʼ ἀναγκάσεις .
Διόνυσος
τρυφάς γε τοιάσδε .
Πενθεύς
ἀξίων μὲν ἅπτομαι .
Διόνυσος
δεινὸς σὺ δεινὸς κἀπὶ δείνʼ ἔρχῃ πάθη ,
ὥστʼ οὐρανῷ στηρίζον εὑρήσεις κλέος .
ἔκτεινʼ , Ἀγαύη , χεῖρας αἵ θʼ ὁμόσποροι
Κάδμου θυγατέρες · τὸν νεανίαν ἄγω
τόνδʼ εἰς ἀγῶνα μέγαν , ὁ νικήσων δʼ ἐγὼ
καὶ Βρόμιος ἔσται . τἄλλα δʼ αὐτὸ σημανεῖ .
Dionysus
You there ! Yes , I’m talking to you , to the one who is so eager to see the things that should not be seen and who rushes to accomplish things that cannot be rushed . It is you that I am talking to , Pentheus . Come out from inside the palace . Let me have a good look at you wearing the costume of a woman who is a maenad [ mainas ] , a Bacchant [ bakkhē ] , ready to spy on your mother and her company . The way you are shaped , you look just like one of the daughters of Kadmos .
Pentheus
What is this ? I think I see two suns , and not one seven-gated city [ polisma ] of Thebes but two . And , as you are leading me , you look like a bull and horns seem to have sprouted on your head . Were you ever before a beast ? You have certainly now become a bull .
Dionysus
The god accompanies us , though formerly he was not of good intentions [ eu-menēs ] . He has a truce with us , and now you see what you should be seeing .
Pentheus
So what do I appear [ phainesthai ] to be ? Do I not have the dancing pose [ stasis ] of Ino or of Agaue my mother ?
Dionysus
Looking at you I think I see them right now . Oh , but watch out : this lock of hair [ plokamos ] here is out of place . It stands out , not the way I had secured it , to be held down by the headband [ mitra ] .
Pentheus
While I was inside , I was shaking it [ = the lock of hair ] forward and backward , and , in a Bacchic state of mind [ bakkhiazōn ] , I displaced it , moving it out of place .
Dionysus
Then I , whose concern it is to care [ therapeuein ] for you , will arrange it [ = the lock hair ] all over again . Come on , hold your head straight .
Pentheus
You see it [ = the lock of hair ] ? There it is ! You arrange [ kosmeîn ] it for me . I can see I am really depending on you .
Dionysus
And your waistband has come loose . And those things are not in the right order , I mean , the pleats of your robe [ peplos ] , the way they extend down around your ankles .
Pentheus
That’s the way I see it from my angle as well . At least , that is the way it is down around my right foot , but , on this other side , the robe [ peplos ] does extend in a straight line down around the calf .
Dionysus
I really do think you will consider me the foremost among those who are near and dear [ philoi ] to you when , contrary to your expectations , you see that Bacchants [ bakkhai ] are moderate [ = sōphrones ] .
Pentheus
So which one will it be ? I mean , shall I hold the wand [ thursos ] with my right hand or with this other one here ? Which is the way I will look more like a Bacchant [ bakkhē ] ?
Dionysus
You must hold it in your right hand and , at the same time , with your right foot you must make an upward motion . I approve [ aineîn ] of the way you have shifted in your thinking [ phrenes ] .
Pentheus
Could I not carry on my shoulders the ridges of Mount Kithairon , Bacchants and all ?
Dionysus
You could if you wanted to . Your earlier thoughts [ phrenes ] were not sound , but now they are the way they should be .
Pentheus
Shall we bring levers , or shall I use my hands for lifting , throwing a shoulder or arm under the mountains as I raise them up ?
Dionysus
But you must not destroy the dwelling places of the Nymphs and the places where Pan stays , playing on his pipe .
Pentheus
You said it well . It is not by force that my victory over the women should happen . I will hide my body under the shelter of the fir trees .
Dionysus
You will hide yourself by hiding as you should be hidden , coming as a crafty spy on the maenads [ mainades ] .
Pentheus
You know , I have this vision of them : there they are in the bushes , like birds in their most beloved [ phila ] hiding places , held in the tight grip of making love .
Dionysus
Yes , and are you not like a guardian who has been sent out to counter exactly this kind of thing ? Perhaps you will catch them , unless they beat you to it and you yourself get caught .
Pentheus
Bring me there , let us go there , passing right through the middle of Thebes on our way . 962 I am the only one of those [ Thebans ] who dares to do this .
Dionysus
You alone [ monos ] enter the struggle for the sake of this city [ polis ] , you alone [ monos ] . And so the ordeals [ agōnes ] that must happen are awaiting you . Follow me . I am your guide , giving salvation [ sōtērios ] . But then , on the way back , someone else will lead you down from up there .
Pentheus
Yes , it will be my mother .
Dionysus
And you will be a distinctive sign [ epi-sēmon ] to all .
Pentheus
I am going with that objective in mind .
Dionysus
You will return here being carried—
Pentheus
You are talking about my desire for luxury [ habrotēs ]
Dionysus
— in the arms of your mother .
Pentheus
Yes indeed , in such luxury [ truphē ] .
Dionysus
I am reaching for things I deserve .
Pentheus
I am undertaking worthy deeds .
Dionysus
A man of terror [ deinos ] you are , a man of terror [ deinos ] , and you are going after experiences [ pathos plural ] that are things of terror [ deina ] . The result will be that you will find a glory [ kleos ] reaching all the way up to the sky . Hold out your hands , Agaue , and you too , her sisters , daughters of Kadmos . The young man is being led by me to this great ordeal [ agōn ] here . And the one who will win the victory — that will be I myself . Bromios [ = Dionysus the Thunderer ] and I myself will be the victors . What signals [ sēmainein ] it are other things that are yet to happen .
You there ! Yes , I’m talking to you , to the one who is so eager to see the things that should not be seen and who rushes to accomplish things that cannot be rushed . It is you that I am talking to , Pentheus . Come out from inside the palace . Let me have a good look at you wearing the costume of a woman who is a maenad [ mainas ] , a Bacchant [ bakkhē ] , ready to spy on your mother and her company . The way you are shaped , you look just like one of the daughters of Kadmos .
Pentheus
What is this ? I think I see two suns , and not one seven-gated city [ polisma ] of Thebes but two . And , as you are leading me , you look like a bull and horns seem to have sprouted on your head . Were you ever before a beast ? You have certainly now become a bull .
Dionysus
The god accompanies us , though formerly he was not of good intentions [ eu-menēs ] . He has a truce with us , and now you see what you should be seeing .
Pentheus
So what do I appear [ phainesthai ] to be ? Do I not have the dancing pose [ stasis ] of Ino or of Agaue my mother ?
Dionysus
Looking at you I think I see them right now . Oh , but watch out : this lock of hair [ plokamos ] here is out of place . It stands out , not the way I had secured it , to be held down by the headband [ mitra ] .
Pentheus
While I was inside , I was shaking it [ = the lock of hair ] forward and backward , and , in a Bacchic state of mind [ bakkhiazōn ] , I displaced it , moving it out of place .
Dionysus
Then I , whose concern it is to care [ therapeuein ] for you , will arrange it [ = the lock hair ] all over again . Come on , hold your head straight .
Pentheus
You see it [ = the lock of hair ] ? There it is ! You arrange [ kosmeîn ] it for me . I can see I am really depending on you .
Dionysus
And your waistband has come loose . And those things are not in the right order , I mean , the pleats of your robe [ peplos ] , the way they extend down around your ankles .
Pentheus
That’s the way I see it from my angle as well . At least , that is the way it is down around my right foot , but , on this other side , the robe [ peplos ] does extend in a straight line down around the calf .
Dionysus
I really do think you will consider me the foremost among those who are near and dear [ philoi ] to you when , contrary to your expectations , you see that Bacchants [ bakkhai ] are moderate [ = sōphrones ] .
Pentheus
So which one will it be ? I mean , shall I hold the wand [ thursos ] with my right hand or with this other one here ? Which is the way I will look more like a Bacchant [ bakkhē ] ?
Dionysus
You must hold it in your right hand and , at the same time , with your right foot you must make an upward motion . I approve [ aineîn ] of the way you have shifted in your thinking [ phrenes ] .
Pentheus
Could I not carry on my shoulders the ridges of Mount Kithairon , Bacchants and all ?
Dionysus
You could if you wanted to . Your earlier thoughts [ phrenes ] were not sound , but now they are the way they should be .
Pentheus
Shall we bring levers , or shall I use my hands for lifting , throwing a shoulder or arm under the mountains as I raise them up ?
Dionysus
But you must not destroy the dwelling places of the Nymphs and the places where Pan stays , playing on his pipe .
Pentheus
You said it well . It is not by force that my victory over the women should happen . I will hide my body under the shelter of the fir trees .
Dionysus
You will hide yourself by hiding as you should be hidden , coming as a crafty spy on the maenads [ mainades ] .
Pentheus
You know , I have this vision of them : there they are in the bushes , like birds in their most beloved [ phila ] hiding places , held in the tight grip of making love .
Dionysus
Yes , and are you not like a guardian who has been sent out to counter exactly this kind of thing ? Perhaps you will catch them , unless they beat you to it and you yourself get caught .
Pentheus
Bring me there , let us go there , passing right through the middle of Thebes on our way . 962 I am the only one of those [ Thebans ] who dares to do this .
Dionysus
You alone [ monos ] enter the struggle for the sake of this city [ polis ] , you alone [ monos ] . And so the ordeals [ agōnes ] that must happen are awaiting you . Follow me . I am your guide , giving salvation [ sōtērios ] . But then , on the way back , someone else will lead you down from up there .
Pentheus
Yes , it will be my mother .
Dionysus
And you will be a distinctive sign [ epi-sēmon ] to all .
Pentheus
I am going with that objective in mind .
Dionysus
You will return here being carried—
Pentheus
You are talking about my desire for luxury [ habrotēs ]
Dionysus
— in the arms of your mother .
Pentheus
Yes indeed , in such luxury [ truphē ] .
Dionysus
I am reaching for things I deserve .
Pentheus
I am undertaking worthy deeds .
Dionysus
A man of terror [ deinos ] you are , a man of terror [ deinos ] , and you are going after experiences [ pathos plural ] that are things of terror [ deina ] . The result will be that you will find a glory [ kleos ] reaching all the way up to the sky . Hold out your hands , Agaue , and you too , her sisters , daughters of Kadmos . The young man is being led by me to this great ordeal [ agōn ] here . And the one who will win the victory — that will be I myself . Bromios [ = Dionysus the Thunderer ] and I myself will be the victors . What signals [ sēmainein ] it are other things that are yet to happen .