Bacchae 912-976 (Carson)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-07-05 14:14:20
- Modified on 2023-07-08 01:37:33
- Translated by Anne Carson
- 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 .
Dionysos
You ! Pentheus ! I ' m talking to you !
Still so keen on seeing sights you should not see ?
Still hungry for mischief ?
Come out and show me your Bakkhic get-up ,
your maenad-suit ,
your costume for spying on women .
You look like one of Kadmos ' daughters !
Pentheus
You know , I seem to see two suns .
And a double Thebes , each with all its seven gates .
And you look like a bull leading me in procession ––
you ' re got horns growing out your head !
Were you perhaps an animal all the time ?
You ' re certainly a bull at the moment .
Dionysos
The god is with us now .
He ' s come round , he ' s on our side .
You ' re seeing as you ought to see .
Pentheus
How do I look ?
Is this the way Ino stands ?
Or Agave my mother ?
Dionysos
I feel I ' m seeing them in person .
But here , this bit of hair is out of place ––
I had it tucked under , did I not ?
Pentheus
I was tossing my head back and forth like a maenad inside the house .
Dionysos
I ' ll redo it –– I ' m here to serve you . Hold still .
Pentheus
Oh lovely . You redo it . I ' m in your hands .
Dionysos
And your belt is loose , your pleats uneven ,
the hem ' s slipping down around your ankles .
Pentheus
Is it ? Possibly , on the right anyway .
Over here it hangs straight , so far as I can see .
Dionysos
You ' ll think me your best friend I ' m sure ,
when you see how sober and sensible the Bakkhai are ,
not what you expect .
Pentheus
Do I take the thyrsos in my right hand
or like this ,
to look really Bakkhic ?
Dionysos
Right hand .
Raise it in time with your right foot .
I ' m so glad you ' ve had a change of heart !
Pentheus
I ' ll be able to lift Mt Kithairon on my bare shoulders ,
Bakkhic women and all , am I right ?
Dionysos
No problem . Your whole attitude before was unsound
but not anymore !
Pentheus
Should we take crowbars ?
Or shall I just put my shoulder under the mountain and shove ?
Dionysos
Be careful though , you mustn ' t do damage to the temples of the Nymphs
or the places where Pan plays his pipes .
Pentheus
Good point . Brute force is out . Doesn ' t work with women anyhow .
I ' ll hide in the pines .
Dionysos
You ' ll hide in the hiding place a man should have who comes to spy on the Bakkhai .
Pentheus
You know , I can see them in my mind ' s eye ,
little birds in the bracken ,
all tangled up in sex .
Dionysos
Well that ' s you mission , right ?
Catach them at it !
Unless you ' re caught first .
Pentheus
Take me right through the middle of the city :
I ' m the only man bold enough to do this .
Dionysos
Yes , you alone bear this burden on behalf of Thebes .
A contest awaits you : the contest of your destiny .
Follow me .
I am your guide and saviour .
Someone else will bring you home .
Pentheus
My mother !
Dionysos
You ' ll be conspicuous to all .
Pentheus
That ' s my hope .
Dionysos
You ' ll be carried aloft .
Pentheus
What a luxury !
Dionysos
In the arms of your mother .
Pentheus
Now you ' re spoiling me !
Dionysos
Indeed I am .
Pentheus
But I deserve it .
Dionysos
You are an amazing strange man
and amazing strange experiences await you .
Your celebrity will reach high heaven .
Open your arms , Agave ,
open your arms , daughters of Kadmos !
I am leading this young man to a great contest , to his ultimate performance .
And who will win ?
I will win .
Bromios and I .
As for the rest : soon enough obvious .
You ! Pentheus ! I ' m talking to you !
Still so keen on seeing sights you should not see ?
Still hungry for mischief ?
Come out and show me your Bakkhic get-up ,
your maenad-suit ,
your costume for spying on women .
You look like one of Kadmos ' daughters !
Pentheus
You know , I seem to see two suns .
And a double Thebes , each with all its seven gates .
And you look like a bull leading me in procession ––
you ' re got horns growing out your head !
Were you perhaps an animal all the time ?
You ' re certainly a bull at the moment .
Dionysos
The god is with us now .
He ' s come round , he ' s on our side .
You ' re seeing as you ought to see .
Pentheus
How do I look ?
Is this the way Ino stands ?
Or Agave my mother ?
Dionysos
I feel I ' m seeing them in person .
But here , this bit of hair is out of place ––
I had it tucked under , did I not ?
Pentheus
I was tossing my head back and forth like a maenad inside the house .
Dionysos
I ' ll redo it –– I ' m here to serve you . Hold still .
Pentheus
Oh lovely . You redo it . I ' m in your hands .
Dionysos
And your belt is loose , your pleats uneven ,
the hem ' s slipping down around your ankles .
Pentheus
Is it ? Possibly , on the right anyway .
Over here it hangs straight , so far as I can see .
Dionysos
You ' ll think me your best friend I ' m sure ,
when you see how sober and sensible the Bakkhai are ,
not what you expect .
Pentheus
Do I take the thyrsos in my right hand
or like this ,
to look really Bakkhic ?
Dionysos
Right hand .
Raise it in time with your right foot .
I ' m so glad you ' ve had a change of heart !
Pentheus
I ' ll be able to lift Mt Kithairon on my bare shoulders ,
Bakkhic women and all , am I right ?
Dionysos
No problem . Your whole attitude before was unsound
but not anymore !
Pentheus
Should we take crowbars ?
Or shall I just put my shoulder under the mountain and shove ?
Dionysos
Be careful though , you mustn ' t do damage to the temples of the Nymphs
or the places where Pan plays his pipes .
Pentheus
Good point . Brute force is out . Doesn ' t work with women anyhow .
I ' ll hide in the pines .
Dionysos
You ' ll hide in the hiding place a man should have who comes to spy on the Bakkhai .
Pentheus
You know , I can see them in my mind ' s eye ,
little birds in the bracken ,
all tangled up in sex .
Dionysos
Well that ' s you mission , right ?
Catach them at it !
Unless you ' re caught first .
Pentheus
Take me right through the middle of the city :
I ' m the only man bold enough to do this .
Dionysos
Yes , you alone bear this burden on behalf of Thebes .
A contest awaits you : the contest of your destiny .
Follow me .
I am your guide and saviour .
Someone else will bring you home .
Pentheus
My mother !
Dionysos
You ' ll be conspicuous to all .
Pentheus
That ' s my hope .
Dionysos
You ' ll be carried aloft .
Pentheus
What a luxury !
Dionysos
In the arms of your mother .
Pentheus
Now you ' re spoiling me !
Dionysos
Indeed I am .
Pentheus
But I deserve it .
Dionysos
You are an amazing strange man
and amazing strange experiences await you .
Your celebrity will reach high heaven .
Open your arms , Agave ,
open your arms , daughters of Kadmos !
I am leading this young man to a great contest , to his ultimate performance .
And who will win ?
I will win .
Bromios and I .
As for the rest : soon enough obvious .