Bacchae 912-976 (Theodoridis)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-07-23 20:08:15
- Modified on 2023-07-26 03:03:39
- Translated by George Theodoridis
- 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 .
Chorus
You , Pentheus ! It is you , I mean . You who’s anxious to see things you really don’t need to see , it is enough for you to look to find what can be found . Pentheus ! Come out of the palace . Let me see you dressed in your new clothes as a Maenad , a Bacchant . You who’s anxious to spy on your mother and on the Bacchic rituals .
Pentheus
I … I think I can see two suns … and our city of seven gates , Thebes … there are two of them also . And you , stranger , you act as my guide , I see you’ve turned into a great bull and two huge horns have sprouted out of your head ! Were you ever before a beast ?
Dionysos
Ah , yes ! Your eyes have been restored now , Pentheus . Now you can see properly . You see ? God is with us now , not like before when he fought us .
Pentheus
So , how do I look ? Look at my face . Is it more similar to my mother’s Agave’s or to Ino’s ?
Dionysos
Hmm … to tell you the truth , when I look at you carefully … I think I can see both of them in you . O , look at this curl , you’ve messed it up . Not at all like I did it inside .
Pentheus
Yes , I had a bit of a dance inside and as I whirled my head around a bit , like the Bacchants , I threw it out of its place .
Dionysos
Here , let me fix it for you . Lift your head a bit .
Pentheus
Come , I’m in your hands . Tidy me up a bit .
Dionysos
Look here ! Your girdle is very loose and the folds of your robe don’t fall straight , all the way to your ankles .
Pentheus
Yes , I thought so ! It’s all right with the left leg though , isn’t it ?
Dionysos
You’ll see , Pentheus . I’ll be your best friend once you see how wise and properly behaved the Bacchants are .
Pentheus
How do I hold the thyrsus so that I can look more like a Bacchant ? Right hand or left ?
Dionysos
You hold it with your right hand and move your right foot forward at the same time . I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about all this .
Pentheus
Do you think I’d be able to lift the whole mountain , its valleys and all the Bacchants on my back ?
Dionysos
Of course you will ! Now that you have your mind back , you can do whatever you like . Not like before .
Pentheus
Well , should I bring great levers and pulleys for the job or could I do it with my bare hands , arms and shoulders ? I mean tear up the whole mountain .
Dionysos
You’d have to be careful not to destroy the Bacchants’ haunts and the dens of Pan ! You know how Pan loves to play his pipes around there .
Pentheus
Quite right , quite right . It’s not proper to use my strength to defeat mere women . I’ll hide among the fir trees .
Dionysos
Absolutely ! You must hide yourself well , since you’re going there secretly , to spy upon them .
Pentheus
He , he ! I think I’ll be catching these women as one catches the little birds : inside their little love nests .
Dionysos
Well , that’s what you’re going there for , to spy on them and catch them … that is … if they don’t catch you first !
Pentheus
Take me right through the centre of Thebes , stranger ! Because I want to show them that I’m the only one among them who dares do such a thing .
Dionysos
You are the only one who cares for your city , enough to undergo such trials , Pentheus . The trails are worthy of just such a brave man as you . Follow me . I’ll be your guide and your saviour . Once we’re there , others will take over from me …
Pentheus
My mother , yes .
Dionysos
You’re a revered symbol to them all , Pentheus .
Pentheus
That’s why I’m coming .
Dionysos
… take you from me and deliver you to …
Pentheus
Take me from you … like a spoilt child , you mean ?
Dionysos
… your mother .
Pentheus
You are giving me such a big head with all your compliments .
Dionysos
And what a big head !
Pentheus
I do deserve it , of course !
Dionysos
You’re a mighty man , Pentheus ! Mightier than the mighty and there are mighty battles waiting for you , mighty enough for your glory to reach the heavens ! Oh , Agave and all of you , daughters of Kadmos , open your arms , get ready for the man I’m bringing you . Receive him and offer him this mighty battle – a battle of which I’ll be the winner . I and Dionysos . The battle will disclose whatever else is necessary .
You , Pentheus ! It is you , I mean . You who’s anxious to see things you really don’t need to see , it is enough for you to look to find what can be found . Pentheus ! Come out of the palace . Let me see you dressed in your new clothes as a Maenad , a Bacchant . You who’s anxious to spy on your mother and on the Bacchic rituals .
Pentheus
I … I think I can see two suns … and our city of seven gates , Thebes … there are two of them also . And you , stranger , you act as my guide , I see you’ve turned into a great bull and two huge horns have sprouted out of your head ! Were you ever before a beast ?
Dionysos
Ah , yes ! Your eyes have been restored now , Pentheus . Now you can see properly . You see ? God is with us now , not like before when he fought us .
Pentheus
So , how do I look ? Look at my face . Is it more similar to my mother’s Agave’s or to Ino’s ?
Dionysos
Hmm … to tell you the truth , when I look at you carefully … I think I can see both of them in you . O , look at this curl , you’ve messed it up . Not at all like I did it inside .
Pentheus
Yes , I had a bit of a dance inside and as I whirled my head around a bit , like the Bacchants , I threw it out of its place .
Dionysos
Here , let me fix it for you . Lift your head a bit .
Pentheus
Come , I’m in your hands . Tidy me up a bit .
Dionysos
Look here ! Your girdle is very loose and the folds of your robe don’t fall straight , all the way to your ankles .
Pentheus
Yes , I thought so ! It’s all right with the left leg though , isn’t it ?
Dionysos
You’ll see , Pentheus . I’ll be your best friend once you see how wise and properly behaved the Bacchants are .
Pentheus
How do I hold the thyrsus so that I can look more like a Bacchant ? Right hand or left ?
Dionysos
You hold it with your right hand and move your right foot forward at the same time . I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about all this .
Pentheus
Do you think I’d be able to lift the whole mountain , its valleys and all the Bacchants on my back ?
Dionysos
Of course you will ! Now that you have your mind back , you can do whatever you like . Not like before .
Pentheus
Well , should I bring great levers and pulleys for the job or could I do it with my bare hands , arms and shoulders ? I mean tear up the whole mountain .
Dionysos
You’d have to be careful not to destroy the Bacchants’ haunts and the dens of Pan ! You know how Pan loves to play his pipes around there .
Pentheus
Quite right , quite right . It’s not proper to use my strength to defeat mere women . I’ll hide among the fir trees .
Dionysos
Absolutely ! You must hide yourself well , since you’re going there secretly , to spy upon them .
Pentheus
He , he ! I think I’ll be catching these women as one catches the little birds : inside their little love nests .
Dionysos
Well , that’s what you’re going there for , to spy on them and catch them … that is … if they don’t catch you first !
Pentheus
Take me right through the centre of Thebes , stranger ! Because I want to show them that I’m the only one among them who dares do such a thing .
Dionysos
You are the only one who cares for your city , enough to undergo such trials , Pentheus . The trails are worthy of just such a brave man as you . Follow me . I’ll be your guide and your saviour . Once we’re there , others will take over from me …
Pentheus
My mother , yes .
Dionysos
You’re a revered symbol to them all , Pentheus .
Pentheus
That’s why I’m coming .
Dionysos
… take you from me and deliver you to …
Pentheus
Take me from you … like a spoilt child , you mean ?
Dionysos
… your mother .
Pentheus
You are giving me such a big head with all your compliments .
Dionysos
And what a big head !
Pentheus
I do deserve it , of course !
Dionysos
You’re a mighty man , Pentheus ! Mightier than the mighty and there are mighty battles waiting for you , mighty enough for your glory to reach the heavens ! Oh , Agave and all of you , daughters of Kadmos , open your arms , get ready for the man I’m bringing you . Receive him and offer him this mighty battle – a battle of which I’ll be the winner . I and Dionysos . The battle will disclose whatever else is necessary .