Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
Furman University, University of Washington
Bacchae 215-262 (Murray)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-15 23:05:02
- Modified on 2023-06-16 02:09:20
- Translated by George Gilbert Aimé Murray
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Pentheus speaks on the rumors of Dionysus
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Πενθεύς
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
Pentheus
.
Scarce had I crossed our borders , when mine ear
Was caught by this strange rumour , that our own
Wives , our own sisters , from their hearths are flown
To wild and secret rites ; and cluster there
High on the shadowy hills , with dance and prayer
To adore this new-made God , this Dionyse ,
Whate ' er he be ! — And in their companies
Deep wine-jars stand , and ever and anon
Away into the loneliness now one
Steals forth , and now a second , maid or dame ,
Where love lies waiting , not of God ! The flame ,
They say , of Bacchios wraps them . Bacchios ! Nay ,
' Tis more to Aphrodite that they pray .
Howbeit , all that I have found , my men
Hold bound and shackled in our dungeon den ;
The rest , I will go hunt them ! Aye , and snare
My birds with nets of iron , to quell their prayer
And mountain song and rites of rascaldom !
They tell me , too , there is a stranger come ,
A man of charm and spell , from Lydian seas ,
A head all gold and cloudy fragrancies ,
A wine-red cheek , and eyes that hold the light
Of the very Cyprian . Day and livelong night
He haunts amid the damsels , o ' er each lip
Dangling his cup of joyance ! — Let me grip
Him once , but once , within these walls , right swift
That wand shall cease its music , and that drift
Of tossing curls lie still — when my rude sword
Falls between neck and trunk ! ' Tis all his word ,
This tale of Dionysus ; how that same
Babe that was blasted by the lightning flame
With his dead mother , for that mother ' s lie ,
Was re-conceived , born perfect from the thigh
Of Zeus , and now is God ! What call ye these ?
Dreams ? Gibes of the unknown wanderer ? Blasphemies
That crave the very gibbet ?
Stay ! God wot ,
Here is another marvel ! See I not
In motley fawn-skins robed the vision-seer
Teiresias ? And my mother ' s father here —
O depth of scorn ! — adoring with the wand
Of Bacchios ? — Father ! — Nay , mine eyes are fond ;
It is not your white heads so fancy-flown !
It cannot be ! Cast off that ivy crown ,
O mine own mother ' s sire ! Set free that hand
That cowers about its staff .
' Tis thou hast planned
This work , Teiresias ! ' Tis thou must set
Another altar and another yet
Amongst us , watch new birds , and win more hire
Of gold , interpreting new signs of fire !
But for thy silver hairs , I tell thee true ,
Thou now wert sitting chained amid thy crew
Of raving damsels , for this evil dream
Thou hast brought us , of new Gods ! When once the gleam
Of grapes hath lit a Woman ' s Festival ,
In all their prayers is no more health at all !
Scarce had I crossed our borders , when mine ear
Was caught by this strange rumour , that our own
Wives , our own sisters , from their hearths are flown
To wild and secret rites ; and cluster there
High on the shadowy hills , with dance and prayer
To adore this new-made God , this Dionyse ,
Whate ' er he be ! — And in their companies
Deep wine-jars stand , and ever and anon
Away into the loneliness now one
Steals forth , and now a second , maid or dame ,
Where love lies waiting , not of God ! The flame ,
They say , of Bacchios wraps them . Bacchios ! Nay ,
' Tis more to Aphrodite that they pray .
Howbeit , all that I have found , my men
Hold bound and shackled in our dungeon den ;
The rest , I will go hunt them ! Aye , and snare
My birds with nets of iron , to quell their prayer
And mountain song and rites of rascaldom !
They tell me , too , there is a stranger come ,
A man of charm and spell , from Lydian seas ,
A head all gold and cloudy fragrancies ,
A wine-red cheek , and eyes that hold the light
Of the very Cyprian . Day and livelong night
He haunts amid the damsels , o ' er each lip
Dangling his cup of joyance ! — Let me grip
Him once , but once , within these walls , right swift
That wand shall cease its music , and that drift
Of tossing curls lie still — when my rude sword
Falls between neck and trunk ! ' Tis all his word ,
This tale of Dionysus ; how that same
Babe that was blasted by the lightning flame
With his dead mother , for that mother ' s lie ,
Was re-conceived , born perfect from the thigh
Of Zeus , and now is God ! What call ye these ?
Dreams ? Gibes of the unknown wanderer ? Blasphemies
That crave the very gibbet ?
Stay ! God wot ,
Here is another marvel ! See I not
In motley fawn-skins robed the vision-seer
Teiresias ? And my mother ' s father here —
O depth of scorn ! — adoring with the wand
Of Bacchios ? — Father ! — Nay , mine eyes are fond ;
It is not your white heads so fancy-flown !
It cannot be ! Cast off that ivy crown ,
O mine own mother ' s sire ! Set free that hand
That cowers about its staff .
' Tis thou hast planned
This work , Teiresias ! ' Tis thou must set
Another altar and another yet
Amongst us , watch new birds , and win more hire
Of gold , interpreting new signs of fire !
But for thy silver hairs , I tell thee true ,
Thou now wert sitting chained amid thy crew
Of raving damsels , for this evil dream
Thou hast brought us , of new Gods ! When once the gleam
Of grapes hath lit a Woman ' s Festival ,
In all their prayers is no more health at all !
Bacchae 215-262 (Theodoridis)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-16 02:08:17
- Modified on 2023-06-16 02:56:15
- Translated by George Theodoridis
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Πενθεύς
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
Pentheus
All I’ve done is to go away from Thebes for just a short while and what happens ? My ears are buzzing with dreadful and bizarre disasters , hitting my beloved country .
I heard that our women have left their homes and gone off to the mountains dancing the Bacchic dances ! Some new , young god ! Utter rubbish ! There they are , placing great tubs full of wine in the centre of their group , in the middle of nowhere and off they go , one here , another there , rolling around with any man they come across and giving the excuse that they are maenads ; but what are they doing ?
Serving Dionysos ? No way ! They’re serving Aphrodite !
I’ve caught some of them , tied their hands and locked them up in various public buildings . The rest , those who escaped , I’ll catch from the mountains . Ino , for example and Agave , she who with Ehion gave birth to me , as well as Aktaion’s mother , I mean Aftonoe . I’ll shut them up behind bars as well so that I can stop this scoundrel’s bacchic rites .
I’m told that he is some young foreign smooth talker , some magician from somewhere in Lydia , with blond and scented plaits , and they say also that one can see in his wine-coloured eyes the charms of Aphrodite . And this man hangs around all the young girls and offers them entry to the " mystic rites ! "
If I get to catch this crook anywhere near this palace I’ll make sure I’ll stop his thyrsus-thrashing and his hair-waving once and for all , by separating his torso from his head .
Ha ! Apparently , this fool says that Dionysos is a true god . He says that Dionysos was sown up inside Zeus’ thigh ! How stupid ! The true fact of the matter was that Zeus burned him , along with his mother with flaming lightning .
Well , when some stranger comes and gives you all these lies and insolence , what do you do ? Isn’t all this stuff worthy of the hangman’s rope ?
Ha ! O , my God ! Now there’s a real sight to behold ! Is this some sort of madman’s apparition ? Our good old prophet , Teiresias , the seer of the guts of beasts ! There he is , dressed with delightful skins of deer and , with him , my mother’s father – what a laugh-off for his bit of bacchic revelry with his own thyrsus at the ready .
No , no , no , grandfather , seeing you like this , I just can’t believe that your old age has filled your head with wisdom .
Unwind that ivy from your thyrsus , relieve your hands of them grandfather . They do not suit you . Did you persuade him to do this , Teiresias ? Is it you who wants to bring to our city this new god only so that you can make more money with more new waffly oracles from birds and fires ?
Your grey hair saved you old man . Otherwise , I’d tie you up and place you in the very centre of these wild women . That would teach you to bring to our good city treacherous new rites . I’m telling you both , no good comes out of drunk women .
Wine wisdom and orgies are dangerous .
All I’ve done is to go away from Thebes for just a short while and what happens ? My ears are buzzing with dreadful and bizarre disasters , hitting my beloved country .
I heard that our women have left their homes and gone off to the mountains dancing the Bacchic dances ! Some new , young god ! Utter rubbish ! There they are , placing great tubs full of wine in the centre of their group , in the middle of nowhere and off they go , one here , another there , rolling around with any man they come across and giving the excuse that they are maenads ; but what are they doing ?
Serving Dionysos ? No way ! They’re serving Aphrodite !
I’ve caught some of them , tied their hands and locked them up in various public buildings . The rest , those who escaped , I’ll catch from the mountains . Ino , for example and Agave , she who with Ehion gave birth to me , as well as Aktaion’s mother , I mean Aftonoe . I’ll shut them up behind bars as well so that I can stop this scoundrel’s bacchic rites .
I’m told that he is some young foreign smooth talker , some magician from somewhere in Lydia , with blond and scented plaits , and they say also that one can see in his wine-coloured eyes the charms of Aphrodite . And this man hangs around all the young girls and offers them entry to the " mystic rites ! "
If I get to catch this crook anywhere near this palace I’ll make sure I’ll stop his thyrsus-thrashing and his hair-waving once and for all , by separating his torso from his head .
Ha ! Apparently , this fool says that Dionysos is a true god . He says that Dionysos was sown up inside Zeus’ thigh ! How stupid ! The true fact of the matter was that Zeus burned him , along with his mother with flaming lightning .
Well , when some stranger comes and gives you all these lies and insolence , what do you do ? Isn’t all this stuff worthy of the hangman’s rope ?
Ha ! O , my God ! Now there’s a real sight to behold ! Is this some sort of madman’s apparition ? Our good old prophet , Teiresias , the seer of the guts of beasts ! There he is , dressed with delightful skins of deer and , with him , my mother’s father – what a laugh-off for his bit of bacchic revelry with his own thyrsus at the ready .
No , no , no , grandfather , seeing you like this , I just can’t believe that your old age has filled your head with wisdom .
Unwind that ivy from your thyrsus , relieve your hands of them grandfather . They do not suit you . Did you persuade him to do this , Teiresias ? Is it you who wants to bring to our city this new god only so that you can make more money with more new waffly oracles from birds and fires ?
Your grey hair saved you old man . Otherwise , I’d tie you up and place you in the very centre of these wild women . That would teach you to bring to our good city treacherous new rites . I’m telling you both , no good comes out of drunk women .
Wine wisdom and orgies are dangerous .
Bacchae 215-262 (Buckley)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-16 21:53:39
- Modified on 2023-06-30 23:16:23
- Translated by T. A. Buckley
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Πενθεύς
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
Pentheus
I was away from this land when I heard of the new evils throughout this polis , that our women have left our homes in contrived Bacchic rites , and rush about in the shadowy mountains , honoring with khoroi this new daimōn Dionysus , whoever he is . I hear that mixing-bowls stand full in the midst of their assemblies , and that each woman , flying to secrecy in different directions , yields to the embraces of men , on the pretext that they are Maenads worshipping . They consider Aphrodite of greater priority than Dionysus .
Servants keep as many of them as I have caught in the public buildings with their hands chained . I will hunt from the mountains all that are missing , Ino and Agaue , who bore me to Ekhion , and Autonoe , the mother of Aktaion . And having bound them in iron fetters , I will soon make them stop this criminal Bacchic activity . They say that a certain stranger [ xenos ] has come , a sorcerer from the Lydian land , with the locks of his tawny hair smelling sweetly , having in his eyes the wine-dark graces [ kharites ] of Aphrodite . He stays with the young girls during the evenings and nights , alluring them with joyful mysteries . If I catch him within this house , by cutting his head from his body I will stop him from beating his thyrsos and shaking his hair .
That’s the man who claims that Dionysus is a god ; that’s the man who claims that Dionysus was once stitched into the thigh of Zeus , Dionysus , who was in reality burnt along with his mother by the flame of lightning , because she had falsely claimed to have married Zeus . Is this not worthy of a terrible death by hanging , that he , whoever this xenos is , commits such acts of hubris ?
But here is another wonder : I see the seer Teiresias clothed in dappled fawn-skins along with my mother’s father — a great absurdity — raging about with a thyrsos [ narthēx ] . I want to deny that I see your old age devoid of sense . Won’t you cast away the ivy ? Will you not , father of my mother , free your hand of the thyrsos ? You urged these things , Teiresias . Do you wish , introducing this new daimōn to humans , to examine birds and receive rewards of sacrifices ? If your hoary old age did not protect you , you would sit in the midst of the Bacchants for introducing wicked rites . For where women have the delight of the grape at a feast , I say that none of their rites is healthy any longer .
I was away from this land when I heard of the new evils throughout this polis , that our women have left our homes in contrived Bacchic rites , and rush about in the shadowy mountains , honoring with khoroi this new daimōn Dionysus , whoever he is . I hear that mixing-bowls stand full in the midst of their assemblies , and that each woman , flying to secrecy in different directions , yields to the embraces of men , on the pretext that they are Maenads worshipping . They consider Aphrodite of greater priority than Dionysus .
Servants keep as many of them as I have caught in the public buildings with their hands chained . I will hunt from the mountains all that are missing , Ino and Agaue , who bore me to Ekhion , and Autonoe , the mother of Aktaion . And having bound them in iron fetters , I will soon make them stop this criminal Bacchic activity . They say that a certain stranger [ xenos ] has come , a sorcerer from the Lydian land , with the locks of his tawny hair smelling sweetly , having in his eyes the wine-dark graces [ kharites ] of Aphrodite . He stays with the young girls during the evenings and nights , alluring them with joyful mysteries . If I catch him within this house , by cutting his head from his body I will stop him from beating his thyrsos and shaking his hair .
That’s the man who claims that Dionysus is a god ; that’s the man who claims that Dionysus was once stitched into the thigh of Zeus , Dionysus , who was in reality burnt along with his mother by the flame of lightning , because she had falsely claimed to have married Zeus . Is this not worthy of a terrible death by hanging , that he , whoever this xenos is , commits such acts of hubris ?
But here is another wonder : I see the seer Teiresias clothed in dappled fawn-skins along with my mother’s father — a great absurdity — raging about with a thyrsos [ narthēx ] . I want to deny that I see your old age devoid of sense . Won’t you cast away the ivy ? Will you not , father of my mother , free your hand of the thyrsos ? You urged these things , Teiresias . Do you wish , introducing this new daimōn to humans , to examine birds and receive rewards of sacrifices ? If your hoary old age did not protect you , you would sit in the midst of the Bacchants for introducing wicked rites . For where women have the delight of the grape at a feast , I say that none of their rites is healthy any longer .
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 ] .
Bacchae 215-262 (Carson)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-06-26 22:37:58
- Modified on 2023-07-05 05:41:32
- Translated by Anne Carson
- Aligned by Anna Muh
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Πενθεύς
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός ,
κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά ,
γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι
πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν , ἐν δὲ δασκίοις
ὄρεσι θοάζειν , τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα
Διόνυσον , ὅστις ἔστι , τιμώσας χοροῖς ·
πλήρεις δὲ θιάσοις ἐν μέσοισιν ἑστάναι
κρατῆρας , ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν
πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν ,
πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους ,
τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου .
ὅσας μὲν οὖν εἴληφα , δεσμίους χέρας
σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις ·
ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν , ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι ,
Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ , ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι ,
Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ , Αὐτονόην λέγω .
καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν
παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα .
λέγουσι δʼ ὥς τις εἰσελήλυθε ξένος ,
γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός ,
ξανθοῖσι βοστρύχοισιν εὐοσμῶν κόμην ,
οἰνῶπας ὄσσοις χάριτας Ἀφροδίτης ἔχων ,
ὃς ἡμέρας τε κεὐφρόνας συγγίγνεται
τελετὰς προτείνων εὐίους νεάνισιν .
εἰ δʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τῆσδε λήψομαι στέγης ,
παύσω κτυποῦντα θύρσον ἀνασείοντά τε
κόμας , τράχηλον σώματος χωρὶς τεμών .
ἐκεῖνος εἶναί φησι Διόνυσον θεόν ,
ἐκεῖνος ἐν μηρῷ ποτʼ ἐρράφθαι Διός ,
ὃς ἐκπυροῦται λαμπάσιν κεραυνίαις
σὺν μητρί , Δίους ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο .
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ δεινῆς ἀγχόνης ἔστʼ ἄξια ,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζειν , ὅστις ἔστιν ὁ ξένος ;
ἀτὰρ τόδʼ ἄλλο θαῦμα , τὸν τερασκόπον
ἐν ποικίλαισι νεβρίσι Τειρεσίαν ὁρῶ
πατέρα τε μητρὸς τῆς ἐμῆσ — πολὺν γέλων —
νάρθηκι βακχεύοντʼ · ἀναίνομαι , πάτερ ,
τὸ γῆρας ὑμῶν εἰσορῶν νοῦν οὐκ ἔχον .
οὐκ ἀποτινάξεις κισσόν ; οὐκ ἐλευθέραν
θύρσου μεθήσεις χεῖρʼ , ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάτερ ;
σὺ ταῦτʼ ἔπεισας , Τειρεσία · τόνδʼ αὖ θέλεις
τὸν δαίμονʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐσφέρων νέον
σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν .
εἰ μή σε γῆρας πολιὸν ἐξερρύετο ,
καθῆσʼ ἂν ἐν βάκχαισι δέσμιος μέσαις ,
τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων · γυναιξὶ γὰρ
ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος ,
οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων .
Pentheus
:
I was out of the country but I kept hearing rumors of trouble in our city .
Of women leaving home .
Of fake Bakkhic revels deep in the mountains .
Of women gone crazy for someone they call " Dionysos "
whoever that is ––
they say " daimon " followed by a nervous hush .
There ' s a lot of wine involved and creeping off into corners with men .
Meanwhile they call themselves a prayer group !
Obviously it ' s just sex . I ' ve put most of them in jail .
A few escaped –– Agave ,
my own mother , for example , is still at large .
I ' ve got the police on it .
Soon have them all locked up ––
put a stop to this Bakkhic nonsense .
But people are talking about a certain Lydian stranger hanging around too .
A sort of magician .
Huckster .
Swoony type , long hair , bedroom eyes , cheeks like wine .
He mingles with the young girls night and day ,
claiming to show them some sort of mystic thing ,
claiming is Dionysos is a son of god
and was sewn up in the thigh of Zeus ––
awful nonsense !
The fact is
he was burnt to bits along with his mother
because she named Zeus as her paramour !
How about I investigate this guy ( whoever he is ) ?
How about I curtail his mystic thing ?
Oh my stars ,
here ' s another wonder –– Teiresias in fawnskins !
And you –– I ' m sorry , grandfather , but you look like a lampshade .
Take off that ivy !
Was this your idea Teiresias ?
Joining the Bakkhic bandwagon in hopes of a few extra commissions ?
All that daimonic stuff is right up your alley , isn ' t it ?
Lucky you ' re old and harmless or
I ' d throw you in jail with the rest of them .
You pair of duffers ,
don ' t you smell something off ?
Women and wine –– toxic combination !
Daimonic my foot !
I was out of the country but I kept hearing rumors of trouble in our city .
Of women leaving home .
Of fake Bakkhic revels deep in the mountains .
Of women gone crazy for someone they call " Dionysos "
whoever that is ––
they say " daimon " followed by a nervous hush .
There ' s a lot of wine involved and creeping off into corners with men .
Meanwhile they call themselves a prayer group !
Obviously it ' s just sex . I ' ve put most of them in jail .
A few escaped –– Agave ,
my own mother , for example , is still at large .
I ' ve got the police on it .
Soon have them all locked up ––
put a stop to this Bakkhic nonsense .
But people are talking about a certain Lydian stranger hanging around too .
A sort of magician .
Huckster .
Swoony type , long hair , bedroom eyes , cheeks like wine .
He mingles with the young girls night and day ,
claiming to show them some sort of mystic thing ,
claiming is Dionysos is a son of god
and was sewn up in the thigh of Zeus ––
awful nonsense !
The fact is
he was burnt to bits along with his mother
because she named Zeus as her paramour !
How about I investigate this guy ( whoever he is ) ?
How about I curtail his mystic thing ?
Oh my stars ,
here ' s another wonder –– Teiresias in fawnskins !
And you –– I ' m sorry , grandfather , but you look like a lampshade .
Take off that ivy !
Was this your idea Teiresias ?
Joining the Bakkhic bandwagon in hopes of a few extra commissions ?
All that daimonic stuff is right up your alley , isn ' t it ?
Lucky you ' re old and harmless or
I ' d throw you in jail with the rest of them .
You pair of duffers ,
don ' t you smell something off ?
Women and wine –– toxic combination !
Daimonic my foot !
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 .
Bacchae 810-861 (Theodoridis)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-07-02 23:00:38
- Modified on 2023-07-03 16:56:47
- Translated by George Theodoridis
- 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
Hold on ! Pentheus , would you like to see them yourself , up on the mountains , all of those … women together ?
Pentheus
Sure . Of course , of course ! I’d give an awful lot of gold for the privilege .
Dionysos
Oh , yes ? Why so eager ?
Pentheus
I want to see these poor , wretched women drunk .
Dionysos
But these things would be hard for your eye . What sort of pleasure would you gain from it ?
Pentheus
Absolute ! I’d be sitting quietly beneath the fir trees …
Dionysos
A , but even if you go there quietly , they’ll still know you’re there .
Pentheus
Hmm . You’re right . Then I’ll go quite openly .
Dionysos
All right then , let’s go … Will you really try to do this exercise ?
Pentheus
Get me there , quickly . I’d hate to lose any more time because of you .
Dionysos
You’ll have to change your clothes first , Pentheus . You need to wear fine linen .
Pentheus
What’s all this ? You want to dress me up as a woman ?
Dionysos
Because if you show yourself there as a man , they’ll kill you .
Pentheus
You’re right again . I can see you’re an old hand at this sort of trickery .
Dionysos
The god Dionysos taught us all this .
Pentheus
Well , then , my wise counsellor , how do we do all this ?
Dionysos
Let’s go into the palace and I’ll dress you up .
Pentheus
Dress me up with what ? Women’s clothes ?
Dionysos
Don’t you want to watch the Maenads then ?
Pentheus
Well … tell me everything you’re going to do to me .
Dionysos
I’ll let your hair fall all over your back .
Pentheus
All right . Then ?
Dionysos
Then I’ll dress you up with long robes , right down to your feet and on your head you’ll wear a ribbon .
Pentheus
And after all this ?
Dionysos
You’ll carry a thyrsus in one hand and you’ll wear a dappled fawn skin around your body .
Pentheus
No , no , no ! I just can’t wear women’s clothes . I just can’t do it !
Dionysos
Well then , if you end up in a fight with the Bacchants it’ll be your blood on the ground , not mine !
Pentheus
Yes ! Right ! When we get there we must first spy on them .
Dionysos
It’s far wiser to hunt the dangerous without putting yourself in danger .
Pentheus
How will I be able to walk through the street without being seen by all the Kadmeians ?
Dionysos
We’ll take the deserted roads . Don’t worry , I’ll guide you .
Pentheus
We must do what’s necessary so that the Bacchants don’t get a whiff of all of this . I’m going inside to think about it all .
Dionysos
Sure . Go , I’m ready to help you with everything .
Pentheus
I’m going and I’ll either take up my weapons or I’ll take up your advice .
Dionysos
Women , we have trapped our man ! He will go to the Bacchants and , with his death , justice will be achieved . Dionysos , it is up to you now to get revenge . You are not very far . First of all , take away his mind .
Give him a slight dose of madness , enough for him to wear women’s clothes ; otherwise , if his mind is clear he won’t wear them . Then I’ve got to make a fool of him , parading him through Thebes , dressed as a woman . That will teach him to make those dreadful threats of his .
I’m off now , to dress him up in his funeral clothes . The clothes with which he will be meeting Hades , once his mother slaughters him with her bare hands . Only then will he learn that the son of Zeus , Dionysos , is a god of peace for the good folk but he is also a fearsome god who those who don’t respect him .
Hold on ! Pentheus , would you like to see them yourself , up on the mountains , all of those … women together ?
Pentheus
Sure . Of course , of course ! I’d give an awful lot of gold for the privilege .
Dionysos
Oh , yes ? Why so eager ?
Pentheus
I want to see these poor , wretched women drunk .
Dionysos
But these things would be hard for your eye . What sort of pleasure would you gain from it ?
Pentheus
Absolute ! I’d be sitting quietly beneath the fir trees …
Dionysos
A , but even if you go there quietly , they’ll still know you’re there .
Pentheus
Hmm . You’re right . Then I’ll go quite openly .
Dionysos
All right then , let’s go … Will you really try to do this exercise ?
Pentheus
Get me there , quickly . I’d hate to lose any more time because of you .
Dionysos
You’ll have to change your clothes first , Pentheus . You need to wear fine linen .
Pentheus
What’s all this ? You want to dress me up as a woman ?
Dionysos
Because if you show yourself there as a man , they’ll kill you .
Pentheus
You’re right again . I can see you’re an old hand at this sort of trickery .
Dionysos
The god Dionysos taught us all this .
Pentheus
Well , then , my wise counsellor , how do we do all this ?
Dionysos
Let’s go into the palace and I’ll dress you up .
Pentheus
Dress me up with what ? Women’s clothes ?
Dionysos
Don’t you want to watch the Maenads then ?
Pentheus
Well … tell me everything you’re going to do to me .
Dionysos
I’ll let your hair fall all over your back .
Pentheus
All right . Then ?
Dionysos
Then I’ll dress you up with long robes , right down to your feet and on your head you’ll wear a ribbon .
Pentheus
And after all this ?
Dionysos
You’ll carry a thyrsus in one hand and you’ll wear a dappled fawn skin around your body .
Pentheus
No , no , no ! I just can’t wear women’s clothes . I just can’t do it !
Dionysos
Well then , if you end up in a fight with the Bacchants it’ll be your blood on the ground , not mine !
Pentheus
Yes ! Right ! When we get there we must first spy on them .
Dionysos
It’s far wiser to hunt the dangerous without putting yourself in danger .
Pentheus
How will I be able to walk through the street without being seen by all the Kadmeians ?
Dionysos
We’ll take the deserted roads . Don’t worry , I’ll guide you .
Pentheus
We must do what’s necessary so that the Bacchants don’t get a whiff of all of this . I’m going inside to think about it all .
Dionysos
Sure . Go , I’m ready to help you with everything .
Pentheus
I’m going and I’ll either take up my weapons or I’ll take up your advice .
Dionysos
Women , we have trapped our man ! He will go to the Bacchants and , with his death , justice will be achieved . Dionysos , it is up to you now to get revenge . You are not very far . First of all , take away his mind .
Give him a slight dose of madness , enough for him to wear women’s clothes ; otherwise , if his mind is clear he won’t wear them . Then I’ve got to make a fool of him , parading him through Thebes , dressed as a woman . That will teach him to make those dreadful threats of his .
I’m off now , to dress him up in his funeral clothes . The clothes with which he will be meeting Hades , once his mother slaughters him with her bare hands . Only then will he learn that the son of Zeus , Dionysos , is a god of peace for the good folk but he is also a fearsome god who those who don’t respect him .
Bacchae 810-861 (Murray)
Anna Muh / Transphobia in Bacchae
- Created on 2023-07-03 16:54:38
- Modified on 2023-07-05 03:13:09
- Translated by George Gilbert Aimé Murray
- 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
Ah ! — Have then thy will !
Man , thou wouldst fain behold them on the hill
Praying !
Pentheus
That would I , though it cost me all
The gold of Thebes !
Dionysus .
So much ? Thou art quick to fall
To such great longing .
Pentheus
Aye ; ' twould grieve me much
To see them flown with wine .
Dionysus .
Yet cravest thou such
A sight as would much grieve thee ?
Pentheus .
Yes ; I fain
Would watch , ambushed among the pines .
Dionysus .
' Twere vain
To hide . They soon will track thee out .
Pentheus .
Well said !
' Twere best done openly .
Dionysus .
Wilt thou be led
By me , and try the venture ?
Pentheus .
Aye , indeed !
Lead on . Why should we tarry ?
Dionysus .
First we need
A rich and trailing robe of fine-linen
To gird thee .
Pentheus .
Nay ; am I a woman , then ,
And no man more ?
Dionysus .
Wouldst have them slay thee dead ?
No man may see their mysteries .
Pentheus .
Well said ! —
I marked thy subtle temper long ere now .
Dionysus .
' Tis Dionyse that prompteth me .
Pentheus .
And how
Mean ' st thou the further plan ?
Dionysus .
First take thy way
Within . I will array thee .
Pentheus .
What array ?
The woman ' s ? Nay , I will not .
Dionysus .
Doth it change
So soon , all thy desire to see this strange
Adoring ?
Pentheus .
Wait ! What garb wilt thou bestow
About me ?
Dionysus .
First a long tress dangling low
Beneath thy shoulders .
Pentheus .
Aye , and next ?
Dionysus .
The said
Robe , falling to thy feet ; and on thine head
A snood .
Pentheus .
And after ? Hast thou aught beyond ?
Dionysus .
Surely ; the dappled fawn-skin and the wand .
Pentheus .
Enough ! I cannot wear a robe and snood .
Dionysus .
Wouldst liefer draw the sword and spill men ' s blood ?
Pentheus .
True , that were evil . — Aye ; ' tis best to go
First to some place of watch .
Dionysus .
Far wiser so ,
Than seek by wrath wrath ' s bitter recompense .
Pentheus .
What of the city streets ? Canst lead me hence
Unseen of any ?
Dionysus .
Lonely and untried
Thy path from hence shall be , and I thy guide !
Pentheus .
I care for nothing , so these Bacchanals
Triumph not against me ! . . . Forward to my halls
Within ! — I will ordain what seemeth best .
Dionysus .
So be it , O King ! ' Tis mine to obey thine hest ,
Whate ' er it be .
Pentheus
Well , I will go — perchance
To march and scatter them with serried lance ,
Perchance to take thy plan . . . . I know not yet .
Dionysus .
Damsels , the lion walketh to the net !
He finds his Bacchae now , and sees and dies ,
And pays for all his sin ! — O Dionyse ,
This is thine hour and thou not far away .
Grant us our vengeance ! — First , O Master , stay
The course of reason in him , and instil
A foam of madness . Let his seeing will ,
Which ne ' er had stooped to put thy vesture on ,
Be darkened , till the deed is lightly done .
Grant likewise that he find through all his streets
Loud scorn , this man of wrath and bitter threats
That made Thebes tremble , led in woman ' s guise .
I go to fold that robe of sacrifice
On Pentheus , that shall deck him to the dark ,
His mother ' s gift ! — So shall he learn and mark
God ' s true Son , Dionyse , in fulness God ,
Most fearful , yet to man most soft of mood .
Ah ! — Have then thy will !
Man , thou wouldst fain behold them on the hill
Praying !
Pentheus
That would I , though it cost me all
The gold of Thebes !
Dionysus .
So much ? Thou art quick to fall
To such great longing .
Pentheus
Aye ; ' twould grieve me much
To see them flown with wine .
Dionysus .
Yet cravest thou such
A sight as would much grieve thee ?
Pentheus .
Yes ; I fain
Would watch , ambushed among the pines .
Dionysus .
' Twere vain
To hide . They soon will track thee out .
Pentheus .
Well said !
' Twere best done openly .
Dionysus .
Wilt thou be led
By me , and try the venture ?
Pentheus .
Aye , indeed !
Lead on . Why should we tarry ?
Dionysus .
First we need
A rich and trailing robe of fine-linen
To gird thee .
Pentheus .
Nay ; am I a woman , then ,
And no man more ?
Dionysus .
Wouldst have them slay thee dead ?
No man may see their mysteries .
Pentheus .
Well said ! —
I marked thy subtle temper long ere now .
Dionysus .
' Tis Dionyse that prompteth me .
Pentheus .
And how
Mean ' st thou the further plan ?
Dionysus .
First take thy way
Within . I will array thee .
Pentheus .
What array ?
The woman ' s ? Nay , I will not .
Dionysus .
Doth it change
So soon , all thy desire to see this strange
Adoring ?
Pentheus .
Wait ! What garb wilt thou bestow
About me ?
Dionysus .
First a long tress dangling low
Beneath thy shoulders .
Pentheus .
Aye , and next ?
Dionysus .
The said
Robe , falling to thy feet ; and on thine head
A snood .
Pentheus .
And after ? Hast thou aught beyond ?
Dionysus .
Surely ; the dappled fawn-skin and the wand .
Pentheus .
Enough ! I cannot wear a robe and snood .
Dionysus .
Wouldst liefer draw the sword and spill men ' s blood ?
Pentheus .
True , that were evil . — Aye ; ' tis best to go
First to some place of watch .
Dionysus .
Far wiser so ,
Than seek by wrath wrath ' s bitter recompense .
Pentheus .
What of the city streets ? Canst lead me hence
Unseen of any ?
Dionysus .
Lonely and untried
Thy path from hence shall be , and I thy guide !
Pentheus .
I care for nothing , so these Bacchanals
Triumph not against me ! . . . Forward to my halls
Within ! — I will ordain what seemeth best .
Dionysus .
So be it , O King ! ' Tis mine to obey thine hest ,
Whate ' er it be .
Pentheus
Well , I will go — perchance
To march and scatter them with serried lance ,
Perchance to take thy plan . . . . I know not yet .
Dionysus .
Damsels , the lion walketh to the net !
He finds his Bacchae now , and sees and dies ,
And pays for all his sin ! — O Dionyse ,
This is thine hour and thou not far away .
Grant us our vengeance ! — First , O Master , stay
The course of reason in him , and instil
A foam of madness . Let his seeing will ,
Which ne ' er had stooped to put thy vesture on ,
Be darkened , till the deed is lightly done .
Grant likewise that he find through all his streets
Loud scorn , this man of wrath and bitter threats
That made Thebes tremble , led in woman ' s guise .
I go to fold that robe of sacrifice
On Pentheus , that shall deck him to the dark ,
His mother ' s gift ! — So shall he learn and mark
God ' s true Son , Dionyse , in fulness God ,
Most fearful , yet to man most soft of mood .
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 .
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 .