Abby Russell
Furman University
Euripides, Bacchae 977-981
ἙλληνικήEnglish
Euripides, Bacchae 233-238
ἙλληνικήEnglish
Euripides, Bacchae 434-450
Abby Russell /
- Created on 2023-02-03 20:07:49
- Modified on 2023-02-06 20:04:11
- Translated by Ian Johnston
- Aligned by Abby Russell
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
Θεράπων
Πενθεῦ , πάρεσμεν τήνδʼ ἄγραν ἠγρευκότες
ἐφʼ ἣν ἔπεμψας , οὐδʼ ἄκρανθʼ ὡρμήσαμεν .
ὁ θὴρ δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδʼ ὑπέσπασεν
φυγῇ πόδʼ , ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας
οὐδʼ ὠχρός , οὐδʼ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν ,
γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο
ἔμενέ τε , τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος .
κἀγὼ διʼ αἰδοῦς εἶπον · Ὦ ξένʼ , οὐχ ἑκὼν
ἄγω σε , Πενθέως δʼ ὅς μʼ ἔπεμψʼ ἐπιστολαῖς .
ἃς δʼ αὖ σὺ βάκχας εἷρξας , ἃς συνήρπασας
κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης ,
φροῦδαί γʼ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας
σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν ·
αὐτόματα δʼ αὐταῖς δεσμὰ διελύθη ποδῶν
κλῇδές τʼ ἀνῆκαν θύρετρʼ ἄνευ θνητῆς χερός .
πολλῶν δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ θαυμάτων ἥκει πλέως
ἐς τάσδε Θήβας . σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν .
Πενθεῦ , πάρεσμεν τήνδʼ ἄγραν ἠγρευκότες
ἐφʼ ἣν ἔπεμψας , οὐδʼ ἄκρανθʼ ὡρμήσαμεν .
ὁ θὴρ δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδʼ ὑπέσπασεν
φυγῇ πόδʼ , ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας
οὐδʼ ὠχρός , οὐδʼ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν ,
γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο
ἔμενέ τε , τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος .
κἀγὼ διʼ αἰδοῦς εἶπον · Ὦ ξένʼ , οὐχ ἑκὼν
ἄγω σε , Πενθέως δʼ ὅς μʼ ἔπεμψʼ ἐπιστολαῖς .
ἃς δʼ αὖ σὺ βάκχας εἷρξας , ἃς συνήρπασας
κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης ,
φροῦδαί γʼ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας
σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν ·
αὐτόματα δʼ αὐταῖς δεσμὰ διελύθη ποδῶν
κλῇδές τʼ ἀνῆκαν θύρετρʼ ἄνευ θνητῆς χερός .
πολλῶν δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ θαυμάτων ἥκει πλέως
ἐς τάσδε Θήβας . σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν .
SOLDIER
Pentheus , we’re here because we’ve caught the prey
you sent us out to catch . Yes , our attempts
have proved successful . The beast you see here
was tame with us . He didn’t try to run .
No , he surrendered willingly enough ,
without turning pale or changing colour
on those wine dark cheeks . He even laughed at us ,
inviting us to tie him up and lead him off .
He stood still , making it easier for me
to take him in . It was awkward , so I said ,
" Stranger , I don’t want to lead you off ,
but I’m under orders here from Pentheus ,
who sent me . " And there’s something else —
those Bacchic women you locked up , the ones
you took in chains into the public prison —
they’ve all escaped . They’re gone — playing around
in some meadow , calling out to Bromius ,
summoning their god . Chains fell off their feet ,
just dropping on their own . Keys opened doors
not turned by human hands . This man here
has come to Thebes full of amazing tricks .
But now the rest of this affair is up to you .
Pentheus , we’re here because we’ve caught the prey
you sent us out to catch . Yes , our attempts
have proved successful . The beast you see here
was tame with us . He didn’t try to run .
No , he surrendered willingly enough ,
without turning pale or changing colour
on those wine dark cheeks . He even laughed at us ,
inviting us to tie him up and lead him off .
He stood still , making it easier for me
to take him in . It was awkward , so I said ,
" Stranger , I don’t want to lead you off ,
but I’m under orders here from Pentheus ,
who sent me . " And there’s something else —
those Bacchic women you locked up , the ones
you took in chains into the public prison —
they’ve all escaped . They’re gone — playing around
in some meadow , calling out to Bromius ,
summoning their god . Chains fell off their feet ,
just dropping on their own . Keys opened doors
not turned by human hands . This man here
has come to Thebes full of amazing tricks .
But now the rest of this affair is up to you .
Euripides, Bacchae 450-514
Abby Russell /
- Created on 2023-02-08 19:58:13
- Modified on 2023-02-10 19:52:26
- Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley
- Aligned by Abby Russell
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg017.perseus-grc2:449-515
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg017.perseus-eng2:445-515
Πενθεύς
μέθεσθε χειρῶν τοῦδʼ · ἐν ἄρκυσιν γὰρ ὢν
οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὠκὺς ὥστε μʼ ἐκφυγεῖν .
ἀτὰρ τὸ μὲν σῶμʼ οὐκ ἄμορφος εἶ , ξένε ,
ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας , ἐφʼ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει ·
πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναός , οὐ πάλης ὕπο ,
γένυν παρʼ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος , πόθου πλέως ·
λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις ,
οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν , ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς ,
τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος .
πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος .
Διόνυσος
οὐ κόμπος οὐδείς · ῥᾴδιον δʼ εἰπεῖν τόδε .
τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων .
Πενθεύς
οἶδʼ , ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ .
Διόνυσος
ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι , Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς .
Πενθεύς
πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα ;
Διόνυσος
Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ , ὁ τοῦ Διός .
Πενθεύς
Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις , ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς ;
Διόνυσος
οὔκ , ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις .
Πενθεύς
πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν ;
Διόνυσος
ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα , καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια .
Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι ;
Διόνυσος
ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν .
Πενθεύς
ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα ;
Διόνυσος
οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ , ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι .
Πενθεύς
εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας , ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω .
Διόνυσος
ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ .
Πενθεύς
τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς , ποῖός τις ἦν ;
Διόνυσος
ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ · οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε .
Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων .
Διόνυσος
δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν .
Πενθεύς
ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα ;
Διόνυσος
πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια .
Πενθεύς
φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ .
Διόνυσος
τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον · οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι .
Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς ;
Διόνυσος
νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά · σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος .
Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν .
Διόνυσος
κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν .
Πενθεύς
δίκην σε δοῦναι δεῖ σοφισμάτων κακῶν .
Διόνυσος
σὲ δʼ ἀμαθίας γε κἀσεβοῦντʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν .
Πενθεύς
ὡς θρασὺς ὁ βάκχος κοὐκ ἀγύμναστος λόγων .
Διόνυσος
εἴφʼ ὅ τι παθεῖν δεῖ · τί με τὸ δεινὸν ἐργάσῃ ;
Πενθεύς
πρῶτον μὲν ἁβρὸν βόστρυχον τεμῶ σέθεν .
Διόνυσος
ἱερὸς ὁ πλόκαμος · τῷ θεῷ δʼ αὐτὸν τρέφω .
Πενθεύς
ἔπειτα θύρσον τόνδε παράδος ἐκ χεροῖν .
Διόνυσος
αὐτός μʼ ἀφαιροῦ · τόνδε Διονύσου φορῶ .
Πενθεύς
εἱρκταῖσί τʼ ἔνδον σῶμα σὸν φυλάξομεν .
Διόνυσος
λύσει μʼ ὁ δαίμων αὐτός , ὅταν ἐγὼ θέλω .
Πενθεύς
ὅταν γε καλέσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν βάκχαις σταθείς .
Διόνυσος
καὶ νῦν ἃ πάσχω πλησίον παρὼν ὁρᾷ .
Πενθεύς
καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν ; οὐ γὰρ φανερὸς ὄμμασίν γʼ ἐμοῖς .
Διόνυσος
παρʼ ἐμοί · σὺ δʼ ἀσεβὴς αὐτὸς ὢν οὐκ εἰσορᾷς .
Πενθεύς
λάζυσθε · καταφρονεῖ με καὶ Θήβας ὅδε .
Διόνυσος
αὐδῶ με μὴ δεῖν σωφρονῶν οὐ σώφροσιν .
Πενθεύς
ἐγὼ δὲ δεῖν γε , κυριώτερος σέθεν .
Διόνυσος
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅ τι ζῇς , οὐδʼ ὃ δρᾷς , οὐδʼ ὅστις εἶ .
Πενθεύς
Πενθεύς , Ἀγαύης παῖς , πατρὸς δʼ Ἐχίονος .
Διόνυσος
ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομʼ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ .
Πενθεύς
χώρει · καθείρξατʼ αὐτὸν ἱππικαῖς πέλας
φάτναισιν , ὡς ἂν σκότιον εἰσορᾷ κνέφας .
ἐκεῖ χόρευε · τάσδε δʼ ἃς ἄγων πάρει
κακῶν συνεργοὺς ἢ διεμπολήσομεν
ἢ χεῖρα δούπου τοῦδε καὶ βύρσης κτύπου
παύσας , ἐφʼ ἱστοῖς δμωίδας κεκτήσομαι .
μέθεσθε χειρῶν τοῦδʼ · ἐν ἄρκυσιν γὰρ ὢν
οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὠκὺς ὥστε μʼ ἐκφυγεῖν .
ἀτὰρ τὸ μὲν σῶμʼ οὐκ ἄμορφος εἶ , ξένε ,
ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας , ἐφʼ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει ·
πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναός , οὐ πάλης ὕπο ,
γένυν παρʼ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος , πόθου πλέως ·
λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις ,
οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν , ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς ,
τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος .
πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος .
Διόνυσος
οὐ κόμπος οὐδείς · ῥᾴδιον δʼ εἰπεῖν τόδε .
τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων .
Πενθεύς
οἶδʼ , ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ .
Διόνυσος
ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι , Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς .
Πενθεύς
πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα ;
Διόνυσος
Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ , ὁ τοῦ Διός .
Πενθεύς
Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις , ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς ;
Διόνυσος
οὔκ , ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις .
Πενθεύς
πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν ;
Διόνυσος
ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα , καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια .
Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι ;
Διόνυσος
ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν .
Πενθεύς
ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα ;
Διόνυσος
οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ , ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι .
Πενθεύς
εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας , ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω .
Διόνυσος
ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ .
Πενθεύς
τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς , ποῖός τις ἦν ;
Διόνυσος
ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ · οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε .
Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων .
Διόνυσος
δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν .
Πενθεύς
ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα ;
Διόνυσος
πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια .
Πενθεύς
φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ .
Διόνυσος
τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον · οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι .
Πενθεύς
τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς ;
Διόνυσος
νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά · σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος .
Πενθεύς
τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν .
Διόνυσος
κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν .
Πενθεύς
δίκην σε δοῦναι δεῖ σοφισμάτων κακῶν .
Διόνυσος
σὲ δʼ ἀμαθίας γε κἀσεβοῦντʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν .
Πενθεύς
ὡς θρασὺς ὁ βάκχος κοὐκ ἀγύμναστος λόγων .
Διόνυσος
εἴφʼ ὅ τι παθεῖν δεῖ · τί με τὸ δεινὸν ἐργάσῃ ;
Πενθεύς
πρῶτον μὲν ἁβρὸν βόστρυχον τεμῶ σέθεν .
Διόνυσος
ἱερὸς ὁ πλόκαμος · τῷ θεῷ δʼ αὐτὸν τρέφω .
Πενθεύς
ἔπειτα θύρσον τόνδε παράδος ἐκ χεροῖν .
Διόνυσος
αὐτός μʼ ἀφαιροῦ · τόνδε Διονύσου φορῶ .
Πενθεύς
εἱρκταῖσί τʼ ἔνδον σῶμα σὸν φυλάξομεν .
Διόνυσος
λύσει μʼ ὁ δαίμων αὐτός , ὅταν ἐγὼ θέλω .
Πενθεύς
ὅταν γε καλέσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν βάκχαις σταθείς .
Διόνυσος
καὶ νῦν ἃ πάσχω πλησίον παρὼν ὁρᾷ .
Πενθεύς
καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν ; οὐ γὰρ φανερὸς ὄμμασίν γʼ ἐμοῖς .
Διόνυσος
παρʼ ἐμοί · σὺ δʼ ἀσεβὴς αὐτὸς ὢν οὐκ εἰσορᾷς .
Πενθεύς
λάζυσθε · καταφρονεῖ με καὶ Θήβας ὅδε .
Διόνυσος
αὐδῶ με μὴ δεῖν σωφρονῶν οὐ σώφροσιν .
Πενθεύς
ἐγὼ δὲ δεῖν γε , κυριώτερος σέθεν .
Διόνυσος
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅ τι ζῇς , οὐδʼ ὃ δρᾷς , οὐδʼ ὅστις εἶ .
Πενθεύς
Πενθεύς , Ἀγαύης παῖς , πατρὸς δʼ Ἐχίονος .
Διόνυσος
ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομʼ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ .
Πενθεύς
χώρει · καθείρξατʼ αὐτὸν ἱππικαῖς πέλας
φάτναισιν , ὡς ἂν σκότιον εἰσορᾷ κνέφας .
ἐκεῖ χόρευε · τάσδε δʼ ἃς ἄγων πάρει
κακῶν συνεργοὺς ἢ διεμπολήσομεν
ἢ χεῖρα δούπου τοῦδε καὶ βύρσης κτύπου
παύσας , ἐφʼ ἱστοῖς δμωίδας κεκτήσομαι .
Pentheus
Release his hands , for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me . But your body is not ill-formed , stranger , for women’s purposes , for which reason you have come to Thebes .
For your hair is long , not through wrestling , scattered over your cheeks , full of desire ; and you have a white skin from careful preparation , hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun , but beneath the shade .
First then tell me who your family is .
Dionysus
I can tell you this easily , without boasting . I suppose you are familiar with flowery Tmolus .
Pentheus
I know of it ; it surrounds the city of Sardis .
Dionysus
I am from there , and Lydia is my fatherland .
Pentheus
Why do you bring these rites to Hellas ?
Dionysus
Dionysus , the child of Zeus , sent me .
Pentheus
Is there a Zeus who breeds new gods there ?
Dionysus
No , but the one who married Semele here .
Pentheus
Did he compel you at night , or in your sight ?
Dionysus
Seeing me just as I saw him , he gave me sacred rites .
Pentheus
What appearance do your rites have ?
Dionysus
They can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry .
Pentheus
And do they have any profit to those who sacrifice ?
Dionysus
It is not lawful for you to hear , but they are worth knowing .
Pentheus
You have counterfeited this well , so that I desire to hear .
Dionysus
The rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety .
Pentheus
Are you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like ?
Dionysus
He was as he chose ; I did not order this .
Pentheus
Again you diverted my question well , speaking mere nonsense .
Dionysus
One will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man .
Pentheus
Did you come here first , bringing the god ?
Dionysus
All the barbarians celebrate these rites .
Pentheus
Yes , for they are far more foolish than Hellenes .
Dionysus
In this at any rate they are wiser ; but their laws are different .
Pentheus
Do you perform the rites by night or by day ?
Dionysus
Mostly by night ; darkness conveys awe .
Pentheus
This is treacherous towards women , and unsound .
Dionysus
Even during the day someone may devise what is shameful .
Pentheus
You must pay the penalty for your evil contrivances .
Dionysus
And you for your ignorance and impiety toward the god .
Pentheus
How bold the Bacchant is , and not unpracticed in speaking !
Dionysus
Tell me what I must suffer ; what harm will you do to me ?
Pentheus
First I will cut off your delicate hair .
Dionysus
My hair is sacred . I am growing it for the god .
Pentheus
Next give me this thyrsos from your hands .
Dionysus
Take it from me yourself . I bear it as the ensign of Dionysus .
Pentheus
We will guard your body within , in prison .
Dionysus
The god himself will release me , whenever I want .
Pentheus
Yes , when you call him , standing among the Bacchae .
Dionysus
Even now he see my sufferings from close by .
Pentheus
Where is he ? He is not visible to my eyes .
Dionysus
Near me ; but you , being impious , do not see him .
Pentheus
To attendants Seize him ; he insults me and Thebes !
Dionysus
I warn you not to bind me , since I am in my senses and you are not .
Pentheus
And I , more masterful than you , bid them to bind you .
Dionysus
You do not know why you live , or what you are doing , or who you are .
Pentheus
I am Pentheus , son of Echion and Agave .
Dionysus
You are well-suited to be miserable in your name .
Pentheus
Go . To attendants Shut him up near the horse
stable , so that he may see only darkness . To Dionysus Dance there ; and as for these women whom you have led here as accomplices to your crimes , we will either sell them or , stopping their hands from this noise and beating of skins , I will keep them as slaves at the loom .
Release his hands , for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me . But your body is not ill-formed , stranger , for women’s purposes , for which reason you have come to Thebes .
For your hair is long , not through wrestling , scattered over your cheeks , full of desire ; and you have a white skin from careful preparation , hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun , but beneath the shade .
First then tell me who your family is .
Dionysus
I can tell you this easily , without boasting . I suppose you are familiar with flowery Tmolus .
Pentheus
I know of it ; it surrounds the city of Sardis .
Dionysus
I am from there , and Lydia is my fatherland .
Pentheus
Why do you bring these rites to Hellas ?
Dionysus
Dionysus , the child of Zeus , sent me .
Pentheus
Is there a Zeus who breeds new gods there ?
Dionysus
No , but the one who married Semele here .
Pentheus
Did he compel you at night , or in your sight ?
Dionysus
Seeing me just as I saw him , he gave me sacred rites .
Pentheus
What appearance do your rites have ?
Dionysus
They can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry .
Pentheus
And do they have any profit to those who sacrifice ?
Dionysus
It is not lawful for you to hear , but they are worth knowing .
Pentheus
You have counterfeited this well , so that I desire to hear .
Dionysus
The rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety .
Pentheus
Are you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like ?
Dionysus
He was as he chose ; I did not order this .
Pentheus
Again you diverted my question well , speaking mere nonsense .
Dionysus
One will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man .
Pentheus
Did you come here first , bringing the god ?
Dionysus
All the barbarians celebrate these rites .
Pentheus
Yes , for they are far more foolish than Hellenes .
Dionysus
In this at any rate they are wiser ; but their laws are different .
Pentheus
Do you perform the rites by night or by day ?
Dionysus
Mostly by night ; darkness conveys awe .
Pentheus
This is treacherous towards women , and unsound .
Dionysus
Even during the day someone may devise what is shameful .
Pentheus
You must pay the penalty for your evil contrivances .
Dionysus
And you for your ignorance and impiety toward the god .
Pentheus
How bold the Bacchant is , and not unpracticed in speaking !
Dionysus
Tell me what I must suffer ; what harm will you do to me ?
Pentheus
First I will cut off your delicate hair .
Dionysus
My hair is sacred . I am growing it for the god .
Pentheus
Next give me this thyrsos from your hands .
Dionysus
Take it from me yourself . I bear it as the ensign of Dionysus .
Pentheus
We will guard your body within , in prison .
Dionysus
The god himself will release me , whenever I want .
Pentheus
Yes , when you call him , standing among the Bacchae .
Dionysus
Even now he see my sufferings from close by .
Pentheus
Where is he ? He is not visible to my eyes .
Dionysus
Near me ; but you , being impious , do not see him .
Pentheus
To attendants Seize him ; he insults me and Thebes !
Dionysus
I warn you not to bind me , since I am in my senses and you are not .
Pentheus
And I , more masterful than you , bid them to bind you .
Dionysus
You do not know why you live , or what you are doing , or who you are .
Pentheus
I am Pentheus , son of Echion and Agave .
Dionysus
You are well-suited to be miserable in your name .
Pentheus
Go . To attendants Shut him up near the horse
stable , so that he may see only darkness . To Dionysus Dance there ; and as for these women whom you have led here as accomplices to your crimes , we will either sell them or , stopping their hands from this noise and beating of skins , I will keep them as slaves at the loom .