Euripides Bacchae 1200

Chorus Leader

Now show the citizens, wretched woman, the booty which you have brought in victory.

1200

Agave

You who dwell in this fair-towered city of the Theban land, come to see this prey which we the daughters of Kadmos hunted down,

not with thonged Thessalian javelins, or with nets, but with the fingers of our white arms. And then should huntsmen boast and use in vain the work of spear-makers? But we caught and

1205

tore apart the limbs of this beast with our very own hands. Where is my old father? Let him approach. And where is my son Pentheus? Let him take a ladder and raise its steps against the house so that he can fasten to the triglyphs this

1210

lion’s head which I have captured and brought here.

1215

Kadmos

Follow me, carrying the miserable burden of Pentheus, follow me, slaves, before the house; exhausted from countless searches, I am bringing his body, for I discovered it in the folds of Kithairon,

torn apart; I picked up nothing in the same place, and it was lying in the woods where discovery was difficult. For some one told me of my daughters’ bold deeds, when I had already come within the walls of the city on my return from the Bacchae with old Teiresias.

1220

I turned back to the mountain and now bring here my child who was killed by the Maenads. For I saw Autonoe, who once bore Actaeon to Aristaeus, and Ino with her, still mad in the thicket, wretched creatures.

1225

But some one told me that Agave was coming here with Bacchic foot, and this was correct, for I see her—no happy sight!

1230

Agave

Father, you may make a great boast, that you have born daughters the best by far of all

mortals. I mean all of us, but myself especially, who have left my shuttle at the loom and gone on to greater things, to catch wild animals with my two hands. And having taken him, I carry these spoils of honor in my arms, as you see,

1235

so that they may hang from your house. You father, receive them in your hands. Preening yourself in my catch, call your friends to a feast. For you are blessed, blessed, now that we have performed these deeds.

1240

Kadmos

O grief beyond measuring, one which I cannot stand to see,

that you have performed murder with miserable hands. Having cast down a fine sacrificial victim to the gods, you invite Thebes and me to a banquet. Alas, first for your troubles, then for my own. How justly, yet too severely,

1245

lord Bromius the god has destroyed us, though he is a member of our own family.

1250

Agave

How morose and sullen in its countenance is man’s old age! I hope that my son is a good hunter, taking after his mother’s ways, when he goes after wild beasts

together with the young men of Thebes . But all he can do is fight with the gods. You must admonish him, father. Who will call him here to my sight, so that he may see how lucky I am?

1255

Kadmos

Alas, alas! When you realize what you have done

you will suffer a terrible pain. But if you remain forever in the state you are in now, though hardly fortunate, you will not imagine that you are unfortunate.

1260

Agave

But what of these matters is not right, or what is painful?

Kadmos

First cast your eye up to this sky.

Agave

All right; why do you tell me to look at it?

1265

Kadmos

Is it still the same, or does it appear to have changed?

Agave

It is brighter than before and more translucent.

Kadmos

Is your soul still quivering?

Agave

I don’t understand your words. I have become somehow

sobered, changing from my former state of mind.

1270

Kadmos

Can you hear and respond clearly?

Agave

Yes, for I forget what we said before, father.

Kadmos

To whose house did you come in marriage?

Agave

You gave me, as they say, to Echion, the sown man.

Kadmos

What son did you bear to your husband in the house?

1275

Agave

Pentheus, from my union with his father.

Kadmos

Whose head do you hold in your hands?

Agave

A lion’s, as they who hunted him down said.

Kadmos

Examine it correctly then; it takes but little effort to see.

Agave

Ah! What do I see? What is this that I carry in my hands?

1280

Kadmos

Look at it and learn more clearly.

Agave

I see the greatest grief, wretched that I am.

Kadmos

Does it seem to you to be like a lion?

Agave

No, but I, wretched, hold the head of Pentheus.

Kadmos

Yes, much lamented before you recognized him.

1285

Agave

Who killed him? How did he come into my hands?

Kadmos

Miserable truth, how inopportunely you arrive!

Agave

Tell me. My heart leaps at what is to come.

Kadmos

You and your sisters killed him.

Agave

Where did he die? Was it here at home, or in what place?

1290

Kadmos

Where formerly dogs divided Actaeon among themselves.

Agave

And why did this ill-fated man go to Kithairon?

Kadmos

He went to mock the god and your revelry.

Agave

But in what way did we go there?

Kadmos

You were mad, and the whole city was frantic with Bacchus.

1295

Agave

Dionysus destroyed us—now I understand.

Kadmos

Being insulted with insolence, for you did not consider him a god.

Agave

And where is the body of my dearest child, father?

Kadmos

I have traced it with difficulty and brought it back.

Agave

Are its joints laid properly together?

1300

Kadmos

Agave

What part did Pentheus have in my folly?

Kadmos

He, like you, did not revere the god, who therefore joined all in one ruin, both you and this one here, and thus destroyed the house and me,

, who am bereft of my male children and see this offspring of your womb, wretched woman, most miserably and shamefully slain. He was the hope of our line—you, child, who supported the house, son of my daughter,

1305

an object of fear to the city; seeing you, no one wished to insult the old man, for you would have given a worthy punishment. But now I, great Kadmos, who sowed and reaped

1310

a most glorious crop, the Theban people, will be banished from the house without honor. Dearest of men—for though you are dead I still count you among my dearest, child—no longer will you embrace me, calling me grandfather, touching my chin with your hand, child, and

1315

saying: Who wrongs you, old man, who dishonors you? Who vexes and troubles your heart? Tell me, father, so that I can punish the one who does you wrong. But now I am miserable, while you are wretched, your mother is pitiful, and wretched too are your relatives.

1320

If anyone scorns the gods, let him look to the death of this man and acknowledge them.

1325

Chorus Leader

I grieve for you, Kadmos. Your daughter’s child has a punishment deserved indeed, but grievous to you.

Agave

Father, for you see how much my situation has changed ...

Dionysus

. . . changing your form, you will become a dragon, and your wife, Harmonia, Ares’ daughter, whom you though mortal held in marriage, will be turned into a beast, and will receive in exchange the form of a serpent. And as the oracle of Zeus says, you will drive along with your wife a chariot of heifers, ruling over barbarians.

1330

You will sack many cities with a force of countless numbers. And when they plunder the oracle of Apollo, they will have a miserable return, but Ares will protect you and Harmonia and will settle your life in the land of the blessed.

1335

That is what I, Dionysus, born not from a mortal father, but from Zeus, say. And if you had known how to be wise when you did not wish to be, you would have acquired Zeus’ son as an ally, and would now be happy.

1340

Kadmos

Dionysus, we beseech you, we have acted injustly.

Dionysus

You have learned it too late; you did not know it when you should have.

1345

Kadmos

Now we know, but you go too far against us.

Dionysus

Yes, for I, a god by birth, was insulted by you.

Kadmos

Gods should not resemble mortals in their anger.

Dionysus

My father Zeus approved this long ago.

Agave

Alas! A miserable exile has been decreed for us, old man.

1350

Dionysus

Why then do you delay what must necessarily be?

Kadmos

Child, what a terrible disaster we have all come to—unhappy you, your sisters, and unhappy me. I shall reach a foreign land

as an aged immigrant. Still it is foretold that I shall bring into Hellas a motley barbarian army. Leading their spears, I, having the fierce nature of a serpent, will bring my wife Harmonia, daughter of Ares, to the altars and tombs of Hellas .

1355

I will neither rest from my troubles in my misery, nor will I sail over the downward flowing Acheron and be at peace.

1360

Agave

O father, I will go into exile deprived of you.

Kadmos

Why do you embrace me with your hands, child,

like a swan for its exhausted gray-haired parent?

1365

Agave

For where can I turn, banished from my father-land?

Kadmos

I do not know, child; your father is a poor ally.

Agave

Farewell, house, farewell, city of my forefathers. In misfortune I leave you,

a fugitive from my chamber.

1370

Kadmos

Go now, child, to the land of Aristaeus . . .

Agave

I grieve for you, father.

Kadmos

And I for you, child, and I weep for your sisters.

Agave

Terribly indeed has

lord Dionysus brought this misery to your home.

1375

Dionysus

Yes, for I suffered terrible things at your hands, with my name not honored in Thebes .

Agave

Farewell, my father.

Kadmos

Farewell, unhappy

daughter; and yet you cannot easily fare well.

1380

Agave

Lead me, escorts, where I may take my pitiful sisters as companions to my exile. May I go where accursed Kithairon may not see me,

nor I see Kithairon with my eyes, nor where a memorial of a thyrsos has been dedicated; let these concern other Bacchae.

1385

Chorus

Many are the forms of divine things, and the gods bring to pass many things unexpectedly;

what is expected has not been accomplished, but the god has found out a means for doing things unthought of. So too has this event turned out.

1390