Euripides, Bacchae, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 135

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Wann er vom flüchtigen Tanz fröhlich herab die Berge

In's Feld sich schwingt, von der heiligen Hülle des Hirsches umwunden, im Flug

Fliehende Böcke verfolgt, sein blutiges Mahl,

Strebend in phrygische Höhen und lydische,
110

Den Chor anführend, der Wonnegott!¹

Wo das Gefilde von Milch und von Wein stromt, und von der Bienen

Nektar strömt, und syrischen Weihrauch duftet;²

Wo Dionysos, der

Im Hohlstabe des Kienes hochaufflammende Fackel schwingt,
115

Zum Wettlauf, zu Tänzen die Schweifenden erregt,

Und mit Jauchzen emporrust,

Und das glänzende Haar in die Lüfte verstreut.

Zugleich drohnt er laut in den Wonneruf:

Auf, Bacchantinnen, eilt zu des goldentstromenden Tmolos³
120

Feiert den Gott Dionysos

Pracht!

Bei dumpfhallender Pauken Klang,

Erhebt den beseligenden, begeisternden Gott

Fröhlich in Lauten und Weisen der Phrygier,

Wann süßer Flåtenhauch heilig zum heiligen
125

Jubel ertont, führend den Chor, der in's Gebirge wallt;

Jauchzend sofort, wie das Füllen, gesellt zu der weidenden

Mutter,

Hebt den geflügelten Fuß und tanzt die Bacchantin.

Teiresias; spåter Kadmos.

Teiresias.

Bacchae. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1845; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 2, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1845. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Βάκχαι Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978)) — 170-369 focus

Τειρεσίας

τίς ἐν πύλαισι; Κάδμον ἐκκάλει δόμων,
170

Ἀγήνορος παῖδʼ, ὃς πόλιν Σιδωνίαν

λιπὼν ἐπύργωσʼ ἄστυ Θηβαίων τόδε.

ἴτω τις, εἰσάγγελλε Τειρεσίας ὅτι

ζητεῖ νιν· οἶδε δʼ αὐτὸς ὧν ἥκω πέρι

ἅ τε ξυνεθέμην πρέσβυς ὢν γεραιτέρῳ,
175

θύρσους ἀνάπτειν καὶ νεβρῶν δορὰς ἔχειν

στεφανοῦν τε κρᾶτα κισσίνοις βλαστήμασιν.

Κάδμος

ὦ φίλταθʼ, ὡς σὴν γῆρυν ᾐσθόμην κλύων

σοφὴν σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρός, ἐν δόμοισιν ὤν·

ἥκω δʼ ἕτοιμος τήνδʼ ἔχων σκευὴν θεοῦ·
180

δεῖ γάρ νιν ὄντα παῖδα θυγατρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς

Διόνυσον ὃς πέφηνεν ἀνθρώποις θεὸς

ὅσον καθʼ ἡμᾶς δυνατὸν αὔξεσθαι μέγαν.

ποῖ δεῖ χορεύειν, ποῖ καθιστάναι πόδα

καὶ κρᾶτα σεῖσαι πολιόν; ἐξηγοῦ σύ μοι
185

γέρων γέροντι, Τειρεσία· σὺ γὰρ σοφός.

ὡς οὐ κάμοιμʼ ἂν οὔτε νύκτʼ οὔθʼ ἡμέραν

θύρσῳ κροτῶν γῆν· ἐπιλελήσμεθʼ ἡδέως

γέροντες ὄντες.

Τειρεσίας

ταὔτʼ ἐμοὶ πάσχεις ἄρα·

κἀγὼ γὰρ ἡβῶ κἀπιχειρήσω χοροῖς.
190

Κάδμος

οὐκοῦν ὄχοισιν εἰς ὄρος περάσομεν;

Τειρεσίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως ἂν ὁ θεὸς τιμὴν ἔχοι.

Κάδμος

γέρων γέροντα παιδαγωγήσω σʼ ἐγώ.

Τειρεσίας

ὁ θεὸς ἀμοχθὶ κεῖσε νῷν ἡγήσεται.

Κάδμος

μόνοι δὲ πόλεως Βακχίῳ χορεύσομεν;
195

Τειρεσίας

μόνοι γὰρ εὖ φρονοῦμεν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι κακῶς.

Κάδμος

μακρὸν τὸ μέλλειν· ἀλλʼ ἐμῆς ἔχου χερός.

Τειρεσίας

ἰδού, ξύναπτε καὶ ξυνωρίζου χέρα.

Κάδμος

οὐ καταφρονῶ ʼγὼ τῶν θεῶν θνητὸς γεγώς.

Τειρεσίας

οὐδὲν σοφιζόμεσθα τοῖσι δαίμοσιν.
200

πατρίους παραδοχάς, ἅς θʼ ὁμήλικας χρόνῳ

κεκτήμεθʼ, οὐδεὶς αὐτὰ καταβαλεῖ λόγος,

οὐδʼ εἰ διʼ ἄκρων τὸ σοφὸν ηὕρηται φρενῶν.

ἐρεῖ τις ὡς τὸ γῆρας οὐκ αἰσχύνομαι,

μέλλων χορεύειν κρᾶτα κισσώσας ἐμόν;
205

οὐ γὰρ διῄρηχʼ ὁ θεός, οὔτε τὸν νέον

εἰ χρὴ χορεύειν οὔτε τὸν γεραίτερον,

ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἁπάντων βούλεται τιμὰς ἔχειν

κοινάς, διαριθμῶν δʼ οὐδένʼ αὔξεσθαι θέλει.

Κάδμος

ἐπεὶ σὺ φέγγος, Τειρεσία, τόδʼ οὐχ ὁρᾷς,
210

ἐγὼ προφήτης σοι λόγων γενήσομαι.

Πενθεὺς πρὸς οἴκους ὅδε διὰ σπουδῆς περᾷ,

Ἐχίονος παῖς, ᾧ κράτος δίδωμι γῆς.

ὡς ἐπτόηται· τί ποτʼ ἐρεῖ νεώτερον;

215

Πενθεύς

ἔκδημος ὢν μὲν τῆσδʼ ἐτύγχανον χθονός,
215

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·
220

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.
225

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.
230

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,
235

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
240

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.
245

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—
250

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
255

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
260

ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος,

οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων.

Χορός

τῆς δυσσεβείας. ὦ ξένʼ, οὐκ αἰδῇ θεοὺς

Κάδμον τε τὸν σπείραντα γηγενῆ στάχυν,

Ἐχίονος δʼ ὢν παῖς καταισχύνεις γένος;
265
266

Τειρεσίας

ὅταν λάβῃ τις τῶν λόγων ἀνὴρ σοφὸς

καλὰς ἀφορμάς, οὐ μέγʼ ἔργον εὖ λέγειν·

σὺ δʼ εὔτροχον μὲν γλῶσσαν ὡς φρονῶν ἔχεις,

ἐν τοῖς λόγοισι δʼ οὐκ ἔνεισί σοι φρένες.

θράσει δὲ δυνατὸς καὶ λέγειν οἷός τʼ ἀνὴρ
270

κακὸς πολίτης γίγνεται νοῦν οὐκ ἔχων.

οὗτος δʼ ὁ δαίμων ὁ νέος, ὃν σὺ διαγελᾷς,

οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην μέγεθος ἐξειπεῖν ὅσος

καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἔσται. δύο γάρ, ὦ νεανία,

τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι· Δημήτηρ θεά—
275

γῆ δʼ ἐστίν, ὄνομα δʼ ὁπότερον βούλῃ κάλει·

αὕτη μὲν ἐν ξηροῖσιν ἐκτρέφει βροτούς·

ὃς δʼ ἦλθʼ ἔπειτʼ, ἀντίπαλον ὁ Σεμέλης γόνος

βότρυος ὑγρὸν πῶμʼ ηὗρε κεἰσηνέγκατο

θνητοῖς, ὃ παύει τοὺς ταλαιπώρους βροτοὺς
280

λύπης, ὅταν πλησθῶσιν ἀμπέλου ῥοῆς,

ὕπνον τε λήθην τῶν καθʼ ἡμέραν κακῶν

δίδωσιν, οὐδʼ ἔστʼ ἄλλο φάρμακον πόνων.

οὗτος θεοῖσι σπένδεται θεὸς γεγώς,

ὥστε διὰ τοῦτον τἀγάθʼ ἀνθρώπους ἔχειν.
285

καὶ καταγελᾷς νιν, ὡς ἐνερράφη Διὸς

μηρῷ; διδάξω σʼ ὡς καλῶς ἔχει τόδε.

ἐπεί νιν ἥρπασʼ ἐκ πυρὸς κεραυνίου

Ζεύς, ἐς δʼ Ὄλυμπον βρέφος ἀνήγαγεν θεόν,

Ἥρα νιν ἤθελʼ ἐκβαλεῖν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ·
290

Ζεὺς δʼ ἀντεμηχανήσαθʼ οἷα δὴ θεός.

ῥήξας μέρος τι τοῦ χθόνʼ ἐγκυκλουμένου

αἰθέρος, ἔθηκε τόνδʼ ὅμηρον ἐκδιδούς,

Διόνυσον Ἥρας νεικέων· χρόνῳ δέ νιν

βροτοὶ ῥαφῆναί φασιν ἐν μηρῷ Διός,
295

ὄνομα μεταστήσαντες, ὅτι θεᾷ θεὸς

Ἥρᾳ ποθʼ ὡμήρευσε, συνθέντες λόγον.

298

μάντις δʼ ὁ δαίμων ὅδε· τὸ γὰρ βακχεύσιμον

καὶ τὸ μανιῶδες μαντικὴν πολλὴν ἔχει·

ὅταν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ἐς τὸ σῶμʼ ἔλθῃ πολύς,
300

λέγειν τὸ μέλλον τοὺς μεμηνότας ποιεῖ.

Ἄρεώς τε μοῖραν μεταλαβὼν ἔχει τινά·

στρατὸν γὰρ ἐν ὅπλοις ὄντα κἀπὶ τάξεσιν

φόβος διεπτόησε πρὶν λόγχης θιγεῖν.

μανία δὲ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ Διονύσου πάρα.
305

ἔτʼ αὐτὸν ὄψῃ κἀπὶ Δελφίσιν πέτραις

πηδῶντα σὺν πεύκαισι δικόρυφον πλάκα,

πάλλοντα καὶ σείοντα βακχεῖον κλάδον,

μέγαν τʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα. ἀλλʼ ἐμοί, Πενθεῦ, πιθοῦ·

μὴ τὸ κράτος αὔχει δύναμιν ἀνθρώποις ἔχειν,
310

μηδʼ, ἢν δοκῇς μέν, ἡ δὲ δόξα σου νοσῇ,

φρονεῖν δόκει τι· τὸν θεὸν δʼ ἐς γῆν δέχου

καὶ σπένδε καὶ βάκχευε καὶ στέφου κάρα.

οὐχ ὁ Διόνυσος σωφρονεῖν ἀναγκάσει

γυναῖκας ἐς τὴν Κύπριν, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ φύσει
315

τὸ σωφρονεῖν ἔνεστιν εἰς τὰ πάντʼ ἀεί

τοῦτο σκοπεῖν χρή· καὶ γὰρ ἐν βακχεύμασιν

οὖσʼ ἥ γε σώφρων οὐ διαφθαρήσεται.

ὁρᾷς, σὺ χαίρεις, ὅταν ἐφεστῶσιν πύλαις

πολλοί, τὸ Πενθέως δʼ ὄνομα μεγαλύνῃ πόλις·
320

κἀκεῖνος, οἶμαι, τέρπεται τιμώμενος.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν καὶ Κάδμος, ὃν σὺ διαγελᾷς,

κισσῷ τʼ ἐρεψόμεσθα καὶ χορεύσομεν,

πολιὰ ξυνωρίς, ἀλλʼ ὅμως χορευτέον,

κοὐ θεομαχήσω σῶν λόγων πεισθεὶς ὕπο.
325

μαίνῃ γὰρ ὡς ἄλγιστα, κοὔτε φαρμάκοις

ἄκη λάβοις ἂν οὔτʼ ἄνευ τούτων νοσεῖς.

Χορός

ὦ πρέσβυ, Φοῖβόν τʼ οὐ καταισχύνεις λόγοις,

τιμῶν τε Βρόμιον σωφρονεῖς, μέγαν θεόν.

Κάδμος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς σοι Τειρεσίας παρῄνεσεν.
330

οἴκει μεθʼ ἡμῶν, μὴ θύραζε τῶν νόμων.

νῦν γὰρ πέτῃ τε καὶ φρονῶν οὐδὲν φρονεῖς.

κεἰ μὴ γὰρ ἔστιν ὁ θεὸς οὗτος, ὡς σὺ φῄς,

παρὰ σοὶ λεγέσθω· καὶ καταψεύδου καλῶς

ὡς ἔστι, Σεμέλη θʼ ἵνα δοκῇ θεὸν τεκεῖν,
335

ἡμῖν τε τιμὴ παντὶ τῷ γένει προσῇ.

ὁρᾷς τὸν Ἀκτέωνος ἄθλιον μόρον,

ὃν ὠμόσιτοι σκύλακες ἃς ἐθρέψατο

διεσπάσαντο, κρείσσονʼ ἐν κυναγίαις

Ἀρτέμιδος εἶναι κομπάσαντʼ, ἐν ὀργάσιν.
340

ὃ μὴ πάθῃς σύ· δεῦρό σου στέψω κάρα

κισσῷ· μεθʼ ἡμῶν τῷ θεῷ τιμὴν δίδου.

343

Πενθεύς

οὐ μὴ προσοίσεις χεῖρα, βακχεύσεις δʼ ἰών,

μηδʼ ἐξομόρξῃ μωρίαν τὴν σὴν ἐμοί;

τῆς σῆς δʼ ἀνοίας τόνδε τὸν διδάσκαλον
345

δίκην μέτειμι. στειχέτω τις ὡς τάχος,

ἐλθὼν δὲ θάκους τοῦδʼ ἵνʼ οἰωνοσκοπεῖ

μοχλοῖς τριαίνου κἀνάτρεψον ἔμπαλιν,

ἄνω κάτω τὰ πάντα συγχέας ὁμοῦ,

καὶ στέμματʼ ἀνέμοις καὶ θυέλλαισιν μέθες.
350

μάλιστα γάρ νιν δήξομαι δράσας τάδε.

οἳ δʼ ἀνὰ πόλιν στείχοντες ἐξιχνεύσατε

τὸν θηλύμορφον ξένον, ὃς ἐσφέρει νόσον

καινὴν γυναιξὶ καὶ λέχη λυμαίνεται.

κἄνπερ λάβητε, δέσμιον πορεύσατε
355

δεῦρʼ αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν λευσίμου δίκης τυχὼν

θάνῃ, πικρὰν βάκχευσιν ἐν Θήβαις ἰδών.

Τειρεσίας

ὦ σχέτλιʼ, ὡς οὐκ οἶσθα ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ λόγων.

μέμηνας ἤδη· καὶ πρὶν ἐξέστης φρενῶν.

στείχωμεν ἡμεῖς, Κάδμε, κἀξαιτώμεθα
360

ὑπέρ τε τούτου καίπερ ὄντος ἀγρίου

ὑπέρ τε πόλεως τὸν θεὸν μηδὲν νέον

δρᾶν. ἀλλʼ ἕπου μοι κισσίνου βάκτρου μέτα,

πειρῶ δʼ ἀνορθοῦν σῶμʼ ἐμόν, κἀγὼ τὸ σόν·

γέροντε δʼ αἰσχρὸν δύο πεσεῖν· ἴτω δʼ ὅμως,
365

τῷ Βακχίῳ γὰρ τῷ Διὸς δουλευτέον.

Πενθεὺς δʼ ὅπως μὴ πένθος εἰσοίσει δόμοις

τοῖς σοῖσι, Κάδμε· μαντικῇ μὲν οὐ λέγω,

τοῖς πράγμασιν δέ· μῶρα γὰρ μῶρος λέγει.

370

Translations (2)

The Bacchae Perseus (Euripides. The Tragedies of Euripides. Vol. I. Buckley, Theodore Alois, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1850. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 170-365 focus

Teiresias

Who is at the gates? Call from the house Kadmos, son of Agenor, who leaving the city of Sidon built this towering city of the Thebans. Let someone go and announce that Teiresias is looking for him. He knows why I have come and
170

what agreement I, an old man, have made with him, older still: to twine the thyrsoi, to wear fawn-skins, and to crown our heads with ivy branches.
175

Kadmos

Dearest friend, for inside the house I heard and recognized your wise voice, the voice of a wise man;

I have come prepared with this equipment of the god. For we must extol him, the child of my daughter, Dionysus, who has appeared as a god to men as much as is in our power. Where must I dance, where set my feet
180

and shake my grey head? Show me the way, Teiresias, one old man leading another; for you are wise. And so I shall never tire night or day striking the ground with the thyrsos. Gladly I have forgotten that I am old.
185

Teiresias

Then you and I have the same feelings,

for I too feel young and will try to dance.
190

Kadmos

Then will we go to the mountain in a chariot?

Teiresias

But then the god would not have equal honor.

Kadmos

I, an old man, will lead you, an old man, like a pupil.

Teiresias

The god will lead us there without trouble.

Kadmos

Are we the only ones in the city who will dance in Bacchus’ honor?
195

Teiresias

Yes, for we alone think rightly, the rest wrongly.

Kadmos

The delay is long; come, take hold of my hand.

Teiresias

Here, take hold, and join your hand with mine.

Kadmos

Having been born mortal I do not scorn the gods.

Teiresias

We mortals have no cleverness in the eyes of the the gods.¹ Our ancestral traditions, and those which we have held throughout our lives, no argument will overturn, not even if some craftiness should be discovered by the depths of our wits. ² Will anyone say that I do not respect old age,
200

being about to dance with my head covered in ivy? No, for the god has made no distinction as to whether it is right for men young or old to dance, but wishes to have common honors from all and to be extolled, setting no one apart.
205

Kadmos

Since you do not see this light, Teiresias, I will be your interpreter. Pentheus, child of Echion, to whom I gave control of this land, is coming here to the house now in haste. How fluttered he is! What new matter will he tell us?
210

215

Pentheus

I happened to be at a distance from this land, when I heard of strange evils throughout this city, that the women have left our homes in contrived Bacchic rites, and rush about in the shadowy mountains, honoring with dances
215

this new deity Dionysus, whoever he is. I hear that mixing-bowls stand full in the midst of their assemblies, and that they each creep off different ways into secrecy to serve the beds of men, on the pretext that they are Maenads worshipping;
220

but they consider Aphrodite before Bacchus. As many of them as I have caught, servants keep in the public strongholds with their hands bound, and as many as are absent I will hunt from the mountains, I mean Ino and Agave, who bore me to Echion, and
225

Autonoe, the mother of Actaeon. And having bound them in iron fetters, I will soon stop them from this ill-working revelry. And they say that some stranger has come, a sorcerer, a conjuror from the Lydian land,
230

fragrant in hair with golden curls, having in his eyes the wine-dark graces of Aphrodite. He is with the young girls day and night, alluring them with joyful mysteries. If I catch him within this house,
235

I will stop him from making a noise with the thyrsos and shaking his hair, by cutting his head off. That one claims that Dionysus is a god, claims that he was once stitched into the thigh of Zeus—Dionysus, who was burnt up with his mother by the flame of lightning,
240

because she had falsely claimed a marriage with Zeus. Is this not worthy of a terrible death by hanging, for a stranger to insult me with these insults, whoever he is? But here is another wonder—I see Teiresias the soothsayer in dappled fawn-skins
245

and my mother’s father—a great absurdity—raging about with a thyrsos. I shrink, father, from seeing your old age devoid of sense. Won’t you cast away the ivy? Grandfather, will you not free your hand of the thyrsos?
250

You persuaded him to this, Teiresias. Do you wish, by introducing another new god to men, to examine birds and receive rewards for sacrifices? If your gray old age did not defend you, you would sit in chains in the midst of the Bacchae,
255

for introducing wicked rites. For where women have the delight of the grape-cluster at a feast, I say that none of their rites is healthy any longer.
260

Chorus Leader

Oh, what impiety! O stranger, do you not reverence the gods and Kadmos who sowed the earth-born crop?

Do you, the child of Echion, bring shame to your race?
265

266

Teiresias

Whenever a wise man takes a good occasion for his speech, it is not a great task to speak well. You have a rapid tongue as though you were sensible, but there is no sense in your words.

A man powerful in his boldness, one capable of speaking well, becomes a bad citizen in his lack of sense. This new god, whom you ridicule, I am unable to express how great he will be throughout Hellas . For two things, young man,
270

are first among men: the goddess Demeter—she is the earth, but call her whatever name you wish; she nourishes mortals with dry food; but he who came afterwards, the offspring of Semele, discovered a match to it, the liquid drink of the grape, and introduced it
275

to mortals. It releases wretched mortals from grief, whenever they are filled with the stream of the vine, and gives them sleep, a means of forgetting their daily troubles, nor is there another cure for hardships. He who is a god is poured out in offerings to the gods,
280

so that by his means men may have good things. And do you laugh at him, because he was sewn up in Zeus’ thigh? I will teach you that this is well: when Zeus snatched him out of the lighting-flame, and led the child as a god to Olympus ,
285

Hera wished to banish him from the sky, but Zeus, as a god, had a counter-contrivance. Having broken a part of the air which surrounds the earth, he gave this to Hera as a pledge protecting the real³Dionysus from her hostility. But in time,
290

mortals say that he was nourished in the thigh of Zeus, changing the word, because a god he had served as a hostage for the goddess Hera, and composing the story. ⁴ 298 But this god is a prophet—for Bacchic revelry and madness have in them much prophetic skill.
295

For whenever the god enters a body in full force, he makes the frantic to foretell the future. He also possesses a share of Ares’ nature. For terror sometimes flutters an army under arms and in its ranks before it even touches a spear;
300

and this too is a frenzy from Dionysus. You will see him also on the rocks of Delphi , bounding with torches through the highland of two peaks, leaping and shaking the Bacchic branch, mighty throughout Hellas . But believe me, Pentheus;
305

do not boast that sovereignty has power among men, nor, even if you think so, and your mind is diseased, believe that you are being at all wise. Receive the god into your land, pour libations to him, celebrate the Bacchic rites, and garland your head. Dionysus will not compel women
310

to be modest in regard to Aphrodite, but in nature modesty dwells always you must look for that. For she who is modest will not be corrupted in Bacchic revelry. Do you see? You rejoice whenever many people are at your gates,
315

and the city extols the name of Pentheus. He too, I think, delights in being honored. Kadmos, whom you mock, and I will crown our heads with ivy and dance, a gray yoke-team but still we must dance;
320

and I will not be persuaded by your words to fight against the god. For you are mad in a most grievous way, and you will not be cured by drugs, nor are you sick without them.
325

Chorus Leader

Old man, you do not shame Phoebus with your words, and honoring Dionysus, a great god, you are prudent.

Kadmos

My child, Teiresias has advised you well. Dwell with us, not apart from the laws. For now you flit about and have thoughts without thinking. Even if, as you say, he is not a god, call him one; and tell a glorious falsehood,
330

so that Semele might seem to have borne a god, and honor might come to all our race. You see the wretched fate of Actaeon, who was torn apart in the meadows by the blood-thirsty hounds he had raised,
335

having boasted that he was superior in the hunt to Artemis. May you not suffer this. Come, let me crown your head with ivy; honor the god along with us.
340

343

Pentheus

Don’t lay a hand on me! Go off and hold your revels, but don’t wipe your foolishness off on me. I will seek the punishment of this

teacher of your folly. Let someone go quickly to the seat where he watches the flights of birds, upset and overturn it with levers, turning everything upside down;
345

and release his garlands to the winds and storms. In this way I will especially wound him. And some of you hunt throughout the city for this effeminate stranger, who introduces a new disease to women and pollutes our beds.
350

If you catch him, bring him here bound, so that he might suffer as punishment a death by stoning, having seen a bitter Bacchic revelry in Thebes .
355

Teiresias

O wretched man, how little you know what you are saying! You are mad now, and even before you were out of your wits.

Let us go, Kadmos, and entreat the god, on behalf of him, though he is savage, and on behalf of the city, to do no ill. But follow me with the ivy-clad staff, and try to support my body, and I will try to support yours;
360

it would be shameful for two old men to fall down. But let that pass, for we must serve Bacchus, the son of Zeus. Beware lest Pentheus bring trouble to your house, Kadmos; I do not speak in prophecy, but judging from the state of things; for a foolish man speaks foolishness.
365

The Bacchae (OCR draft) Experimental (The Bacchae. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

Notes on the current edition

Bacchae

1. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. ὅδ' έξαρχος Βρόμιος, εὐοῖ. εὐοῖ ist in der Uebersezung nicht ausgedrückt.

2. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] syrischen Weihrauch. Assyrien, welcher Name auch Syrien begriff, sandte die edelsten Gerüche, einheimische sowohl, als aus Arabien und Indien herkommende. Voß zu Tibull. 1, 4, 7.

3. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] L. ὦ ἴτε Βάκχαι nur einmal. Der Tmolos oder Tymolos heißt goldentströmend, weil auf diesem Berge der goldführende Paktolos entspringt.

Euripides Bacchae 135

Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Teiresias.

Current edition Experimental

Τειρεσίας

ταὔτʼ ἐμοὶ πάσχεις ἄρα·

κἀγὼ γὰρ ἡβῶ κἀπιχειρήσω χοροῖς.
190

Κάδμος

οὐκοῦν ὄχοισιν εἰς ὄρος περάσομεν;

Τειρεσίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως ἂν ὁ θεὸς τιμὴν ἔχοι.

Κάδμος

γέρων γέροντα παιδαγωγήσω σʼ ἐγώ.

Τειρεσίας

ὁ θεὸς ἀμοχθὶ κεῖσε νῷν ἡγήσεται.

Κάδμος

μόνοι δὲ πόλεως Βακχίῳ χορεύσομεν;
195

Τειρεσίας

μόνοι γὰρ εὖ φρονοῦμεν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι κακῶς.

Κάδμος

μακρὸν τὸ μέλλειν· ἀλλʼ ἐμῆς ἔχου χερός.

Τειρεσίας

ἰδού, ξύναπτε καὶ ξυνωρίζου χέρα.

Κάδμος

οὐ καταφρονῶ ʼγὼ τῶν θεῶν θνητὸς γεγώς.

Χορός

τῆς δυσσεβείας. ὦ ξένʼ, οὐκ αἰδῇ θεοὺς

Κάδμον τε τὸν σπείραντα γηγενῆ στάχυν,

Ἐχίονος δʼ ὢν παῖς καταισχύνεις γένος;
265
266

Χορός

ὦ πρέσβυ, Φοῖβόν τʼ οὐ καταισχύνεις λόγοις,

τιμῶν τε Βρόμιον σωφρονεῖς, μέγαν θεόν.

Teiresias

Then you and I have the same feelings,

for I too feel young and will try to dance.
190

Kadmos

Then will we go to the mountain in a chariot?

Teiresias

But then the god would not have equal honor.

Kadmos

I, an old man, will lead you, an old man, like a pupil.

Teiresias

The god will lead us there without trouble.

Kadmos

Are we the only ones in the city who will dance in Bacchus’ honor?
195

Teiresias

Yes, for we alone think rightly, the rest wrongly.

Kadmos

The delay is long; come, take hold of my hand.

Teiresias

Here, take hold, and join your hand with mine.

Kadmos

Having been born mortal I do not scorn the gods.

Kadmos

Since you do not see this light, Teiresias, I will be your interpreter. Pentheus, child of Echion, to whom I gave control of this land, is coming here to the house now in haste. How fluttered he is! What new matter will he tell us?
210

Chorus Leader

Oh, what impiety! O stranger, do you not reverence the gods and Kadmos who sowed the earth-born crop?

Do you, the child of Echion, bring shame to your race?
265

Chorus Leader

Old man, you do not shame Phoebus with your words, and honoring Dionysus, a great god, you are prudent.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Teiresias.

Current edition Experimental

Τειρεσίας ταὔτʼ ἐμοὶ πάσχεις ἄρα· κἀγὼ γὰρ ἡβῶ κἀπιχειρήσω χοροῖς. 190

Κάδμος οὐκοῦν ὄχοισιν εἰς ὄρος περάσομεν;

Τειρεσίας ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως ἂν ὁ θεὸς τιμὴν ἔχοι.

Κάδμος γέρων γέροντα παιδαγωγήσω σʼ ἐγώ.

Τειρεσίας ὁ θεὸς ἀμοχθὶ κεῖσε νῷν ἡγήσεται.

Κάδμος μόνοι δὲ πόλεως Βακχίῳ χορεύσομεν; 195

Τειρεσίας μόνοι γὰρ εὖ φρονοῦμεν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι κακῶς.

Κάδμος μακρὸν τὸ μέλλειν· ἀλλʼ ἐμῆς ἔχου χερός.

Τειρεσίας ἰδού, ξύναπτε καὶ ξυνωρίζου χέρα.

Κάδμος οὐ καταφρονῶ ʼγὼ τῶν θεῶν θνητὸς γεγώς.

Χορός τῆς δυσσεβείας. ὦ ξένʼ, οὐκ αἰδῇ θεοὺς Κάδμον τε τὸν σπείραντα γηγενῆ στάχυν, Ἐχίονος δʼ ὢν παῖς καταισχύνεις γένος; 265 266

Χορός ὦ πρέσβυ, Φοῖβόν τʼ οὐ καταισχύνεις λόγοις, τιμῶν τε Βρόμιον σωφρονεῖς, μέγαν θεόν.

Teiresias Then you and I have the same feelings, for I too feel young and will try to dance. 190

Kadmos Then will we go to the mountain in a chariot?

Teiresias But then the god would not have equal honor.

Kadmos I, an old man, will lead you, an old man, like a pupil.

Teiresias The god will lead us there without trouble.

Kadmos Are we the only ones in the city who will dance in Bacchus’ honor? 195

Teiresias Yes, for we alone think rightly, the rest wrongly.

Kadmos The delay is long; come, take hold of my hand.

Teiresias Here, take hold, and join your hand with mine.

Kadmos Having been born mortal I do not scorn the gods.

Kadmos Since you do not see this light, Teiresias, I will be your interpreter. Pentheus, child of Echion, to whom I gave control of this land, is coming here to the house now in haste. How fluttered he is! What new matter will he tell us? 210

Chorus Leader Oh, what impiety! O stranger, do you not reverence the gods and Kadmos who sowed the earth-born crop? Do you, the child of Echion, bring shame to your race? 265

Chorus Leader Old man, you do not shame Phoebus with your words, and honoring Dionysus, a great god, you are prudent.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Τειρεσίας

ταὔτʼ ἐμοὶ πάσχεις ἄρα·

κἀγὼ γὰρ ἡβῶ κἀπιχειρήσω χοροῖς.
190

Κάδμος

οὐκοῦν ὄχοισιν εἰς ὄρος περάσομεν;

Τειρεσίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως ἂν ὁ θεὸς τιμὴν ἔχοι.

Κάδμος

γέρων γέροντα παιδαγωγήσω σʼ ἐγώ.

Τειρεσίας

ὁ θεὸς ἀμοχθὶ κεῖσε νῷν ἡγήσεται.

Κάδμος

μόνοι δὲ πόλεως Βακχίῳ χορεύσομεν;
195

Τειρεσίας

μόνοι γὰρ εὖ φρονοῦμεν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι κακῶς.

Κάδμος

μακρὸν τὸ μέλλειν· ἀλλʼ ἐμῆς ἔχου χερός.

Τειρεσίας

ἰδού, ξύναπτε καὶ ξυνωρίζου χέρα.

Κάδμος

οὐ καταφρονῶ ʼγὼ τῶν θεῶν θνητὸς γεγώς.

Χορός

τῆς δυσσεβείας. ὦ ξένʼ, οὐκ αἰδῇ θεοὺς

Κάδμον τε τὸν σπείραντα γηγενῆ στάχυν,

Ἐχίονος δʼ ὢν παῖς καταισχύνεις γένος;
265
266

Χορός

ὦ πρέσβυ, Φοῖβόν τʼ οὐ καταισχύνεις λόγοις,

τιμῶν τε Βρόμιον σωφρονεῖς, μέγαν θεόν.

Teiresias

Then you and I have the same feelings,

for I too feel young and will try to dance.
190

Kadmos

Then will we go to the mountain in a chariot?

Teiresias

But then the god would not have equal honor.

Kadmos

I, an old man, will lead you, an old man, like a pupil.

Teiresias

The god will lead us there without trouble.

Kadmos

Are we the only ones in the city who will dance in Bacchus’ honor?
195

Teiresias

Yes, for we alone think rightly, the rest wrongly.

Kadmos

The delay is long; come, take hold of my hand.

Teiresias

Here, take hold, and join your hand with mine.

Kadmos

Having been born mortal I do not scorn the gods.

Kadmos

Since you do not see this light, Teiresias, I will be your interpreter. Pentheus, child of Echion, to whom I gave control of this land, is coming here to the house now in haste. How fluttered he is! What new matter will he tell us?
210

Chorus Leader

Oh, what impiety! O stranger, do you not reverence the gods and Kadmos who sowed the earth-born crop?

Do you, the child of Echion, bring shame to your race?
265

Chorus Leader

Old man, you do not shame Phoebus with your words, and honoring Dionysus, a great god, you are prudent.