Euripides, Bacchae, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 556

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An den wildhegenden Hohn Nysa's vielleicht schwingst du den Hohlstab
480

In dem Tanz, jauchzender Gott, oder hinauf Korykos' Fels,

In den baumreichen Gebirgsklüften des Olympos, wo vordem

Lautengeton Orpheus erhob, und mit dem Lied Baume sich

Und die Waldthiere sich nachzog.

Pieria, seliges Land,¹
485

nachzog,

Dich liebt Evios, naht schon mit den Chorreigen, und jubelt,

Und hindurchschreitend die Stromsluten des Arios,

Führt er im Tanz frohe Månaden

Hin zum Lydias, der Sterblichen hohes Gluck

Spendet, und hin zu dem Vater, dem Gotte, der
490

(Hor' ich) das roſſenährende Land

Tränkt mit schönem Gewässer.

Dionysos (innen).

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)) — 576-861 focus

Διόνυσος

ἰώ,

κλύετʼ ἐμᾶς κλύετʼ αὐδᾶς,

ἰὼ βάκχαι, ἰὼ βάκχαι.

Χορός

τίς ὅδε, τίς ὅδε πόθεν ὁ κέλαδος

ἀνά μʼ ἐκάλεσεν Εὐίου;

Διόνυσος

ἰὼ ἰώ, πάλιν αὐδῶ,
580

ὁ Σεμέλας, ὁ Διὸς παῖς.

Χορός

ἰὼ ἰὼ δέσποτα δέσποτα,

μόλε νυν ἡμέτερον ἐς

θίασον, ὦ Βρόμιε Βρόμιε.

Διόνυσος

σεῖε πέδον χθονὸς Ἔννοσι πότνια.
585

Χορός

ἆ ἆ,

τάχα τὰ Πενθέως μέλαθρα διατι-

νάξεται πεσήμασιν.

— ὁ Διόνυσος ἀνὰ μέλαθρα·

σέβετέ νιν. — σέβομεν ὤ.
590

— εἴδετε λάινα κίοσιν ἔμβολα

διάδρομα τάδε; Βρόμιος ὅδʼ ἀλα-

λάζεται στέγας ἔσω.

Διόνυσος

ἅπτε κεραύνιον αἴθοπα λαμπάδα·

σύμφλεγε σύμφλεγε δώματα Πενθέος.
595

Χορός

ἆ ἆ,

πῦρ οὐ λεύσσεις, οὐδʼ αὐγάζῃ,

Σεμέλας ἱερὸν ἀμφὶ τάφον, ἅν

ποτε κεραυνόβολος ἔλιπε φλόγα

Δίου βροντᾶς;

δίκετε πεδόσε τρομερὰ σώματα
600

δίκετε, Μαινάδες· ὁ γὰρ ἄναξ

ἄνω κάτω τιθεὶς ἔπεισι

μέλαθρα τάδε Διὸς γόνος.

604

Διόνυσος

βάρβαροι γυναῖκες, οὕτως ἐκπεπληγμέναι φόβῳ

πρὸς πέδῳ πεπτώκατʼ; ᾔσθησθʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, Βακχίου
605

διατινάξαντος δῶμα Πενθέως· ἀλλʼ ἐξανίστατε

σῶμα καὶ θαρσεῖτε σαρκὸς ἐξαμείψασαι τρόμον.

Χορός

ὦ φάος μέγιστον ἡμῖν εὐίου βακχεύματος,

ὡς ἐσεῖδον ἀσμένη σε, μονάδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρημίαν.

Διόνυσος

εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἀφίκεσθʼ, ἡνίκʼ εἰσεπεμπόμην,
610

Πενθέως ὡς ἐς σκοτεινὰς ὁρκάνας πεσούμενος;

Χορός

πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τίς μοι φύλαξ ἦν, εἰ σὺ συμφορᾶς τύχοις;

ἀλλὰ πῶς ἠλευθερώθης ἀνδρὸς ἀνοσίου τυχών;

Διόνυσος

αὐτὸς ἐξέσῳσʼ ἐμαυτὸν ῥᾳδίως ἄνευ πόνου.

Χορός

οὐδέ σου συνῆψε χεῖρε δεσμίοισιν ἐν βρόχοις;
615

Διόνυσος

ταῦτα καὶ καθύβρισʼ αὐτόν, ὅτι με δεσμεύειν δοκῶν

οὔτʼ ἔθιγεν οὔθʼ ἥψαθʼ ἡμῶν, ἐλπίσιν δʼ ἐβόσκετο.

πρὸς φάτναις δὲ ταῦρον εὑρών, οὗ καθεῖρξʼ ἡμᾶς ἄγων,

τῷδε περὶ βρόχους ἔβαλλε γόνασι καὶ χηλαῖς ποδῶν,

θυμὸν ἐκπνέων, ἱδρῶτα σώματος στάζων ἄπο,
620

χείλεσιν διδοὺς ὀδόντας· πλησίον δʼ ἐγὼ παρὼν

ἥσυχος θάσσων ἔλευσσον. ἐν δὲ τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ

ἀνετίναξʼ ἐλθὼν ὁ Βάκχος δῶμα καὶ μητρὸς τάφῳ

πῦρ ἀνῆψʼ· ὃ δʼ ὡς ἐσεῖδε, δώματʼ αἴθεσθαι δοκῶν,

ᾖσσʼ ἐκεῖσε κᾆτʼ ἐκεῖσε, δμωσὶν Ἀχελῷον φέρειν
625

ἐννέπων, ἅπας δʼ ἐν ἔργῳ δοῦλος ἦν, μάτην πονῶν.

διαμεθεὶς δὲ τόνδε μόχθον, ὡς ἐμοῦ πεφευγότος,

ἵεται ξίφος κελαινὸν ἁρπάσας δόμων ἔσω.

κᾆθʼ ὁ Βρόμιος, ὡς ἔμοιγε φαίνεται, δόξαν λέγω,

φάσμʼ ἐποίησεν κατʼ αὐλήν· ὃ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῦθʼ ὡρμημένος
630

ᾖσσε κἀκέντει φαεννὸν αἰθέρʼ, ὡς σφάζων ἐμέ.

πρὸς δὲ τοῖσδʼ αὐτῷ τάδʼ ἄλλα Βάκχιος λυμαίνεται·

δώματʼ ἔρρηξεν χαμᾶζε· συντεθράνωται δʼ ἅπαν

πικροτάτους ἰδόντι δεσμοὺς τοὺς ἐμούς· κόπου δʼ ὕπο

διαμεθεὶς ξίφος παρεῖται· πρὸς θεὸν γὰρ ὢν ἀνὴρ
635

ἐς μάχην ἐλθεῖν ἐτόλμησε. ἥσυχος δʼ ἐκβὰς ἐγὼ

δωμάτων ἥκω πρὸς ὑμᾶς, Πενθέως οὐ φροντίσας.

ὡς δέ μοι δοκεῖ — ψοφεῖ γοῦν ἀρβύλη δόμων ἔσω —

ἐς προνώπιʼ αὐτίχʼ ἥξει. τί ποτʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ τούτων ἐρεῖ;

ῥᾳδίως γὰρ αὐτὸν οἴσω, κἂν πνέων ἔλθῃ μέγα.
640

πρὸς σοφοῦ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἀσκεῖν σώφρονʼ εὐοργησίαν.

642

Πενθεύς

πέπονθα δεινά· διαπέφευγέ μʼ ὁ ξένος,

ὃς ἄρτι δεσμοῖς ἦν κατηναγκασμένος.

ἔα ἔα·

ὅδʼ ἐστὶν ἁνήρ· τί τάδε; πῶς προνώπιος
645

φαίνῃ πρὸς οἴκοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς, ἔξω βεβώς;

Διόνυσος

στῆσον πόδʼ, ὀργῇ δʼ ὑπόθες ἥσυχον πόδα.

Πενθεύς

πόθεν σὺ δεσμὰ διαφυγὼν ἔξω περᾷς;

Διόνυσος

οὐκ εἶπον—ἢ οὐκ ἤκουσασ—ὅτι λύσει μέ τις;

Πενθεύς

τίς; τοὺς λόγους γὰρ ἐσφέρεις καινοὺς ἀεί.
650

Διόνυσος

ὃς τὴν πολύβοτρυν ἄμπελον φύει βροτοῖς.

Πενθεύς

Διόνυσος

ὠνείδισας δὴ τοῦτο Διονύσῳ καλόν.

Πενθεύς

κλῄειν κελεύω πάντα πύργον ἐν κύκλῳ.

Διόνυσος

τί δʼ; οὐχ ὑπερβαίνουσι καὶ τείχη θεοί;

Πενθεύς

σοφὸς σοφὸς σύ, πλὴν ἃ δεῖ σʼ εἶναι σοφόν.
655

Διόνυσος

ἃ δεῖ μάλιστα, ταῦτʼ ἔγωγʼ ἔφυν σοφός.

κείνου δʼ ἀκούσας πρῶτα τοὺς λόγους μάθε,

ὃς ἐξ ὄρους πάρεστιν ἀγγελῶν τί σοι·

ἡμεῖς δέ σοι μενοῦμεν, οὐ φευξούμεθα.

Ἄγγελος

Πενθεῦ κρατύνων τῆσδε Θηβαίας χθονός,
660

ἥκω Κιθαιρῶνʼ ἐκλιπών, ἵνʼ οὔποτε

λευκῆς χιόνος ἀνεῖσαν εὐαγεῖς βολαί.

Πενθεύς

ἥκεις δὲ ποίαν προστιθεὶς σπουδὴν λόγου;

Ἄγγελος

βάκχας ποτνιάδας εἰσιδών, αἳ τῆσδε γῆς

οἴστροισι λευκὸν κῶλον ἐξηκόντισαν,
665

ἥκω φράσαι σοὶ καὶ πόλει χρῄζων, ἄναξ,

ὡς δεινὰ δρῶσι θαυμάτων τε κρείσσονα.

θέλω δʼ ἀκοῦσαι, πότερά σοι παρρησίᾳ

φράσω τὰ κεῖθεν ἢ λόγον στειλώμεθα·

τὸ γὰρ τάχος σου τῶν φρενῶν δέδοικʼ, ἄναξ,
670

καὶ τοὐξύθυμον καὶ τὸ βασιλικὸν λίαν.

Πενθεύς

λέγʼ, ὡς ἀθῷος ἐξ ἐμοῦ πάντως ἔσῃ.

τοῖς γὰρ δικαίοις οὐχὶ θυμοῦσθαι χρεών.

ὅσῳ δʼ ἂν εἴπῃς δεινότερα βακχῶν πέρι,

τοσῷδε μᾶλλον τὸν ὑποθέντα τὰς τέχνας
675

γυναιξὶ τόνδε τῇ δίκῃ προσθήσομεν.

677

Ἄγγελος

ἀγελαῖα μὲν βοσκήματʼ ἄρτι πρὸς λέπας

μόσχων ὑπεξήκριζον, ἡνίχʼ ἥλιος

ἀκτῖνας ἐξίησι θερμαίνων χθόνα.

ὁρῶ δὲ θιάσους τρεῖς γυναικείων χορῶν,
680

ὧν ἦρχʼ ἑνὸς μὲν Αὐτονόη, τοῦ δευτέρου

μήτηρ Ἀγαύη σή, τρίτου δʼ Ἰνὼ χοροῦ.

ηὗδον δὲ πᾶσαι σώμασιν παρειμέναι,

αἳ μὲν πρὸς ἐλάτης νῶτʼ ἐρείσασαι φόβην,

αἳ δʼ ἐν δρυὸς φύλλοισι πρὸς πέδῳ κάρα
685

εἰκῇ βαλοῦσαι σωφρόνως, οὐχ ὡς σὺ φῂς

ᾠνωμένας κρατῆρι καὶ λωτοῦ ψόφῳ

θηρᾶν καθʼ ὕλην Κύπριν ἠρημωμένας.

ἡ σὴ δὲ μήτηρ ὠλόλυξεν ἐν μέσαις

σταθεῖσα βάκχαις, ἐξ ὕπνου κινεῖν δέμας,
690

μυκήμαθʼ ὡς ἤκουσε κεροφόρων βοῶν.

αἳ δʼ ἀποβαλοῦσαι θαλερὸν ὀμμάτων ὕπνον

ἀνῇξαν ὀρθαί, θαῦμʼ ἰδεῖν εὐκοσμίας,

νέαι παλαιαὶ παρθένοι τʼ ἔτʼ ἄζυγες.

καὶ πρῶτα μὲν καθεῖσαν εἰς ὤμους κόμας
695

νεβρίδας τʼ ἀνεστείλανθʼ ὅσαισιν ἁμμάτων

σύνδεσμʼ ἐλέλυτο, καὶ καταστίκτους δορὰς

ὄφεσι κατεζώσαντο λιχμῶσιν γένυν.

αἳ δʼ ἀγκάλαισι δορκάδʼ ἢ σκύμνους λύκων

ἀγρίους ἔχουσαι λευκὸν ἐδίδοσαν γάλα,
700

ὅσαις νεοτόκοις μαστὸς ἦν σπαργῶν ἔτι

βρέφη λιπούσαις· ἐπὶ δʼ ἔθεντο κισσίνους

στεφάνους δρυός τε μίλακός τʼ ἀνθεσφόρου.

θύρσον δέ τις λαβοῦσʼ ἔπαισεν ἐς πέτραν,

ὅθεν δροσώδης ὕδατος ἐκπηδᾷ νοτίς·
705

ἄλλη δὲ νάρθηκʼ ἐς πέδον καθῆκε γῆς,

καὶ τῇδε κρήνην ἐξανῆκʼ οἴνου θεός·

ὅσαις δὲ λευκοῦ πώματος πόθος παρῆν,

ἄκροισι δακτύλοισι διαμῶσαι χθόνα

γάλακτος ἑσμοὺς εἶχον· ἐκ δὲ κισσίνων
710

θύρσων γλυκεῖαι μέλιτος ἔσταζον ῥοαί.

ὥστʼ, εἰ παρῆσθα, τὸν θεὸν τὸν νῦν ψέγεις

εὐχαῖσιν ἂν μετῆλθες εἰσιδὼν τάδε.

ξυνήλθομεν δὲ βουκόλοι καὶ ποιμένες,

κοινῶν λόγων δώσοντες ἀλλήλοις ἔριν
715

ὡς δεινὰ δρῶσι θαυμάτων τʼ ἐπάξια·

καί τις πλάνης κατʼ ἄστυ καὶ τρίβων λόγων

ἔλεξεν εἰς ἅπαντας· Ὦ σεμνὰς πλάκας

ναίοντες ὀρέων, θέλετε θηρασώμεθα

Πενθέως Ἀγαύην μητέρʼ ἐκ βακχευμάτων
720

χάριν τʼ ἄνακτι θώμεθα; εὖ δʼ ἡμῖν λέγειν

ἔδοξε, θάμνων δʼ ἐλλοχίζομεν φόβαις

κρύψαντες αὑτούς· αἳ δὲ τὴν τεταγμένην

ὥραν ἐκίνουν θύρσον ἐς βακχεύματα,

Ἴακχον ἀθρόῳ στόματι τὸν Διὸς γόνον
725

Βρόμιον καλοῦσαι· πᾶν δὲ συνεβάκχευʼ ὄρος

καὶ θῆρες, οὐδὲν δʼ ἦν ἀκίνητον δρόμῳ.

728

κυρεῖ δʼ Ἀγαύη πλησίον θρῴσκουσά μου·

κἀγὼ ʼξεπήδησʼ ὡς συναρπάσαι θέλων,

λόχμην κενώσας ἔνθʼ ἐκρυπτόμην δέμας.
730

ἣ δʼ ἀνεβόησεν· Ὦ δρομάδες ἐμαὶ κύνες,

θηρώμεθʼ ἀνδρῶν τῶνδʼ ὕπʼ· ἀλλʼ ἕπεσθέ μοι,

ἕπεσθε θύρσοις διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμέναι.

ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν φεύγοντες ἐξηλύξαμεν

βακχῶν σπαραγμόν, αἳ δὲ νεμομέναις χλόην
735

μόσχοις ἐπῆλθον χειρὸς ἀσιδήρου μέτα.

καὶ τὴν μὲν ἂν προσεῖδες εὔθηλον πόριν

μυκωμένην ἔχουσαν ἐν χεροῖν δίχα,

ἄλλαι δὲ δαμάλας διεφόρουν σπαράγμασιν.

εἶδες δʼ ἂν ἢ πλεύρʼ ἢ δίχηλον ἔμβασιν
740

ῥιπτόμενʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω· κρεμαστὰ δὲ

ἔσταζʼ ὑπʼ ἐλάταις ἀναπεφυρμένʼ αἵματι.

ταῦροι δʼ ὑβρισταὶ κἀς κέρας θυμούμενοι

τὸ πρόσθεν ἐσφάλλοντο πρὸς γαῖαν δέμας,

μυριάσι χειρῶν ἀγόμενοι νεανίδων.
745

θᾶσσον δὲ διεφοροῦντο σαρκὸς ἐνδυτὰ

ἢ σὲ ξυνάψαι βλέφαρα βασιλείοις κόραις.

χωροῦσι δʼ ὥστʼ ὄρνιθες ἀρθεῖσαι δρόμῳ

πεδίων ὑποτάσεις, αἳ παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥοαῖς

εὔκαρπον ἐκβάλλουσι Θηβαίων στάχυν·
750

Ὑσιάς τʼ Ἐρυθράς θʼ, αἳ Κιθαιρῶνος λέπας

νέρθεν κατῳκήκασιν, ὥστε πολέμιοι,

ἐπεσπεσοῦσαι πάντʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω

διέφερον· ἥρπαζον μὲν ἐκ δόμων τέκνα·

ὁπόσα δʼ ἐπʼ ὤμοις ἔθεσαν, οὐ δεσμῶν ὕπο
755

προσείχετʼ οὐδʼ ἔπιπτεν ἐς μέλαν πέδον,

οὐ χαλκός, οὐ σίδηρος· ἐπὶ δὲ βοστρύχοις

πῦρ ἔφερον, οὐδʼ ἔκαιεν. οἳ δʼ ὀργῆς ὕπο

ἐς ὅπλʼ ἐχώρουν φερόμενοι βακχῶν ὕπο·

οὗπερ τὸ δεινὸν ἦν θέαμʼ ἰδεῖν, ἄναξ.
760

τοῖς μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ᾕμασσε λογχωτὸν βέλος,

κεῖναι δὲ θύρσους ἐξανιεῖσαι χερῶν

ἐτραυμάτιζον κἀπενώτιζον φυγῇ

γυναῖκες ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινος.

πάλιν δʼ ἐχώρουν ὅθεν ἐκίνησαν πόδα,
765

κρήνας ἐπʼ αὐτὰς ἃς ἀνῆκʼ αὐταῖς θεός.

νίψαντο δʼ αἷμα, σταγόνα δʼ ἐκ παρηίδων

γλώσσῃ δράκοντες ἐξεφαίδρυνον χροός.

τὸν δαίμονʼ οὖν τόνδʼ ὅστις ἔστʼ, ὦ δέσποτα,

δέχου πόλει τῇδʼ· ὡς τά τʼ ἄλλʼ ἐστὶν μέγας,
770

κἀκεῖνό φασιν αὐτόν, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω,

τὴν παυσίλυπον ἄμπελον δοῦναι βροτοῖς.

οἴνου δὲ μηκέτʼ ὄντος οὐκ ἔστιν Κύπρις

οὐδʼ ἄλλο τερπνὸν οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις ἔτι.

775

Χορός

ταρβῶ μὲν εἰπεῖν τοὺς λόγους ἐλευθέρους
775

πρὸς τὸν τύραννον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται·

Διόνυσος ἥσσων οὐδενὸς θεῶν ἔφυ.

Πενθεύς

ἤδη τόδʼ ἐγγὺς ὥστε πῦρ ὑφάπτεται

ὕβρισμα βακχῶν, ψόγος ἐς Ἕλληνας μέγας.

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ὀκνεῖν δεῖ· στεῖχʼ ἐπʼ Ἠλέκτρας ἰὼν
780

πύλας· κέλευε πάντας ἀσπιδηφόρους

ἵππων τʼ ἀπαντᾶν ταχυπόδων ἐπεμβάτας

πέλτας θʼ ὅσοι πάλλουσι καὶ τόξων χερὶ

ψάλλουσι νευράς, ὡς ἐπιστρατεύσομεν

βάκχαισιν· οὐ γὰρ ἀλλʼ ὑπερβάλλει τάδε,
785

εἰ πρὸς γυναικῶν πεισόμεσθʼ ἃ πάσχομεν.

Διόνυσος

πείθῃ μὲν οὐδέν, τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων κλύων,

Πενθεῦ· κακῶς δὲ πρὸς σέθεν πάσχων ὅμως

οὔ φημι χρῆναί σʼ ὅπλʼ ἐπαίρεσθαι θεῷ,

ἀλλʼ ἡσυχάζειν· Βρόμιος οὐκ ἀνέξεται
790

κινοῦντα βάκχας σʼ εὐίων ὀρῶν ἄπο.

Πενθεύς

οὐ μὴ φρενώσεις μʼ, ἀλλὰ δέσμιος φυγὼν

σῴσῃ τόδʼ; ἢ σοὶ πάλιν ἀναστρέψω δίκην;

Διόνυσος

θύοιμʼ ἂν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυμούμενος

πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζοιμι θνητὸς ὢν θεῷ.
795

Πενθεύς

θύσω, φόνον γε θῆλυν, ὥσπερ ἄξιαι,

πολὺν ταράξας ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

Διόνυσος

φεύξεσθε πάντες· καὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, ἀσπίδας

θύρσοισι βακχῶν ἐκτρέπειν χαλκηλάτους

Πενθεύς

ἀπόρῳ γε τῷδε συμπεπλέγμεθα ξένῳ,
800

ὃς οὔτε πάσχων οὔτε δρῶν σιγήσεται.

Διόνυσος

ὦ τᾶν, ἔτʼ ἔστιν εὖ καταστῆσαι τάδε.

Πενθεύς

τί δρῶντα; δουλεύοντα δουλείαις ἐμαῖς;

Διόνυσος

ἐγὼ γυναῖκας δεῦρʼ ὅπλων ἄξω δίχα.

Πενθεύς

οἴμοι· τόδʼ ἤδη δόλιον ἔς με μηχανᾷ.
805

Διόνυσος

ποῖόν τι, σῷσαί σʼ εἰ θέλω τέχναις ἐμαῖς;

Πενθεύς

ξυνέθεσθε κοινῇ τάδʼ, ἵνα βακχεύητʼ ἀεί.

Διόνυσος

καὶ μὴν ξυνεθέμην—τοῦτό γʼ ἔστι—τῷ θεῷ.

Πενθεύς

ἐκφέρετέ μοι δεῦρʼ ὅπλα, σὺ δὲ παῦσαι λέγων.

810

Διόνυσος

ἆ.
810

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;
815

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.
820

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.
825

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;
830

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.
835

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;
840

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
845

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,
850

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
855

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,
860

δεινότατος, ἀνθρώποισι δʼ ἠπιώτατος.

862

Translations (2)

The Bacchae Perseus (Euripides. The Tragedies of Euripides. Vol. I. Buckley, Theodore Alois, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1850. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 576-860 focus

Dionysus

within Io! Hear my voice, hear it, Io Bacchae, Io Bacchae!

Chorus

Who is here, who? From what quarter did the voice of the Joyful one summon me?

Dionysus

Io! Io! I say again; it is I, the child of Zeus and Semele.
580

Chorus

Io! Io! Master, master! Come now to our company, Bromius.

Dionysus

Shake the world’s plain, lady Earthquake!
585

Chorus

Oh! Oh! Soon the palace of Pentheus will be shaken in ruin. ¹ —Dionysus is in the halls.

Revere him. —We revere him! —Did you see these stone lintels on the pillars falling apart? Bromius cries out in victory indoors.
590

Dionysus

Light the fiery lamp of lightning!

Burn, burn Pentheus’ home!
595

Chorus

Oh! Oh! Do you not see the the fire, do you not perceive, about the sacred tomb of Semele, the flame that Zeus’ thunderbolt left?

Cast on the ground your trembling bodies, Maenads, cast them down, for our lord, Zeus’ son, is coming against this palace, turning everything upside down.
600

604 Enter Dionysus

Dionysus

Barbarian women, have you fallen on the ground

so stricken with fear? You have, so it seems, felt Bacchus shaking the house of Pentheus. But get up and take courage, putting a stop to your trembling.
605

Chorus Leader

Oh greatest light for us in our joyful revelry, how happy I am to see you—I who was alone and desolate before.

Dionysus

Did you despair when I was sent to fall into Pentheus’ dark dungeon?
610

Chorus Leader

How not? Who was my guardian, if you met with misfortune? But how were you freed, having met with an impious man?

Dionysus

By myself I saved myself easily, without trouble.

Chorus Leader

Did he not tie your hands in binding knots?
615

Dionysus

In this too I mocked him, for, thinking to bind me, he neither touched nor handled me, but fed on hope. He found a bull by the stable where he took and shut me up, and threw shackles around its knees and hooves,

breathing out fury, dripping sweat from his body, gnashing his teeth in his lips. But I, being near, sitting quietly, looked on. Meanwhile, Bacchus came and shook the house and kindled a flame on his mother’s tomb. When Pentheus saw this, thinking that the house was burning,
620

he ran here and there, calling to the slaves to bring water, and every servant was at work, toiling in vain. Then he let this labor drop, as I had escaped, and snatching a dark sword rushed into the house. Then Bromius, so it seems to me—I speak my opinion—
625

created a phantom in the courtyard. Pentheus rushed at it headlong, stabbing at the shining air, as though slaughtering me. Besides this, Bacchus inflicted other damage on him: he knocked his house to the ground, and everything was shattered into pieces, while he saw my bitter chains. From fatigue,
630

dropping his sword, he is exhausted. For he, a man, dared to join battle with a god. Now I have quietly left the house and come to you, with no thought of Pentheus. But I think—at any rate I hear the tramping of feet inside—he will soon come to the front of the house. What will he say after this?
635

I shall easily bear him, even if he comes boasting greatly. For it is the part of a wise man to practice restrained good temper.
640

642 Enter Pentheus

Pentheus

I have suffered terrible things; the stranger, who was recently constrained in bonds, has escaped me. Ah!

Here is the man. What is this? How do you appear in front of my house, having come out?
645

Dionysus

Stop, and put a stop to your anger.

Pentheus

How have you escaped your chains and come outside?

Dionysus

Did I not say—or did you not hear—that some one would deliver me?

Pentheus

Who? You are always introducing strange explanations.
650

Dionysus

He who produces the rich-clustering vine for mortals.

Pentheus

Dionysus

You reproach Dionysus for what is his glory.

Pentheus

I order you to close up all the towers around.

Dionysus

Why? Do gods not pass over walls too?

Pentheus

You are wise, wise at least in all save what you should be wise in.
655

Dionysus

I was born wise in all that I should be. Enter a messenger Listen first to the words of this man, who has come from the mountain to bring you some message. I will await you, I will not try to escape.

Messenger

Pentheus, ruler of this land of Thebes , I have come from Kithairon, where the bright flakes of white snow never melt.
660

Pentheus

What important news do you come to bring?

Messenger

Having seen the holy Bacchae, who

goaded to madness have darted from this land with their fair feet, I have come to tell you and the city, lord, that they are doing terrible things, beyond marvel. I wish to hear whether I should tell you in free speech the situation there or whether I should repress my report,
665

for I fear, lord, the quickness of your mood, your keen temper and your too imperious disposition.
670

Pentheus

Speak, as you will have immunity from me in any case. For it is not right to be angry with the just. The more you tell me terrible things about the Bacchae,

the more I will punish this one here who taught the women these tricks.
675

677

Messenger

The herds of grazing cattle were just climbing up the hill, at the time when the sun sends forth its rays, warming the earth.

I saw three companies of dancing women, one of which Autonoe led, the second your mother Agave, and the third Ino. All were asleep, their bodies relaxed, some resting their backs against pine foliage,
680

others laying their heads at random on the oak leaves, modestly, not as you say drunk with the goblet and the sound of the flute, hunting out Aphrodite through the woods in solitude. Your mother raised a cry,
685

standing up in the midst of the Bacchae, to wake their bodies from sleep, when she heard the lowing of the horned cattle. And they, casting off refreshing sleep from their eyes, sprang upright, a marvel of orderliness to behold, old, young, and still unmarried virgins.
690

First they let their hair loose over their shoulders, and secured their fawn-skins, as many of them as had released the fastenings of their knots, girding the dappled hides with serpents licking their jaws. And some, holding in their arms a gazelle or wild
695

wolf-pup, gave them white milk, as many as had abandoned their new-born infants and had their breasts still swollen. They put on garlands of ivy, and oak, and flowering yew. One took her thyrsos and struck it against a rock,
700

from which a dewy stream of water sprang forth. Another let her thyrsos strike the ground, and there the god sent forth a fountain of wine. All who desired the white drink scratched the earth with the tips of their fingers and obtained streams of milk;
705

and a sweet flow of honey dripped from their ivy thyrsoi; so that, had you been present and seen this, you would have approached with prayers the god whom you now blame. We herdsmen and shepherds gathered in order to
710

debate with one another concerning what strange and amazing things they were doing. Some one, a wanderer about the city and practised in speaking, said to us all: You who inhabit the holy plains of the mountains, do you wish to hunt
715

Pentheus’ mother Agave out from the Bacchic revelry and do the king a favor? We thought he spoke well, and lay down in ambush, hiding ourselves in the foliage of bushes. They, at the appointed hour, began to wave the thyrsos in their revelries,
720

calling on Iacchus, the son of Zeus, Bromius, with united voice. The whole mountain revelled along with them and the beasts, and nothing was unmoved by their running. 728 Agave happened to be leaping near me, and I sprang forth, wanting to snatch her,
725

abandoning the ambush where I had hidden myself. But she cried out: O my fleet hounds, we are hunted by these men; but follow me! follow armed with your thyrsoi in your hands! We fled and escaped
730

from being torn apart by the Bacchae, but they, with unarmed hands, sprang on the heifers browsing the grass. and you might see one rending asunder a fatted lowing calf, while others tore apart cows.
735

You might see ribs or cloven hooves tossed here and there; caught in the trees they dripped, dabbled in gore. Bulls who before were fierce, and showed their fury with their horns, stumbled to the ground,
740

dragged down by countless young hands. The garment of flesh was torn apart faster then you could blink your royal eyes. And like birds raised in their course, they proceeded along the level plains, which by the streams of the Asopus
745

produce the bountiful Theban crop. And falling like soldiers upon Hysiae and Erythrae, towns situated below the rock of Kithairon, they turned everything upside down. They were snatching children from their homes;
750

and whatever they put on their shoulders, whether bronze or iron, was not held on by bonds, nor did it fall to the ground. They carried fire on their locks, but it did not burn them. Some people in rage took up arms, being plundered by the Bacchae,
755

and the sight of this was terrible to behold, lord. For their pointed spears drew no blood, but the women, hurling the thyrsoi from their hands, kept wounding them and turned them to flight—women did this to men, not without the help of some god.
760

And they returned where they had come from, to the very fountains which the god had sent forth for them, and washed off the blood, and snakes cleaned the drops from the women’s cheeks with their tongues. Receive this god then, whoever he is,
765

into this city, master. For he is great in other respects, and they say this too of him, as I hear, that he gives to mortals the vine that puts an end to grief. Without wine there is no longer Aphrodite or any other pleasant thing for men.
770

775

Chorus Leader

I fear to speak freely to the king, but I will speak nevertheless: Dionysus is inferior to none of the gods.
775

Pentheus

Already like fire does this insolence of the Bacchae blaze up, a great reproach for the Hellenes.

But we must not hesitate. Go to the Electran gates, bid all the shield-bearers and riders of swift-footed horses to assemble, as well as all who brandish the light shield and pluck bowstrings with their hands, so that we can make an assault against
780

the Bacchae. For it is indeed too much if we suffer what we are suffering at the hands of women.
785

Dionysus

Pentheus, though you hear my words, you obey not at all. Though I suffer ill at your hands, still I say that it is not right for you to raise arms against a god,

but to remain calm. Bromius will not allow you to remove the Bacchae from the joyful mountains.
790

Pentheus

Do not instruct me, but be content in your escape from prison. Or shall I bring punishment upon you again?

Dionysus

I would sacrifice to the god rather

than kick against his spurs in anger, a mortal against a god.
795

Pentheus

I will sacrifice, making a great slaughter of the women, as they deserve, in the glens of Kithairon.

Dionysus

You will all flee. And it will be a source of shame that you turn your bronze shields away from the thyrsoi of the Bacchae.

Pentheus

This stranger with whom I am locked together is impossible, and neither suffering nor doing will he be quiet.
800

Dionysus

My friend, there is still opportunity to arrange these things well.

Pentheus

Doing what? Being a slave to my slaves?

Dionysus

Without weapons I will bring the women here.

Pentheus

Alas! You are contriving this as a trick against me.
805

Dionysus

What sort, if I wish to save you by my contrivances?

Pentheus

You have devised this together, so that you may have your revelry forever.

Dionysus

I certainly did—that is so—with the god.

Pentheus

To a servant Bring me my armor. To Dionysus And you, stop speaking.

810

Dionysus

Ah! Do you wish to see them sitting together in the mountains?
810

Pentheus

Certainly. I’d give an enormous amount of gold for that.

Dionysus

Why do you desire 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?
815

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.
820

Dionysus

Put linen clothes on your body then.

Pentheus

What is this? Shall I then, instead of a man, be reckoned among the women?

Dionysus

Lest they kill you if you are seen there as a man.

Pentheus

Again you speak correctly: how wise you have been all along!

Dionysus

Dionysus taught me these things fully.
825

Pentheus

How can your advice to me be well carried out?

Dionysus

I will go inside and dress you.

Pentheus

In what clothing? Female? But shame holds me back.

Dionysus

Are you no longer eager to view the maenads?

Pentheus

What clothing do you bid me to put on my body?
830

Dionysus

I will spread out 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 a dappled fawn-skin.
835

Pentheus

I could not 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 at any rate wiser than hunting trouble with trouble.

Pentheus

And how will I go through the city without being seen by the Thebans?
840

Dionysus

We will go on deserted roads. I will lead you.

Pentheus

Anything is better than to be mocked by the Bacchae. We two will go into the house . . . and I will consider what seems best.

Dionysus

It will be so; in any case I am ready.

Pentheus

I will go in. For either I will go bearing arms, or I will obey your counsels.
845

Dionysus

Women, the man is caught in our net. He will go to the Bacchae, where he will pay the penalty with his death. Dionysus, now it is your job; for you are not far off.

Let us punish him. First drive him out of his wits, send upon him a dizzying madness, since if he is of sound mind he will not consent to wear women’s clothing, but driven out of his senses he will put it on. I want him to be a source of laughter to the Thebans, led through the city in
850

women’s guise after making such terrible threats in the past. But now I will go to fit on Pentheus the dress he will wear to the house of Hades, slaughtered by his mother’s hands. He will recognize the son of Zeus,
855

Dionysus, who is in fact a god, the most terrible and yet most mild to men.
860

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.] 2. μάκαιρ' ὦ Πιερία.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Dionysos (innen).

Current edition Experimental

Διόνυσος ἰώ, κλύετʼ ἐμᾶς κλύετʼ αὐδᾶς, ἰὼ βάκχαι, ἰὼ βάκχαι.

Χορός τίς ὅδε, τίς ὅδε πόθεν ὁ κέλαδος ἀνά μʼ ἐκάλεσεν Εὐίου;

Διόνυσος ἰὼ ἰώ, πάλιν αὐδῶ, 580 ὁ Σεμέλας, ὁ Διὸς παῖς.

Χορός ἰὼ ἰὼ δέσποτα δέσποτα, μόλε νυν ἡμέτερον ἐς θίασον, ὦ Βρόμιε Βρόμιε.

Διόνυσος σεῖε πέδον χθονὸς Ἔννοσι πότνια. 585

Διόνυσος ἅπτε κεραύνιον αἴθοπα λαμπάδα· σύμφλεγε σύμφλεγε δώματα Πενθέος. 595

Χορός ὦ φάος μέγιστον ἡμῖν εὐίου βακχεύματος, ὡς ἐσεῖδον ἀσμένη σε, μονάδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρημίαν.

Διόνυσος εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἀφίκεσθʼ, ἡνίκʼ εἰσεπεμπόμην, 610 Πενθέως ὡς ἐς σκοτεινὰς ὁρκάνας πεσούμενος;

Χορός πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τίς μοι φύλαξ ἦν, εἰ σὺ συμφορᾶς τύχοις; ἀλλὰ πῶς ἠλευθερώθης ἀνδρὸς ἀνοσίου τυχών;

Διόνυσος αὐτὸς ἐξέσῳσʼ ἐμαυτὸν ῥᾳδίως ἄνευ πόνου.

Χορός οὐδέ σου συνῆψε χεῖρε δεσμίοισιν ἐν βρόχοις; 615

Διόνυσος στῆσον πόδʼ, ὀργῇ δʼ ὑπόθες ἥσυχον πόδα.

Πενθεύς πόθεν σὺ δεσμὰ διαφυγὼν ἔξω περᾷς;

Διόνυσος οὐκ εἶπον—ἢ οὐκ ἤκουσασ—ὅτι λύσει μέ τις;

Πενθεύς τίς; τοὺς λόγους γὰρ ἐσφέρεις καινοὺς ἀεί. 650

Διόνυσος ὃς τὴν πολύβοτρυν ἄμπελον φύει βροτοῖς.

Πενθεύς

Διόνυσος ὠνείδισας δὴ τοῦτο Διονύσῳ καλόν.

Πενθεύς κλῄειν κελεύω πάντα πύργον ἐν κύκλῳ.

Διόνυσος τί δʼ; οὐχ ὑπερβαίνουσι καὶ τείχη θεοί;

Πενθεύς σοφὸς σοφὸς σύ, πλὴν ἃ δεῖ σʼ εἶναι σοφόν. 655

Ἄγγελος Πενθεῦ κρατύνων τῆσδε Θηβαίας χθονός, 660 ἥκω Κιθαιρῶνʼ ἐκλιπών, ἵνʼ οὔποτε λευκῆς χιόνος ἀνεῖσαν εὐαγεῖς βολαί.

Πενθεύς ἥκεις δὲ ποίαν προστιθεὶς σπουδὴν λόγου;

Χορός ταρβῶ μὲν εἰπεῖν τοὺς λόγους ἐλευθέρους 775 πρὸς τὸν τύραννον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται· Διόνυσος ἥσσων οὐδενὸς θεῶν ἔφυ.

Πενθεύς οὐ μὴ φρενώσεις μʼ, ἀλλὰ δέσμιος φυγὼν σῴσῃ τόδʼ; ἢ σοὶ πάλιν ἀναστρέψω δίκην;

Διόνυσος θύοιμʼ ἂν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυμούμενος πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζοιμι θνητὸς ὢν θεῷ. 795

Πενθεύς θύσω, φόνον γε θῆλυν, ὥσπερ ἄξιαι, πολὺν ταράξας ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

Διόνυσος φεύξεσθε πάντες· καὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, ἀσπίδας θύρσοισι βακχῶν ἐκτρέπειν χαλκηλάτους

Πενθεύς ἀπόρῳ γε τῷδε συμπεπλέγμεθα ξένῳ, 800 ὃς οὔτε πάσχων οὔτε δρῶν σιγήσεται.

Διόνυσος ὦ τᾶν, ἔτʼ ἔστιν εὖ καταστῆσαι τάδε.

Πενθεύς τί δρῶντα; δουλεύοντα δουλείαις ἐμαῖς;

Διόνυσος ἐγὼ γυναῖκας δεῦρʼ ὅπλων ἄξω δίχα.

Πενθεύς οἴμοι· τόδʼ ἤδη δόλιον ἔς με μηχανᾷ. 805

Διόνυσος ποῖόν τι, σῷσαί σʼ εἰ θέλω τέχναις ἐμαῖς;

Πενθεύς ξυνέθεσθε κοινῇ τάδʼ, ἵνα βακχεύητʼ ἀεί.

Διόνυσος καὶ μὴν ξυνεθέμην—τοῦτό γʼ ἔστι—τῷ θεῷ.

Πενθεύς ἐκφέρετέ μοι δεῦρʼ ὅπλα, σὺ δὲ παῦσαι λέγων. 810

Διόνυσος ἆ. 810 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; 815

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. 820

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. 825

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; 830

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. 835

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; 840

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 845 ἢ τοῖσι σοῖσι πείσομαι βουλεύμασιν.

Dionysus within Io! Hear my voice, hear it, Io Bacchae, Io Bacchae!

Chorus Who is here, who? From what quarter did the voice of the Joyful one summon me?

Dionysus Io! Io! I say again; it is I, the child of Zeus and Semele. 580

Chorus Io! Io! Master, master! Come now to our company, Bromius.

Dionysus Shake the world’s plain, lady Earthquake! 585

Διόνυσος

ἰώ,

κλύετʼ ἐμᾶς κλύετʼ αὐδᾶς,

ἰὼ βάκχαι, ἰὼ βάκχαι.

Χορός

τίς ὅδε, τίς ὅδε πόθεν ὁ κέλαδος

ἀνά μʼ ἐκάλεσεν Εὐίου;

Διόνυσος

ἰὼ ἰώ, πάλιν αὐδῶ,
580

ὁ Σεμέλας, ὁ Διὸς παῖς.

Χορός

ἰὼ ἰὼ δέσποτα δέσποτα,

μόλε νυν ἡμέτερον ἐς

θίασον, ὦ Βρόμιε Βρόμιε.

Διόνυσος

σεῖε πέδον χθονὸς Ἔννοσι πότνια.
585

Διόνυσος

ἅπτε κεραύνιον αἴθοπα λαμπάδα·

σύμφλεγε σύμφλεγε δώματα Πενθέος.
595

Χορός

ὦ φάος μέγιστον ἡμῖν εὐίου βακχεύματος,

ὡς ἐσεῖδον ἀσμένη σε, μονάδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρημίαν.

Διόνυσος

εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἀφίκεσθʼ, ἡνίκʼ εἰσεπεμπόμην,
610

Πενθέως ὡς ἐς σκοτεινὰς ὁρκάνας πεσούμενος;

Χορός

πῶς γὰρ οὔ; τίς μοι φύλαξ ἦν, εἰ σὺ συμφορᾶς τύχοις;

ἀλλὰ πῶς ἠλευθερώθης ἀνδρὸς ἀνοσίου τυχών;

Διόνυσος

αὐτὸς ἐξέσῳσʼ ἐμαυτὸν ῥᾳδίως ἄνευ πόνου.

Χορός

οὐδέ σου συνῆψε χεῖρε δεσμίοισιν ἐν βρόχοις;
615

Διόνυσος

στῆσον πόδʼ, ὀργῇ δʼ ὑπόθες ἥσυχον πόδα.

Πενθεύς

πόθεν σὺ δεσμὰ διαφυγὼν ἔξω περᾷς;

Διόνυσος

οὐκ εἶπον—ἢ οὐκ ἤκουσασ—ὅτι λύσει μέ τις;

Πενθεύς

τίς; τοὺς λόγους γὰρ ἐσφέρεις καινοὺς ἀεί.
650

Διόνυσος

ὃς τὴν πολύβοτρυν ἄμπελον φύει βροτοῖς.

Διόνυσος

ὠνείδισας δὴ τοῦτο Διονύσῳ καλόν.

Πενθεύς

κλῄειν κελεύω πάντα πύργον ἐν κύκλῳ.

Διόνυσος

τί δʼ; οὐχ ὑπερβαίνουσι καὶ τείχη θεοί;

Πενθεύς

σοφὸς σοφὸς σύ, πλὴν ἃ δεῖ σʼ εἶναι σοφόν.
655

Ἄγγελος

Πενθεῦ κρατύνων τῆσδε Θηβαίας χθονός,
660

ἥκω Κιθαιρῶνʼ ἐκλιπών, ἵνʼ οὔποτε

λευκῆς χιόνος ἀνεῖσαν εὐαγεῖς βολαί.

Πενθεύς

ἥκεις δὲ ποίαν προστιθεὶς σπουδὴν λόγου;

Χορός

ταρβῶ μὲν εἰπεῖν τοὺς λόγους ἐλευθέρους
775

πρὸς τὸν τύραννον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται·

Διόνυσος ἥσσων οὐδενὸς θεῶν ἔφυ.

Πενθεύς

οὐ μὴ φρενώσεις μʼ, ἀλλὰ δέσμιος φυγὼν

σῴσῃ τόδʼ; ἢ σοὶ πάλιν ἀναστρέψω δίκην;

Διόνυσος

θύοιμʼ ἂν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυμούμενος

πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζοιμι θνητὸς ὢν θεῷ.
795

Πενθεύς

θύσω, φόνον γε θῆλυν, ὥσπερ ἄξιαι,

πολὺν ταράξας ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

Διόνυσος

φεύξεσθε πάντες· καὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, ἀσπίδας

θύρσοισι βακχῶν ἐκτρέπειν χαλκηλάτους

Πενθεύς

ἀπόρῳ γε τῷδε συμπεπλέγμεθα ξένῳ,
800

ὃς οὔτε πάσχων οὔτε δρῶν σιγήσεται.

Διόνυσος

ὦ τᾶν, ἔτʼ ἔστιν εὖ καταστῆσαι τάδε.

Πενθεύς

τί δρῶντα; δουλεύοντα δουλείαις ἐμαῖς;

Διόνυσος

ἐγὼ γυναῖκας δεῦρʼ ὅπλων ἄξω δίχα.

Πενθεύς

οἴμοι· τόδʼ ἤδη δόλιον ἔς με μηχανᾷ.
805

Διόνυσος

ποῖόν τι, σῷσαί σʼ εἰ θέλω τέχναις ἐμαῖς;

Πενθεύς

ξυνέθεσθε κοινῇ τάδʼ, ἵνα βακχεύητʼ ἀεί.

Διόνυσος

καὶ μὴν ξυνεθέμην—τοῦτό γʼ ἔστι—τῷ θεῷ.

Πενθεύς

ἐκφέρετέ μοι δεῦρʼ ὅπλα, σὺ δὲ παῦσαι λέγων.

810

Διόνυσος

ἆ.
810

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;
815

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.
820

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.
825

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;
830

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.
835

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;
840

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
845

ἢ τοῖσι σοῖσι πείσομαι βουλεύμασιν.

Dionysus

within Io! Hear my voice, hear it, Io Bacchae, Io Bacchae!

Chorus

Who is here, who? From what quarter did the voice of the Joyful one summon me?

Dionysus

Io! Io! I say again; it is I, the child of Zeus and Semele.
580

Chorus

Io! Io! Master, master! Come now to our company, Bromius.

Dionysus

Shake the world’s plain, lady Earthquake!
585

Chorus

Oh! Oh! Soon the palace of Pentheus will be shaken in ruin. ¹ —Dionysus is in the halls.

Revere him. —We revere him! —Did you see these stone lintels on the pillars falling apart? Bromius cries out in victory indoors.
590

Dionysus

Light the fiery lamp of lightning!

Burn, burn Pentheus’ home!
595

Dionysus

Barbarian women, have you fallen on the ground

so stricken with fear? You have, so it seems, felt Bacchus shaking the house of Pentheus. But get up and take courage, putting a stop to your trembling.
605

Chorus Leader

Oh greatest light for us in our joyful revelry, how happy I am to see you—I who was alone and desolate before.

Dionysus

Did you despair when I was sent to fall into Pentheus’ dark dungeon?
610