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Chorus
Shall I move my white foot in the night-long dance, aroused to a frenzy,
throwing my head to the dewy air, like a fawn sporting in the green pleasures of the meadow, when it has escaped a fearful chase beyond the watchers
865
over the well-woven nets, and the hunter hastens his dogs on their course with his call, while she, with great exertion and a storm-swift running, rushes along the plain by the river, rejoicing
870
in the solitude apart from men and in the thickets of the shady-foliaged woods. What is wisdom? Or what greater honor do the gods give to mortals than to hold one’s hand
875
in strength over the head of enemies? What is good is always dear.
880
Shall I move my white foot in the night-long dance, aroused to a frenzy,
throwing my head to the dewy air, like a fawn sporting in the green pleasures of the meadow, when it has escaped a fearful chase beyond the watchers
865
over the well-woven nets, and the hunter hastens his dogs on their course with his call, while she, with great exertion and a storm-swift running, rushes along the plain by the river, rejoicing
870
in the solitude apart from men and in the thickets of the shady-foliaged woods. What is wisdom? Or what greater honor do the gods give to mortals than to hold one’s hand
875
in strength over the head of enemies? What is good is always dear.
880
Chorus
Divine strength is roused with difficulty, but still is sure. It chastises those mortals
who honor folly and those who in their insanity do not extol the gods. The gods cunningly conceal the long pace of time and
885
hunt the impious. For it is not right to determine or plan anything beyond the laws. For it is a light expense to hold that whatever is divine has power,
890
and that which has been law for a long time is eternal and has its origin in nature. What is wisdom? Or what greater honor do the gods give to mortals than to hold one’s hand
895
in strength over the head of enemies? What is good is always dear.
900
Divine strength is roused with difficulty, but still is sure. It chastises those mortals
who honor folly and those who in their insanity do not extol the gods. The gods cunningly conceal the long pace of time and
885
hunt the impious. For it is not right to determine or plan anything beyond the laws. For it is a light expense to hold that whatever is divine has power,
890
and that which has been law for a long time is eternal and has its origin in nature. What is wisdom? Or what greater honor do the gods give to mortals than to hold one’s hand
895
in strength over the head of enemies? What is good is always dear.
900
Chorus
Happy is he
1
who has fled a storm on the sea, and reached harbor. Happy too is he who has overcome his hardships.
One surpass another in different ways, in wealth or power. There are innumerable hopes to innumerable men, and some result in wealth to mortals, while others fail.
905
But I call him blessed whose life is happy day to day.
910
Happy is he
1
who has fled a storm on the sea, and reached harbor. Happy too is he who has overcome his hardships.
One surpass another in different ways, in wealth or power. There are innumerable hopes to innumerable men, and some result in wealth to mortals, while others fail.
905
But I call him blessed whose life is happy day to day.
910
Bacchae. Euripides. T. A. Buckley (Translator). London. 1850.
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