Euripides, Bacchae, ed. Gilbert Murray, 476

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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.
480

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;
485

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.
490

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.
495

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.
500

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.
505

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.
510

ἐκεῖ χόρευε· τάσδε δʼ ἃς ἄγων πάρει

κακῶν συνεργοὺς ἢ διεμπολήσομεν

ἢ χεῖρα δούπου τοῦδε καὶ βύρσης κτύπου

παύσας, ἐφʼ ἱστοῖς δμωίδας κεκτήσομαι.

Διόνυσος

στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ὅ τι γὰρ μὴ χρεών, οὔτοι χρεὼν
515

παθεῖν. ἀτάρ τοι τῶνδʼ ἄποινʼ ὑβρισμάτων

μέτεισι Διόνυσός σʼ, ὃν οὐκ εἶναι λέγεις·

ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἀδικῶν κεῖνον εἰς δεσμοὺς ἄγεις.

Bacchae. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Βάκχαι (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978))

Translations (3)

The Bacchae Perseus (Euripides. The Tragedies of Euripides. Vol. I. Buckley, Theodore Alois, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1850. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 476 focus

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.
480

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?
485

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.
490

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.
495

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.
500

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.
505

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.¹

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.
510

Dionysus

I will go, for I need not suffer that which is not necessary. But Dionysus, who you claim does not exist, will pursue you for these insults. For in injuring us, you put him in bonds.
515

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

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1845; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (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.) — 476 focus

Den Frevler fliehn, ihn hassen Bacchos' Orgien.

Pentheus.

So sahst du deutlich, wie der Gott gestaltet war?
410

Dionysos.

So wie der Gott selbst wollte; nicht, daß ich's gebot.¹

Pentheus.

Auch dies umschlichst du gar gewandt, und sagtest Nichts.²

Dionysos.

Unweise scheint, wer Unerfahrnen weise spricht.

Pentheus.

Du kamst zuerst hieher mit deinem neuen Gott?

Dionysos.

Die Feste feiern alle Nichthellenen schon.
415

Pentheus.

Wohl sind sie weit unweiser, als Achda's Volk.

Dionysos.

Hier sind sie weiser, freilich sonst ungleich an Art.

Pentheus.

Und diese Weihen feierst du, Nachts oder Tags?

Dionysos.

Bei Nacht die meisten; heilig ist die Dunkelheit.

Pentheus.

Für Frauen ist sie trugerisch und voll Gefahr.
420

Dionysos.

Wohl auch am hellen Tage sinnt man Frevel aus.

Pentheus.

Du sollst es büßen, daß du frech Trugschlusse webſt.

Dionysos.

Und du die Thorheit, daß du kühn den Gott verhöhnft.

Pentheus.

Wie dreist, in Worten wie geübt der Bacchos ist!³

Dionysos.

Was muß ich leiden? Welches Arge thust du mir?
425

Pentheus.

Die weichen Locken schneid' ich dir vor Allem ab.

Dionysos.

Die Locken sind geweiht; dem Gotte pfleg' ich sie.

Pentheus.

Dann übergib mir, den du trägst, den Thyrsosstab.

Dionysos.

Selbst nimm ihn mir; als Bromios' Gabe trag' ich ihn.

Pentheus.

Im Kerker drinnen schlagen wir in Bande dich.
430

Dionysos.

Befreien wird mich Bacchos selbst, sobald ich will.

Pentheus.

Sobald du seinen Namen rufst in der Bacchen Chor.

Dionysos.

Auch nun mir nahe, sieht er, was ich leiden muß.

Pentheus.

Und wo verweilt er? Denn mein Auge sieht ihn nicht.

Dionysos.

Bei mir; doch du Gottloser kannst nicht schaun den Gott.
435

Pentheus.

Ergreift ihn! Er verachtet mich und Thebe's Volk.

(zu den Sclaven).

Dionysos

Nein, sag' ich! Ihr Unweisen, faßt mich Weisen nicht!

Pentheus.

Ich sage: faßt ihn! Denn ich bin der Stårkere.

Dionysos.

Nicht weißt du, Stolzer, was du thuſt, noch wer du bist.

Pentheus.

Pentheus, Echions und Agave's Sohn, bin ich.
440

Dionysos.

Als Sohn des Unheils kundet schon dein Name dich.⁴

Pentheus.

Hinweg! Den Rosseskrippen nah', ihr Sclaven, legt

Ihn gleich in Fesseln, daß er schaut die dunkle Nacht!

Dort tanze! Diese Frauen, die du hergeführt,

Des Frevels Helferinnen, sie verkaufen wir,
445

('an den Chor sich wendend)

Oder an den Webstuhl fessl' ich euch als Sclavinnen,

Nachdem ich euch von diesem Paukenlårm entwohnt.

Dionysos.

Ich gehe. Dulden muß ich nicht, was mein Geschick

Mir nicht bestimmt hat. Aber, traun, für diese Schmach

Wird Bromios dich strafen, den du låugnen willst.
450

Denn uns mit Hohn belastend, fesselst du den Gott.

(Er wird fortgeführt. Pentheus folgt.)

Strophe.

Chor.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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. 480

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; 485

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. 490

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. 495

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. 500

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. 505

Διόνυσος οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅ τι ζῇς, οὐδʼ ὃ δρᾷς, οὐδʼ ὅστις εἶ.

Πενθεύς Πενθεύς, Ἀγαύης παῖς, πατρὸς δʼ Ἐχίονος.

Διόνυσος ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομʼ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ.

Current edition Perseus

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. 480

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? 485

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. 490

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. 495

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. 500

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. 505

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. 1

Dionysus I will go, for I need not suffer that which is not necessary. But Dionysus, who you claim does not exist, will pursue you for these insults. For in injuring us, you put him in bonds. 515

Den Frevler fliehn, ihn hassen Bacchos' Orgien.

Pentheus. So sahst du deutlich, wie der Gott gestaltet war? 410

Dionysos. So wie der Gott selbst wollte; nicht, daß ich's gebot. 1

Pentheus. Auch dies umschlichst du gar gewandt, und sagtest Nichts. 2

Dionysos. Unweise scheint, wer Unerfahrnen weise spricht.

Pentheus. Du kamst zuerst hieher mit deinem neuen Gott?

Dionysos. Die Feste feiern alle Nichthellenen schon. 415

Pentheus. Wohl sind sie weit unweiser, als Achda's Volk.

Dionysos. Hier sind sie weiser, freilich sonst ungleich an Art.

Pentheus. Und diese Weihen feierst du, Nachts oder Tags?

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.
480

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;
485

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.
490

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.
495

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.
500

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.
505

Διόνυσος

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅ τι ζῇς, οὐδʼ ὃ δρᾷς, οὐδʼ ὅστις εἶ.

Πενθεύς

Πενθεύς, Ἀγαύης παῖς, πατρὸς δʼ Ἐχίονος.

Διόνυσος

ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομʼ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ.

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.
480

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?
485

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.
490

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.
495

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.
500

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.
505

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.¹

Dionysus

I will go, for I need not suffer that which is not necessary. But Dionysus, who you claim does not exist, will pursue you for these insults. For in injuring us, you put him in bonds.
515

Pentheus.

So sahst du deutlich, wie der Gott gestaltet war?
410

Dionysos.

So wie der Gott selbst wollte; nicht, daß ich's gebot.¹

Pentheus.

Auch dies umschlichst du gar gewandt, und sagtest Nichts.²

Dionysos.

Unweise scheint, wer Unerfahrnen weise spricht.

Pentheus.

Du kamst zuerst hieher mit deinem neuen Gott?

Dionysos.

Die Feste feiern alle Nichthellenen schon.
415

Pentheus.

Wohl sind sie weit unweiser, als Achda's Volk.

Dionysos.

Hier sind sie weiser, freilich sonst ungleich an Art.

Pentheus.

Und diese Weihen feierst du, Nachts oder Tags?

Dionysos.

Bei Nacht die meisten; heilig ist die Dunkelheit.

Pentheus.

Für Frauen ist sie trugerisch und voll Gefahr.
420

Dionysos.

Wohl auch am hellen Tage sinnt man Frevel aus.

Pentheus.

Du sollst es büßen, daß du frech Trugschlusse webſt.