Dionysus:You must hold it in your right hand and raise your right foot in unison with it. I praise you for having changed your mind.
Διόνυσος:ἐν δεξιᾷ χρὴ χἅμα δεξιῷ ποδὶαἴρειν νιν· αἰνῶ δʼ ὅτι μεθέστηκας φρενῶν.
Pentheus:Could I carry on my shoulders the glens of Kithairon, Bacchae and all?
Πενθεύς:ἆρʼ ἂν δυναίμην τὰς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχὰςαὐταῖσι βάκχαις τοῖς ἐμοῖς ὤμοις φέρειν;
Dionysus:You could if you were willing. The state of mind you had before was unsound, but now you think as you ought.
Διόνυσος:δύναιʼ ἄν, εἰ βούλοιο· τὰς δὲ πρὶν φρέναςοὐκ εἶχες ὑγιεῖς, νῦν δʼ ἔχεις οἵας σε δεῖ.
Pentheus:Shall we bring levers? Or shall I draw them up with my hands,putting a shoulder or arm under the mountain-tops?
Πενθεύς:μοχλοὺς φέρωμεν; ἢ χεροῖν ἀνασπάσωκορυφαῖς ὑποβαλὼν ὦμον ἢ βραχίονα;
Dionysus:But don’t destroy the seats of the Nymphs and the places where Pan plays his pipes.
Διόνυσος:μὴ σύ γε τὰ Νυμφῶν διολέσῃς ἱδρύματακαὶ Πανὸς ἕδρας ἔνθʼ ἔχει συρίγματα.
Pentheus:Well said. The women are not to be taken by force; I will hide in the pines.
Πενθεύς:καλῶς ἔλεξας· οὐ σθένει νικητέονγυναῖκας· ἐλάταισιν δʼ ἐμὸν κρύψω δέμας.
Dionysus:You will hide yourself as you should be hidden, coming as a crafty spy on the Maenads.
Διόνυσος:κρύψῃ σὺ κρύψιν ἥν σε κρυφθῆναι χρεών,ἐλθόντα δόλιον μαινάδων κατάσκοπον.
Pentheus:Oh, yes! I imagine that like birds they are in the bushes held in the sweetest grips of love.
Πενθεύς:καὶ μὴν δοκῶ σφᾶς ἐν λόχμαις ὄρνιθας ὣςλέκτρων ἔχεσθαι φιλτάτοις ἐν ἕρκεσιν.
Dionysus:You have been sent as a guard against this very event.
Διόνυσος:οὐκοῦν ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀποστέλλῃ φύλαξ·
Perhaps you will catch them, if you yourself are not caught before.
λήψῃ δʼ ἴσως σφᾶς, ἢν σὺ μὴ ληφθῇς πάρος.
Pentheus:Bring me through the midst of the Theban land. I am the only man of them who dares to perform this deed.
Πενθεύς:κόμιζε διὰ μέσης με Θηβαίας χθονός·μόνος γὰρ αὐτῶν εἰμʼ ἀνὴρ τολμῶν τόδε.
Dionysus:You alone bear the burden for this city, you alone. Therefore the labors which are proper await you.
Διόνυσος:μόνος σὺ πόλεως τῆσδʼ ὑπερκάμνεις, μόνος·τοιγάρ σʼ ἀγῶνες ἀναμένουσιν οὓς ἐχρῆν.
Follow me. I am your saving guide: another will lead you down from there.Pentheus:Yes, my mother.
ἕπου δέ· πομπὸς [δʼ] εἶμʼ ἐγὼ σωτήριος,κεῖθεν δʼ ἀπάξει σʼ ἄλλος.Πενθεύς:ἡ τεκοῦσά γε.
Dionysus:And you will be remarkable to all.
Διόνυσος:ἐπίσημον ὄντα πᾶσιν.
Pentheus:I am going for this reason.
Πενθεύς:ἐπὶ τόδʼ ἔρχομαι.
Dionysus:You will return here being carried—
Διόνυσος:φερόμενος ἥξεις …
Pentheus:You talk of a delicacy for me.
Πενθεύς:ἁβρότητʼ ἐμὴν λέγεις.
Dionysus:In the arms of your mother.
Διόνυσος:ἐν χερσὶ μητρός.
Pentheus:You will force me to luxury.
Πενθεύς:καὶ τρυφᾶν μʼ ἀναγκάσεις.
Dionysus:Yes indeed, such luxury!
Διόνυσος:τρυφάς γε τοιάσδε.
Pentheus:I will get what I deserve.
Πενθεύς:ἀξίων μὲν ἅπτομαι.
Dionysus:You are terrible, terrible, and you go to terrible sufferings, so that you will find a renown reaching to heaven. Reach out your hands, Agave, and you too, her sisters, daughters of Kadmos. I lead this young manto a great contest, and Bromius and I will be the victors. The rest the matter itself will show.
Διόνυσος:δεινὸς σὺ δεινὸς κἀπὶ δείνʼ ἔρχῃ πάθη,ὥστʼ οὐρανῷ στηρίζον εὑρήσεις κλέος.ἔκτεινʼ, Ἀγαύη, χεῖρας αἵ θʼ ὁμόσποροιΚάδμου θυγατέρες· τὸν νεανίαν ἄγωτόνδʼ εἰς ἀγῶνα μέγαν, ὁ νικήσων δʼ ἐγὼκαὶ Βρόμιος ἔσται. τἄλλα δʼ αὐτὸ σημανεῖ.
Chorus:Go to the mountain, go, fleet hounds of Madness, where the daughters of Kadmos hold their company, and drive them ravingagainst the mad spy on the Maenads, the one dressed in women’s attire. His mother will be the first to see him from a smooth rock or crag, as he lies in ambush, and she will cry out to the maenads:
Χορός:ἴτε θοαὶ Λύσσας κύνες ἴτʼ εἰς ὄρος,θίασον ἔνθʼ ἔχουσι Κάδμου κόραι,ἀνοιστρήσατέ νινἐπὶ τὸν ἐν γυναικομίμῳ στολᾷλυσσώδη κατάσκοπον μαινάδων.μάτηρ πρῶτά νιν λευρᾶς ἀπὸ πέτραςἢ σκόλοπος ὄψεταιδοκεύοντα, μαινάσιν δʼ ἀπύσει·
“Who is this seeker of the mountain-going Kadmeans who has come to the mountain, to the mountain, Bacchae? Who bore him? For he was not born from a woman’s blood, but is the offspring of some lioness”“or of Libyan Gorgons.” Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throatthis godless, lawless, unjust, earth-born offspring of Echion.
Τίς ὅδʼ ὀρειδρόμωνμαστὴρ Καδμείων ἐς ὄρος ἐς ὄρος ἔμολʼἔμολεν, ὦ βάκχαι; τίς ἄρα νιν ἔτεκεν;οὐ γὰρ ἐξ αἵματοςγυναικῶν ἔφυ, λεαίνας δέ τινοςὅδʼ ἢ Γοργόνων Λιβυσσᾶν γένος.ἴτω δίκα φανερός, ἴτω ξιφηφόροςφονεύουσα λαιμῶν διαμπὰξτὸν ἄθεον ἄνομον ἄδικον Ἐχίονοςγόνον γηγενῆ.
Chorus:Whoever with wicked mind and unjust rage regarding your rites, Bacchus, and those of your mother, comes with raving heartand mad disposition violently to overcome by force what is invincible—death is the discipline for his purposes, accepting no excuses when the affairs of the gods are concerned; to act like a mortal—this is a life that is free from pain.
Χορός:ὃς ἀδίκῳ γνώμᾳ παρανόμῳ τʼ ὀργᾷπερὶ ⟨σὰ⟩ Βάκχιʼ, ὄργια ματρός τε σᾶςμανείσᾳ πραπίδιπαρακόπῳ τε λήματι στέλλεται,τἀνίκατον ὡς κρατήσων βίᾳ,γνωμᾶν σωφρόνα θάνατος ἀπροφάσι-στος ἐς τὰ θεῶν ἔφυ·βροτείως τʼ ἔχειν ἄλυπος βίος.
I do not envy wisdom, but rejoice in hunting it. But other things are great and manifest. Oh, for life to flow towards the good, to be pure and pious day and night, and to honor the gods,banishing customs that are outside of justice. Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throatthis godless, lawless, unjust, earth-born offspring of Echion.Chorus:Appear as a bull or many-headed serpent or raging lion to see.
τὸ σοφὸν οὐ φθονῶ·χαίρω θηρεύουσα· τὰ δʼ ἕτερα μεγάλαφανερά τʼ· ὤ, νάει⟨ν⟩ ἐπὶ τὰ καλὰ βίον,ἦμαρ ἐς νύκτα τʼ εὐ-αγοῦντʼ εὐσεβεῖν, τὰ δʼ ἔξω νόμιμαδίκας ἐκβαλόντα τιμᾶν θεούς.ἴτω δίκα φανερός, ἴτω ξιφηφόροςφονεύουσα λαιμῶν διαμπὰξτὸν ἄθεον ἄνομον ἄδικον Ἐχίονοςτόκον γηγενῆ.Χορός:φάνηθι ταῦρος ἢ πολύκρανος ἰδεῖνδράκων ἢ πυριφλέγων ὁρᾶσθαι λέων.
Go, Bacchus, with smiling face throw a deadly noose around the hunter of the Bacchae as he falls beneath the flock of Maenads.
ἴθʼ, ὦ Βάκχε, θηραγρευτᾷ βακχᾶνγελῶντι προσώπῳ περίβαλε βρόχονθανάσιμον ὑπʼ ἀγέλαν πεσόν-τι τὰν μαινάδων.
Second Messenger:Oh house once fortunate in Hellas,house of the Sidonian old man who once sowed in the ground the earth-born harvest of the serpent Ophis, how I groan for you, though I am a slave, but still [the masters’ affairs are a concern to good servants]..
Ἄγγελος Β:ὦ δῶμʼ ὃ πρίν ποτʼ εὐτύχεις ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα,Σιδωνίου γέροντος, ὃς τὸ γηγενὲςδράκοντος ἔσπειρʼ Ὄφεος ἐν γαίᾳ θέρος,ὥς σε στενάζω, δοῦλος ὢν μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως[χρηστοῖσι δούλοις συμφορὰ τὰ δεσποτῶν].
Chorus Leader:What is it? Do you bring some news from the Bacchae?
Χορός:τί δʼ ἔστιν; ἐκ βακχῶν τι μηνύεις νέον;
Messenger:Pentheus, the child of Echion, is dead.sung
Ἄγγελος Β:Πενθεὺς ὄλωλεν, παῖς Ἐχίονος πατρός.
Chorus Leader:Lord Bacchus, truly you appear to be a great god.
Χορός:ὦναξ Βρόμιε, θεὸς φαίνῃ μέγας.
Messenger:What do you mean? Why have you said this? Do you rejoice at the misfortunes of my master, woman?sung
Ἄγγελος Β:πῶς φῄς; τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; ἦ ʼπὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖςχαίρεις κακῶς πράσσουσι δεσπόταις, γύναι;
Chorus Leader:I, a foreign woman, rejoice with foreign songs;
Χορός:εὐάζω ξένα μέλεσι βαρβάροις·
for no longer do I cower in fear of chains.
οὐκέτι γὰρ δεσμῶν ὑπὸ φόβῳ πτήσσω.
Messenger:Do you think Thebes so lacking in men?sung
Ἄγγελος Β:Θήβας δʼ ἀνάνδρους ὧδʼ ἄγεις ……
Chorus Leader:Dionysus, Dionysus, not Thebes, holds my allegiance.
Χορός:ὁ Διόνυσος ὁ Διόνυσος, οὐ Θῆβαικράτος ἔχουσʼ ἐμόν.
Messenger:You may be forgiven, but still it is not goodto rejoice at troubles once they have actually taken place, women.sung
Ἄγγελος Β:συγγνωστὰ μέν σοι, πλὴν ἐπʼ ἐξειργασμένοιςκακοῖσι χαίρειν, ὦ γυναῖκες, οὐ καλόν.
Chorus Leader:Tell me, speak, what kind of a death did he die, the unjust man who did unjust things?
Χορός:ἔννεπέ μοι, φράσον, τίνι μόρῳ θνῄσκειἄδικος ἄδικά τʼ ἐκπορίζων ἀνήρ;
Messenger:When we left the dwellings of the Theban land and crossed the streams of Asopus,we began to ascend the heights of Kithairon, Pentheus and I—for I was following my master—and the stranger who was our guide to the sight. First we sat in a grassy vale,keeping our feet and voices quiet, so that we might see them without being seen. There was a little valley surounded by precipices, irrigated with streams, shaded by pine trees, where the Maenads were sitting, their hands busy with delightful labors. Some of them were crowning againthe worn thyrsos, making it leafy with ivy, while some, like colts freed from the painted yoke, were singing a Bacchic melody to one another. And the unhappy Pentheus said, not seeing the crowd of women: “Stranger,”“from where we are standing I cannot see these false Maenads. But on the hill, ascending a lofty pine, I might view properly the shameful acts of the Maenads.” And then I saw the stranger perform a marvelous deed. For seizing hold of the lofty top-most branch of the pine tree,he pulled it down, pulled it, pulled it to the dark earth. It was bent just as a bow or a curved wheel, when it is marked out by a compass, describes a circular course: in this way the stranger drew the mountain bough with his hands and bent it to the earth, doing no mortal’s deed.
Ἄγγελος Β:ἐπεὶ θεράπνας τῆσδε Θηβαίας χθονὸςλιπόντες ἐξέβημεν Ἀσωποῦ ῥοάς,λέπας Κιθαιρώνειον εἰσεβάλλομενΠενθεύς τε κἀγώ—δεσπότῃ γὰρ εἱπόμην—ξένος θʼ ὃς ἡμῖν πομπὸς ἦν θεωρίας.πρῶτον μὲν οὖν ποιηρὸν ἵζομεν νάπος,τά τʼ ἐκ ποδῶν σιγηλὰ καὶ γλώσσης ἄποσῴζοντες, ὡς ὁρῷμεν οὐχ ὁρώμενοι.ἦν δʼ ἄγκος ἀμφίκρημνον, ὕδασι διάβροχον,πεύκαισι συσκιάζον, ἔνθα μαινάδεςκαθῆντʼ ἔχουσαι χεῖρας ἐν τερπνοῖς πόνοις.αἳ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῶν θύρσον ἐκλελοιπότακισσῷ κομήτην αὖθις ἐξανέστεφον,αἳ δʼ, ἐκλιποῦσαι ποικίλʼ ὡς πῶλοι ζυγά,βακχεῖον ἀντέκλαζον ἀλλήλαις μέλος.Πενθεὺς δʼ ὁ τλήμων θῆλυν οὐχ ὁρῶν ὄχλονἔλεξε τοιάδʼ· Ὦ ξένʼ, οὗ μὲν ἕσταμεν,οὐκ ἐξικνοῦμαι μαινάδων ὄσσοις νόθων·ὄχθων δʼ ἔπʼ, ἀμβὰς ἐς ἐλάτην ὑψαύχενα,ἴδοιμʼ ἂν ὀρθῶς μαινάδων αἰσχρουργίαν.τοὐντεῦθεν ἤδη τοῦ ξένου ⟨τὸ⟩ θαῦμʼ ὁρῶ·λαβὼν γὰρ ἐλάτης οὐράνιον ἄκρον κλάδονκατῆγεν, ἦγεν, ἦγεν ἐς μέλαν πέδον·κυκλοῦτο δʼ ὥστε τόξον ἢ κυρτὸς τροχὸςτόρνῳ γραφόμενος περιφορὰν ἕλκει δρόμον·ὣς κλῶνʼ ὄρειον ὁ ξένος χεροῖν ἄγωνἔκαμπτεν ἐς γῆν, ἔργματʼ οὐχὶ θνητὰ δρῶν.
He sat Pentheus down on the pine branch, and let it go upright through his hands steadily, taking care not to shake him off. The pine stood firmly upright into the sky, with my master seated on its back.
Πενθέα δʼ ἱδρύσας ἐλατίνων ὄζων ἔπι,ὀρθὸν μεθίει διὰ χερῶν βλάστημʼ ἄνωἀτρέμα, φυλάσσων μὴ ἀναχαιτίσειέ νιν,ὀρθὴ δʼ ἐς ὀρθὸν αἰθέρʼ ἐστηρίζετο,ἔχουσα νώτοις δεσπότην ἐφήμενον·
He was seen by the Maenads more than he saw them, for sitting on high he was all but apparent, and the stranger was no longer anywhere to be seen, when a voice, Dionysus as I guess, cried out from the air: “Young women,”“I bring the one who has made you and me and my rites a laughing-stock. Now punish him!” And as he said this a light of holy fire was placed between heaven and earth. The air became quiet and the woody glenkept its leaves silent, nor would you have heard the sounds of animals. But they, not having heard the sound clearly, stood upright and looked all around. He repeated his order, and when the daughters of Kadmos recognized the clear command of Bacchus,they rushed forth, swift as a dove, running with eager speed of feet, his mother Agave, and her sisters, and all the Bacchae. They leapt through the torrent-streaming valley and mountain cliffs, frantic with the inspiration of the god.
ὤφθη δὲ μᾶλλον ἢ κατεῖδε μαινάδας.ὅσον γὰρ οὔπω δῆλος ἦν θάσσων ἄνω,καὶ τὸν ξένον μὲν οὐκέτʼ εἰσορᾶν παρῆν,ἐκ δʼ αἰθέρος φωνή τις, ὡς μὲν εἰκάσαιΔιόνυσος, ἀνεβόησεν· Ὦ νεάνιδες,ἄγω τὸν ὑμᾶς κἀμὲ τἀμά τʼ ὄργιαγέλων τιθέμενον· ἀλλὰ τιμωρεῖσθέ νιν.καὶ ταῦθʼ ἅμʼ ἠγόρευε καὶ πρὸς οὐρανὸνκαὶ γαῖαν ἐστήριξε φῶς σεμνοῦ πυρός.σίγησε δʼ αἰθήρ, σῖγα δʼ ὕλιμος νάπηφύλλʼ εἶχε, θηρῶν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἤκουσας βοήν.αἳ δʼ ὠσὶν ἠχὴν οὐ σαφῶς δεδεγμέναιἔστησαν ὀρθαὶ καὶ διήνεγκαν κόρας.ὃ δʼ αὖθις ἐπεκέλευσεν· ὡς δʼ ἐγνώρισανσαφῆ κελευσμὸν Βακχίου Κάδμου κόραι,ᾖξαν πελείας ὠκύτητʼ οὐχ ἥσσονεςποδῶν τρέχουσαι συντόνοις δραμήμασι,μήτηρ Ἀγαύη σύγγονοί θʼ ὁμόσποροιπᾶσαί τε βάκχαι· διὰ δὲ χειμάρρου νάπηςἀγμῶν τʼ ἐπήδων θεοῦ πνοαῖσιν ἐμμανεῖς.
When they saw my master sitting in the pine, first they climbed a rock towering opposite the tree and began to hurl at him boulders violently thrown. Some aimed with pine branches and other women hurled their thyrsoi through the airat Pentheus, a sad target indeed. But they did not reach him, for the wretched man, caught with no way out, sat at a height too great for their eagerness. Finally like lightning they smashed oak branches and began to tear up the roots of the tree with ironless levers.
ὡς δʼ εἶδον ἐλάτῃ δεσπότην ἐφήμενον,πρῶτον μὲν αὐτοῦ χερμάδας κραταιβόλουςἔρριπτον, ἀντίπυργον ἐπιβᾶσαι πέτραν,ὄζοισί τʼ ἐλατίνοισιν ἠκοντίζετο.ἄλλαι δὲ θύρσους ἵεσαν διʼ αἰθέροςΠενθέως, στόχον δύστηνον· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἤνυτον.κρεῖσσον γὰρ ὕψος τῆς προθυμίας ἔχωνκαθῆσθʼ ὁ τλήμων, ἀπορίᾳ λελημμένος.τέλος δὲ δρυΐνους συγκεραυνοῦσαι κλάδουςῥίζας ἀνεσπάρασσον ἀσιδήροις μοχλοῖς.
When they did not succeed in their toils, Agave said: “Come, standing round in a circle, each seize a branch, Maenads, so that we may catch the beast who has climbed aloft, and so that he does not make public the secret dances of the god.” They applied countless handsto the pine and dragged it up from the earth. Pentheus fell crashing to the ground from his lofty seat, wailing greatly: for he knew he was in terrible trouble. His mother, as priestess, began the slaughter,and fell upon him. He threw the headband from his head so that the wretched Agave might recognize and not kill him. Touching her cheek, he said: “It is I, mother, your son, Pentheus, whom you bore in the house of Echion.”
ἐπεὶ δὲ μόχθων τέρματʼ οὐκ ἐξήνυτον,ἔλεξʼ Ἀγαύη· Φέρε, περιστᾶσαι κύκλῳπτόρθου λάβεσθε, μαινάδες, τὸν ἀμβάτηνθῆρʼ ὡς ἕλωμεν, μηδʼ ἀπαγγείλῃ θεοῦχοροὺς κρυφαίους. αἳ δὲ μυρίαν χέραπροσέθεσαν ἐλάτῃ κἀξανέσπασαν χθονός·ὑψοῦ δὲ θάσσων ὑψόθεν χαμαιριφὴςπίπτει πρὸς οὖδας μυρίοις οἰμώγμασινΠενθεύς· κακοῦ γὰρ ἐγγὺς ὢν ἐμάνθανεν.πρώτη δὲ μήτηρ ἦρξεν ἱερέα φόνουκαὶ προσπίτνει νιν· ὃ δὲ μίτραν κόμης ἄποἔρριψεν, ὥς νιν γνωρίσασα μὴ κτάνοιτλήμων Ἀγαύη, καὶ λέγει, παρηίδοςψαύων· Ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, εἰμί, παῖς σέθενΠενθεύς, ὃν ἔτεκες ἐν δόμοις Ἐχίονος·
“Pity me, mother, and do not kill me, your child, for my sins.” But she, foaming at the mouth and twisting her eyes all about, not thinking as she ought, was possessed by Bacchus, and he did not persuade her.
οἴκτιρε δʼ ὦ μῆτέρ με, μηδὲ ταῖς ἐμαῖςἁμαρτίαισι παῖδα σὸν κατακτάνῃς.ἣ δʼ ἀφρὸν ἐξιεῖσα καὶ διαστρόφουςκόρας ἑλίσσουσʼ, οὐ φρονοῦσʼ ἃ χρὴ φρονεῖν,ἐκ Βακχίου κατείχετʼ, οὐδʼ ἔπειθέ νιν.
Seizing his left arm at the elbow and propping her foot against the unfortunate man’s side, she tore out his shoulder, not by her own strength, but the god gave facility to her hands. Ino began to work on the other side,tearing his flesh, while Autonoe and the whole crowd of the Bacchae pressed on. All were making noise together, he groaning as much as he had life left in him, while they shouted in victory. One of them bore his arm, another a foot, boot and all. His ribs were stripped barefrom their tearings. The whole band, hands bloodied, were playing a game of catch with Pentheus’ flesh. His body lies in different places, part under the rugged rocks, part in the deep foliage of the woods, not easy to be sought. His miserable head,which his mother happened to take in her hands, she fixed on the end of a thyrsos and carries through the midst of Kithairon like that of a savage lion, leaving her sisters among the Maenads’ dances. She is coming inside these walls, preening herselfon the ill-fated prey, calling Bacchus her fellow hunter, her accomplice in the chase, the glorious victor—in whose service she wins a triumph of tears. And as for me, I will depart out of the way of this calamity before Agave reaches the house.
λαβοῦσα δʼ ὠλένης ἀριστερὰν χέρα,πλευραῖσιν ἀντιβᾶσα τοῦ δυσδαίμονοςἀπεσπάραξεν ὦμον, οὐχ ὑπὸ σθένους,ἀλλʼ ὁ θεὸς εὐμάρειαν ἐπεδίδου χεροῖν·Ἰνὼ δὲ τἀπὶ θάτερʼ ἐξειργάζετο,ῥηγνῦσα σάρκας, Αὐτονόη τʼ ὄχλος τε πᾶςἐπεῖχε βακχῶν· ἦν δὲ πᾶσʼ ὁμοῦ βοή,ὃ μὲν στενάζων ὅσον ἐτύγχανʼ ἐμπνέων,αἳ δʼ ἠλάλαζον. ἔφερε δʼ ἣ μὲν ὠλένην,ἣ δʼ ἴχνος αὐταῖς ἀρβύλαις· γυμνοῦντο δὲπλευραὶ σπαραγμοῖς· πᾶσα δʼ ᾑματωμένηχεῖρας διεσφαίριζε σάρκα Πενθέως.κεῖται δὲ χωρὶς σῶμα, τὸ μὲν ὑπὸ στύφλοιςπέτραις, τὸ δʼ ὕλης ἐν βαθυξύλῳ φόβῃ,οὐ ῥᾴδιον ζήτημα· κρᾶτα δʼ ἄθλιον,ὅπερ λαβοῦσα τυγχάνει μήτηρ χεροῖν,πήξασʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρον θύρσον ὡς ὀρεστέρουφέρει λέοντος διὰ Κιθαιρῶνος μέσου,λιποῦσʼ ἀδελφὰς ἐν χοροῖσι μαινάδων.χωρεῖ δὲ θήρᾳ δυσπότμῳ γαυρουμένητειχέων ἔσω τῶνδʼ, ἀνακαλοῦσα Βάκχιοντὸν ξυγκύναγον, τὸν ξυνεργάτην ἄγρας,τὸν καλλίνικον, ᾧ δάκρυα νικηφορεῖ.ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ⟨τῇδʼ⟩ ἐκποδὼν τῇ ξυμφορᾷἄπειμʼ, Ἀγαύην πρὶν μολεῖν πρὸς δώματα.
Soundness of mind and reverence for the affairs of the gods is best; and this, I think, is the wisest possession for those mortals who adopt it.
τὸ σωφρονεῖν δὲ καὶ σέβειν τὰ τῶν θεῶνκάλλιστον· οἶμαι δʼ αὐτὸ καὶ σοφώτατονθνητοῖσιν εἶναι κτῆμα τοῖσι χρωμένοις.
Chorus:Let us honor Bacchus with the dance, let us raise a shout for what has befallenPentheus, descendant of the serpent, who assumed female attire and the wand, the beautiful thyrsos—certain death—and a bull was the leader of his calamity.
Χορός:ἀναχορεύσωμεν Βάκχιον,ἀναβοάσωμεν ξυμφορὰντὰν τοῦ δράκοντος Πενθέος ἐκγενέτα·ὃς τὰν θηλυγενῆ στολὰννάρθηκά τε, πιστὸν Ἅιδαν,ἔλαβεν εὔθυρσον,ταῦρον προηγητῆρα συμφορᾶς ἔχων.
Kadmean Bacchae, you have accomplished a glorious victory, but one that brings woe and tears. It is a noble contest to cover one’s dripping hands with the blood of one’s own son.
βάκχαι Καδμεῖαι,τὸν καλλίνικον κλεινὸν ἐξεπράξατεἐς στόνον, ἐς δάκρυα.καλὸς ἀγών, χέρʼ αἵματι στάζουσανπεριβαλεῖν τέκνου.
Chorus Leader:But, for I see Pentheus’ mother Agave coming home, her eyes contorted, receive the revel of the god of joy!Enter Agave
Χορός:ἀλλʼ, εἰσορῶ γὰρ ἐς δόμους ὁρμωμένηνΠενθέως Ἀγαύην μητέρʼ ἐν διαστρόφοιςὄσσοις, δέχεσθε κῶμον εὐίου θεοῦ.
Agave:Asian Bacchae—
Ἀγαύη:Ἀσιάδες βάκχαι —
Chorus:Why do you excite me, oh?
Χορός:τί μʼ ὀροθύνεις, ὤ;
Agave:I am bringing home from the mountain afreshly cut tendril to the house, blessed prey.
Ἀγαύη:φέρομεν ἐξ ὀρέωνἕλικα νεότομον ἐπὶ μέλαθρα,μακάριον θήραν.
Chorus:I see it and will accept you as a fellow reveler.
Χορός:ὁρῶ καί σε δέξομαι σύγκωμον.
Agave:I caught this young wild lion cub without snares,as you can see.
Ἀγαύη:ἔμαρψα τόνδʼ ἄνευ βρόχων⟨λέοντος ἀγροτέρου⟩ νέον ἶνιν·ὡς ὁρᾶν πάρα.
Chorus:From what desert?
Χορός:πόθεν ἐρημίας;
Agave:Kithairon—
Ἀγαύη:Κιθαιρὼν …
Chorus:Kithairon?
Χορός:Κιθαιρών;
Agave:Slew him.
Ἀγαύη:κατεφόνευσέ νιν.
Chorus:Who struck him?
Χορός:τίς ἁ βαλοῦσα;
Agave:The honor is mine first.
Ἀγαύη:πρῶτον ἐμὸν τὸ γέρας.
I am called blessed Agave in the revels.
μάκαιρʼ Ἀγαύη κλῃζόμεθʼ ἐν θιάσοις.
Chorus:Who else?
Χορός:τίς ἄλλα;
Agave:Kadmos’—
Ἀγαύη:τὰ Κάδμου …
Chorus:Kadmos’ what?
Χορός:τί Κάδμου;
Agave:His other offspring took hold of this beast after me, after me. This is a lucky catch!
Ἀγαύη:γένεθλαμετʼ ἐμὲ μετʼ ἐμὲ τοῦδʼἔθιγε θηρός· εὐτυχής γʼ ἅδʼ ἄγρα.
Agave:Share in the feast then.
Ἀγαύη:μέτεχέ νυν θοίνας.
Chorus:What? I share in the feast, wretched woman?
Χορός:τί; μετέχω, τλᾶμον;
Agave:The bull is young; his cheek is just growing downy under his soft-haired crest.
Ἀγαύη:νέος ὁ μόσχος ἄρ-τι γένυν ὑπὸ κόρυθʼ ἁπαλότριχακατάκομον θάλλει.
Chorus:Yes, his hair looks like a wild beast’s.
Χορός:πρέπει γʼ ὥστε θὴρ ἄγραυλος φόβῃ.
Agave:Bacchus, a wise huntsman,wisely set the Maenads against this beast.
Ἀγαύη:ὁ Βάκχιος κυναγέταςσοφὸς σοφῶς ἀνέπηλʼ ἐπὶ θῆρατόνδε μαινάδας.
Chorus:Our lord is a hunter.
Χορός:ὁ γὰρ ἄναξ ἀγρεύς.
Agave:Do you praise me?
Ἀγαύη:ἐπαινεῖς;
Chorus:I praise you.
Χορός:ἐπαινῶ.
Agave:Soon the Kadmeans—
Ἀγαύη:τάχα δὲ Καδμεῖοι …
Chorus:And your son Pentheus, too—
Χορός:καὶ παῖς γε Πενθεὺς …
Agave:Will praise his mother who has caught this lion-like prey.
Ἀγαύη:ματέρʼ ἐπαινέσεται,λαβοῦσαν ἄγραν τάνδε λεοντοφυῆ.
Chorus:Extraordinary.
Χορός:περισσάν.
Agave:And extraordinarily caught.
Ἀγαύη:περισσῶς.
Chorus:Are you proud?
Χορός:ἀγάλλῃ;
Agave:I am delighted, for I have performed great—yes, great—and notable deeds on this hunt.
Ἀγαύη:γέγηθα,μεγάλα μεγάλα καὶφανερὰ τᾷδʼ ἄγρᾳ κατειργασμένα.
Chorus Leader:Now show the citizens, wretched woman, the booty which you have brought in victory.
Χορός:δεῖξόν νυν, ὦ τάλαινα, σὴν νικηφόρονἀστοῖσιν ἄγραν ἣν φέρουσʼ ἐλήλυθας.
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 andtore 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 thislion’s head which I have captured and brought here.Enter Kadmos and his servants, carrying the remains of Pentheus’ body
Ἀγαύη:ὦ καλλίπυργον ἄστυ Θηβαίας χθονὸςναίοντες, ἔλθεθʼ ὡς ἴδητε τήνδʼ ἄγραν,Κάδμου θυγατέρες θηρὸς ἣν ἠγρεύσαμεν,οὐκ ἀγκυλητοῖς Θεσσαλῶν στοχάσμασιν,οὐ δικτύοισιν, ἀλλὰ λευκοπήχεσιχειρῶν ἀκμαῖσιν. κᾆτα κομπάζειν χρεὼνκαὶ λογχοποιῶν ὄργανα κτᾶσθαι μάτην;ἡμεῖς δέ γʼ αὐτῇ χειρὶ τόνδε θʼ εἵλομεν,χωρίς τε θηρὸς ἄρθρα διεφορήσαμεν.ποῦ μοι πατὴρ ὁ πρέσβυς; ἐλθέτω πέλας.Πενθεύς τʼ ἐμὸς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; αἰρέσθω λαβὼνπηκτῶν πρὸς οἴκους κλιμάκων προσαμβάσεις,ὡς πασσαλεύσῃ κρᾶτα τριγλύφοις τόδελέοντος ὃν πάρειμι θηράσασʼ ἐγώ.
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.
Κάδμος:ἕπεσθέ μοι φέροντες ἄθλιον βάροςΠενθέως, ἕπεσθε, πρόσπολοι, δόμων πάρος,οὗ σῶμα μοχθῶν μυρίοις ζητήμασινφέρω τόδʼ, εὑρὼν ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖςδιασπαρακτόν, κοὐδὲν ἐν ταὐτῷ πέδῳλαβών, ἐν ὕλῃ κείμενον δυσευρέτῳ.ἤκουσα γάρ του θυγατέρων τολμήματα,ἤδη κατʼ ἄστυ τειχέων ἔσω βεβὼςσὺν τῷ γέροντι Τειρεσίᾳ Βακχῶν πάρα·
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.But some one told me that Agave was coming here with Bacchic foot, and this was correct, for I see her—no happy sight!
πάλιν δὲ κάμψας εἰς ὄρος κομίζομαιτὸν κατθανόντα παῖδα Μαινάδων ὕπο.καὶ τὴν μὲν Ἀκτέωνʼ Ἀρισταίῳ ποτὲτεκοῦσαν εἶδον Αὐτονόην Ἰνώ θʼ ἅμαἔτʼ ἀμφὶ δρυμοὺς οἰστροπλῆγας ἀθλίας,τὴν δʼ εἶπέ τίς μοι δεῦρο βακχείῳ ποδὶστείχειν Ἀγαύην, οὐδʼ ἄκραντʼ ἠκούσαμεν·λεύσσω γὰρ αὐτήν, ὄψιν οὐκ εὐδαίμονα.
Agave:Father, you may make a great boast, that you have born daughters the best by far of allmortals. 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,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.
Ἀγαύη:πάτερ, μέγιστον κομπάσαι πάρεστί σοι,πάντων ἀρίστας θυγατέρας σπεῖραι μακρῷθνητῶν· ἁπάσας εἶπον, ἐξόχως δʼ ἐμέ,ἣ τὰς παρʼ ἱστοῖς ἐκλιποῦσα κερκίδαςἐς μείζονʼ ἥκω, θῆρας ἀγρεύειν χεροῖν.φέρω δʼ ἐν ὠλέναισιν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, τάδελαβοῦσα τἀριστεῖα, σοῖσι πρὸς δόμοιςὡς ἀγκρεμασθῇ· σὺ δέ, πάτερ, δέξαι χεροῖν·γαυρούμενος δὲ τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἀγρεύμασινκάλει φίλους ἐς δαῖτα· μακάριος γὰρ εἶ,μακάριος, ἡμῶν τοιάδʼ ἐξειργασμένων.
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,lord Bromius the god has destroyed us, though he is a member of our own family.
Κάδμος:ὦ πένθος οὐ μετρητὸν οὐδʼ οἷόν τʼ ἰδεῖν,φόνον ταλαίναις χερσὶν ἐξειργασμένων.καλὸν τὸ θῦμα καταβαλοῦσα δαίμοσινἐπὶ δαῖτα Θήβας τάσδε κἀμὲ παρακαλεῖς.οἴμοι κακῶν μὲν πρῶτα σῶν, ἔπειτʼ ἐμῶν·ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς ἐνδίκως μέν, ἀλλʼ ἄγαν,Βρόμιος ἄναξ ἀπώλεσʼ οἰκεῖος γεγώς.
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 beaststogether 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?
Ἀγαύη:ὡς δύσκολον τὸ γῆρας ἀνθρώποις ἔφυἔν τʼ ὄμμασι σκυθρωπόν. εἴθε παῖς ἐμὸςεὔθηρος εἴη, μητρὸς εἰκασθεὶς τρόποις,ὅτʼ ἐν νεανίαισι Θηβαίοις ἅμαθηρῶν ὀριγνῷτʼ· ἀλλὰ θεομαχεῖν μόνονοἷός τʼ ἐκεῖνος. νουθετητέος, πάτερ,σοὐστίν. τίς αὐτὸν δεῦρʼ ἂν ὄψιν εἰς ἐμὴνκαλέσειεν, ὡς ἴδῃ με τὴν εὐδαίμονα;
Kadmos:Alas, alas! When you realize what you have doneyou 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.
Κάδμος:φεῦ φεῦ· φρονήσασαι μὲν οἷʼ ἐδράσατεἀλγήσετʼ ἄλγος δεινόν· εἰ δὲ διὰ τέλουςἐν τῷδʼ ἀεὶ μενεῖτʼ ἐν ᾧ καθέστατε,οὐκ εὐτυχοῦσαι δόξετʼ οὐχὶ δυστυχεῖν.
Agave:But what of these matters is not right, or what is painful?
Ἀγαύη:τί δʼ οὐ καλῶς τῶνδʼ ἢ τί λυπηρῶς ἔχει;
Kadmos:First cast your eye up to this sky.
Κάδμος:πρῶτον μὲν ἐς τόνδʼ αἰθέρʼ ὄμμα σὸν μέθες.
Agave:All right; why do you tell me to look at it?
Ἀγαύη:ἰδού· τί μοι τόνδʼ ἐξυπεῖπας εἰσορᾶν;
Kadmos:Is it still the same, or does it appear to have changed?
Κάδμος:ἔθʼ αὑτὸς ἤ σοι μεταβολὰς ἔχειν δοκεῖ;
Agave:It is brighter than before and more translucent.
Ἀγαύη:λαμπρότερος ἢ πρὶν καὶ διειπετέστερος.
Kadmos:Is your soul still quivering?
Κάδμος:τὸ δὲ πτοηθὲν τόδʼ ἔτι σῇ ψυχῇ πάρα;
Agave:I don’t understand your words. I have become somehowsobered, changing from my former state of mind.
Ἀγαύη:οὐκ οἶδα τοὔπος τοῦτο. γίγνομαι δέ πωςἔννους, μετασταθεῖσα τῶν πάρος φρενῶν.
Kadmos:Can you hear and respond clearly?
Κάδμος:κλύοις ἂν οὖν τι κἀποκρίναιʼ ἂν σαφῶς;
Agave:Yes, for I forget what we said before, father.
Ἀγαύη:ὡς ἐκλέλησμαί γʼ ἃ πάρος εἴπομεν, πάτερ.
Kadmos:To whose house did you come in marriage?
Κάδμος:ἐς ποῖον ἦλθες οἶκον ὑμεναίων μέτα;
Agave:You gave me, as they say, to Echion, the sown man.
Ἀγαύη:Σπαρτῷ μʼ ἔδωκας, ὡς λέγουσʼ, Ἐχίονι.
Kadmos:What son did you bear to your husband in the house?
Κάδμος:τίς οὖν ἐν οἴκοις παῖς ἐγένετο σῷ πόσει;
Agave:Pentheus, from my union with his father.
Ἀγαύη:Πενθεύς, ἐμῇ τε καὶ πατρὸς κοινωνίᾳ.
Kadmos:Whose head do you hold in your hands?
Κάδμος:τίνος πρόσωπον δῆτʼ ἐν ἀγκάλαις ἔχεις;
Agave:A lion’s, as they who hunted him down said.
Ἀγαύη:λέοντος, ὥς γʼ ἔφασκον αἱ θηρώμεναι.
Kadmos:Examine it correctly then; it takes but little effort to see.
Κάδμος:σκέψαι νυν ὀρθῶς· βραχὺς ὁ μόχθος εἰσιδεῖν.
Agave:Ah! What do I see? What is this that I carry in my hands?
Ἀγαύη:ἔα, τί λεύσσω; τί φέρομαι τόδʼ ἐν χεροῖν;
Kadmos:Look at it and learn more clearly.
Κάδμος:ἄθρησον αὐτὸ καὶ σαφέστερον μάθε.
Agave:I see the greatest grief, wretched that I am.
Ἀγαύη:ὁρῶ μέγιστον ἄλγος ἡ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.
Kadmos:Does it seem to you to be like a lion?
Κάδμος:μῶν σοι λέοντι φαίνεται προσεικέναι;
Agave:No, but I, wretched, hold the head of Pentheus.
Ἀγαύη:οὔκ, ἀλλὰ Πενθέως ἡ τάλαινʼ ἔχω κάρα.
Kadmos:Yes, much lamented before you recognized him.
Κάδμος:ᾠμωγμένον γε πρόσθεν ἢ σὲ γνωρίσαι.
Agave:Who killed him? How did he come into my hands?
Ἀγαύη:τίς ἔκτανέν νιν;—πῶς ἐμὰς ἦλθεν χέρας;
Kadmos:Miserable truth, how inopportunely you arrive!
Κάδμος:δύστηνʼ ἀλήθειʼ, ὡς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ πάρει.
Agave:Tell me. My heart leaps at what is to come.
Ἀγαύη:λέγʼ, ὡς τὸ μέλλον καρδία πήδημʼ ἔχει.
Kadmos:You and your sisters killed him.
Κάδμος:σύ νιν κατέκτας καὶ κασίγνηται σέθεν.
Agave:Where did he die? Was it here at home, or in what place?
Ἀγαύη:ποῦ δʼ ὤλετʼ; ἦ κατʼ οἶκον; ἢ ποίοις τόποις;
Kadmos:Where formerly dogs divided Actaeon among themselves.
Κάδμος:οὗπερ πρὶν Ἀκτέωνα διέλαχον κύνες.
Agave:And why did this ill-fated man go to Kithairon?
Ἀγαύη:τί δʼ ἐς Κιθαιρῶνʼ ἦλθε δυσδαίμων ὅδε;
Kadmos:He went to mock the god and your revelry.
Κάδμος:ἐκερτόμει θεὸν σάς τε βακχείας μολών.
Agave:But in what way did we go there?
Ἀγαύη:ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐκεῖσε τίνι τρόπῳ κατήραμεν;
Kadmos:You were mad, and the whole city was frantic with Bacchus.
Κάδμος:ἐμάνητε, πᾶσά τʼ ἐξεβακχεύθη πόλις.
Agave:Dionysus destroyed us—now I understand.
Ἀγαύη:Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς ὤλεσʼ, ἄρτι μανθάνω.
Kadmos:Being insulted with insolence, for you did not consider him a god.
Κάδμος:ὕβριν ⟨γʼ⟩ ὑβρισθείς· θεὸν γὰρ οὐχ ἡγεῖσθέ νιν.
Agave:And where is the body of my dearest child, father?
Ἀγαύη:τὸ φίλτατον δὲ σῶμα ποῦ παιδός, πάτερ;
Kadmos:I have traced it with difficulty and brought it back.
Κάδμος:ἐγὼ μόλις τόδʼ ἐξερευνήσας φέρω.
Agave:Are its joints laid properly together?
Ἀγαύη:ἦ πᾶν ἐν ἄρθροις συγκεκλῃμένον καλῶς;
Agave:What part did Pentheus have in my folly?
Ἀγαύη:Πενθεῖ δὲ τί μέρος ἀφροσύνης προσῆκʼ ἐμῆς;
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,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 reapeda 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, andsaying: “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.
Κάδμος:ὑμῖν ἐγένεθʼ ὅμοιος, οὐ σέβων θεόν.τοιγὰρ συνῆψε πάντας ἐς μίαν βλάβην,ὑμᾶς τε τόνδε θʼ, ὥστε διολέσαι δόμουςκἄμʼ, ὅστις ἄτεκνος ἀρσένων παίδων γεγὼςτῆς σῆς τόδʼ ἔρνος, ὦ τάλαινα, νηδύοςαἴσχιστα καὶ κάκιστα κατθανόνθʼ ὁρῶ,ᾧ δῶμʼ ἀνέβλεφʼ—ὃς συνεῖχες, ὦ τέκνον,τοὐμὸν μέλαθρον, παιδὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς γεγώς,πόλει τε τάρβος ἦσθα· τὸν γέροντα δὲοὐδεὶς ὑβρίζειν ἤθελʼ εἰσορῶν τὸ σὸνκάρα· δίκην γὰρ ἀξίαν ἐλάμβανες.νῦν δʼ ἐκ δόμων ἄτιμος ἐκβεβλήσομαιὁ Κάδμος ὁ μέγας, ὃς τὸ Θηβαίων γένοςἔσπειρα κἀξήμησα κάλλιστον θέρος.ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν—καὶ γὰρ οὐκέτʼ ὢν ὅμωςτῶν φιλτάτων ἔμοιγʼ ἀριθμήσῃ, τέκνον—οὐκέτι γενείου τοῦδε θιγγάνων χερί,τὸν ⟨μητρὸς⟩ αὐδῶν ⟨πατέρα⟩ προσπτύξῃ, τέκνον,λέγων· Τίς ἀδικεῖ, τίς σʼ ἀτιμάζει, γέρον;τίς σὴν ταράσσει καρδίαν λυπηρὸς ὤν;λέγʼ, ὡς κολάζω τὸν ἀδικοῦντά σʼ, ὦ πάτερ.νῦν δʼ ἄθλιος μέν εἰμʼ ἐγώ, τλήμων δὲ σύ.οἰκτρὰ δὲ μήτηρ, τλήμονες δὲ σύγγονοι.
If anyone scorns the gods, let him look to the death of this man and acknowledge them.
εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ὅστις δαιμόνων ὑπερφρονεῖ,ἐς τοῦδʼ ἀθρήσας θάνατον ἡγείσθω θεούς.
Chorus Leader:I grieve for you, Kadmos. Your daughter’s child has a punishment deserved indeed, but grievous to you.
Χορός:τὸ μὲν σὸν ἀλγῶ, Κάδμε· σὸς δʼ ἔχει δίκηνπαῖς παιδὸς ἀξίαν μέν, ἀλγεινὴν δὲ σοί.
Agave:Father, for you see how much my situation has changed... …To KadmosDionysus:... 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.
Ἀγαύη:ὦ πάτερ, ὁρᾷς γὰρ τἄμʼ ὅσῳ μετεστράφη ……Διόνυσος:δράκων γενήσῃ μεταβαλών, δάμαρ τε σὴἐκθηριωθεῖσʼ ὄφεος ἀλλάξει τύπον,ἣν Ἄρεος ἔσχες Ἁρμονίαν θνητὸς γεγώς.ὄχον δὲ μόσχων, χρησμὸς ὡς λέγει Διός,ἐλᾷς μετʼ ἀλόχου, βαρβάρων ἡγούμενος.
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.
πολλὰς δὲ πέρσεις ἀναρίθμῳ στρατεύματιπόλεις· ὅταν δὲ Λοξίου χρηστήριονδιαρπάσωσι, νόστον ἄθλιον πάλινσχήσουσι· σὲ δʼ Ἄρης Ἁρμονίαν τε ῥύσεταιμακάρων τʼ ἐς αἶαν σὸν καθιδρύσει βίον.
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.
ταῦτʼ οὐχὶ θνητοῦ πατρὸς ἐκγεγὼς λέγωΔιόνυσος, ἀλλὰ Ζηνός· εἰ δὲ σωφρονεῖνἔγνωθʼ, ὅτʼ οὐκ ἠθέλετε, τὸν Διὸς γόνονεὐδαιμονεῖτʼ ἂν σύμμαχον κεκτημένοι.
Kadmos:Dionysus, we beseech you, we have acted injustly.
Κάδμος:Διόνυσε, λισσόμεσθά σʼ, ἠδικήκαμεν.
Dionysus:You have learned it too late; you did not know it when you should have.
Διόνυσος:ὄψʼ ἐμάθεθʼ ἡμᾶς, ὅτε δὲ χρῆν, οὐκ ᾔδετε.
Kadmos:Now we know, but you go too far against us.
Κάδμος:ἐγνώκαμεν ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐπεξέρχῃ λίαν.
Dionysus:Yes, for I, a god by birth, was insulted by you.
Διόνυσος:καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ὑμῶν θεὸς γεγὼς ὑβριζόμην.
Kadmos:Gods should not resemble mortals in their anger.
Κάδμος:ὀργὰς πρέπει θεοὺς οὐχ ὁμοιοῦσθαι βροτοῖς.
Dionysus:My father Zeus approved this long ago.
Διόνυσος:πάλαι τάδε Ζεὺς οὑμὸς ἐπένευσεν πατήρ.
Agave:Alas! A miserable exile has been decreed for us, old man.
Ἀγαύη:αἰαῖ, δέδοκται, πρέσβυ, τλήμονες φυγαί.
Dionysus:Why then do you delay what must necessarily be?
Διόνυσος:τί δῆτα μέλλεθʼ ἅπερ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει;
Kadmos:Child, what a terrible disaster we have all come to—unhappy you, your sisters, and unhappy me. I shall reach a foreign landas 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.I will neither rest from my troubles in my misery, nor will I sail over the downward flowing Acheron and be at peace.
Κάδμος:ὦ τέκνον, ὡς ἐς δεινὸν ἤλθομεν κακὸν⟨πάντες,⟩ σύ θʼ ἡ τάλαινα σύγγονοί τε σαί,ἐγώ θʼ ὁ τλήμων· βαρβάρους ἀφίξομαιγέρων μέτοικος· ἔτι δέ μοι τὸ θέσφατονἐς Ἑλλάδʼ ἀγαγεῖν μιγάδα βάρβαρον στρατόν.καὶ τὴν Ἄρεως παῖδʼ Ἁρμονίαν, δάμαρτʼ ἐμήν,δράκων δρακαίνης ⟨φύσιν⟩ ἔχουσαν ἀγρίανἄξω ʼπὶ βωμοὺς καὶ τάφους Ἑλληνικούς,ἡγούμενος λόγχαισιν· οὐδὲ παύσομαικακῶν ὁ τλήμων, οὐδὲ τὸν καταιβάτηνἈχέροντα πλεύσας ἥσυχος γενήσομαι.
Agave:O father, I will go into exile deprived of you.
Ἀγαύη:ὦ πάτερ, ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ στερεῖσα φεύξομαι.
Kadmos:Why do you embrace me with your hands, child,like a swan for its exhausted gray-haired parent?
Κάδμος:τί μʼ ἀμφιβάλλεις χερσίν, ὦ τάλαινα παῖ,ὄρνις ὅπως κηφῆνα πολιόχρων κύκνος;
Agave:For where can I turn, banished from my father-land?
Ἀγαύη:ποῖ γὰρ τράπωμαι πατρίδος ἐκβεβλημένη;
Kadmos:I do not know, child; your father is a poor ally.
Κάδμος:οὐκ οἶδα, τέκνον· μικρὸς ἐπίκουρος πατήρ.
Agave:Farewell, house, farewell, city of my forefathers. In misfortune I leave you,a fugitive from my chamber.
Ἀγαύη:χαῖρʼ, ὦ μέλαθρον, χαῖρʼ, ὦ πατρίαπόλις· ἐκλείπω σʼ ἐπὶ δυστυχίᾳφυγὰς ἐκ θαλάμων.
Kadmos:Go now, child, to the land of Aristaeus... …
Κάδμος:στεῖχέ νυν, ὦ παῖ, τὸν Ἀρισταίου ……
Agave:I grieve for you, father.
Ἀγαύη:στένομαί σε, πάτερ.
Kadmos:And I for you, child, and I weep for your sisters.
Κάδμος:κἀγὼ ⟨σέ⟩, τέκνον,καὶ σὰς ἐδάκρυσα κασιγνήτας.
Agave:Terribly indeed haslord Dionysus brought this misery to your home.
Ἀγαύη:δεινῶς γὰρ τάνδʼ αἰκείανΔιόνυσος ἄναξ τοὺς σοὺς εἰςοἴκους ἔφερεν.
Dionysus:Yes, for I suffered terrible things at your hands, with my name not honored in Thebes.
Διόνυσος:καὶ γὰρ ἔπασχον δεινὰ πρὸς ὑμῶν,ἀγέραστον ἔχων ὄνομʼ ἐν Θήβαις.
Agave:Farewell, my father.
Ἀγαύη:χαῖρε, πάτερ, μοι.
Kadmos:Farewell, unhappydaughter; and yet you cannot easily fare well.
Κάδμος:χαῖρʼ, ὦ μελέαθύγατερ. χαλεπῶς ⟨δʼ⟩ ἐς τόδʼ ἂν ἥκοις.
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.
Ἀγαύη:ἄγετʼ, ὦ πομποί, με κασιγνήταςἵνα συμφυγάδας ληψόμεθʼ οἰκτράς.ἔλθοιμι δʼ ὅπουμήτε Κιθαιρὼν ⟨ἔμʼ ἴδοι⟩ μιαρὸςμήτε Κιθαιρῶνʼ ὄσσοισιν ἐγώ,μήθʼ ὅθι θύρσου μνῆμʼ ἀνάκειται·Βάκχαις δʼ ἄλλαισι μέλοιεν.
Chorus:Many are the forms of divine things, and the gods bring to pass many things unexpectedly;
Χορός:πολλαὶ μορφαὶ τῶν δαιμονίων,πολλὰ δʼ ἀέλπτως κραίνουσι θεοί·
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.
καὶ τὰ δοκηθέντʼ οὐκ ἐτελέσθη,τῶν δʼ ἀδοκήτων πόρον ηὗρε θεός.τοιόνδʼ ἀπέβη τόδε πρᾶγμα.