2. Euripides, Bacchae, 82, 100, 102-104, 608-609, 618, 629-631, 646, 680-681, 697-698, 728-774, 920, 925-938, 992, 1007, 1013, 1018-1019, 1031, 1079, 1089, 1114-1147, 1168-1258, 1264-1270 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
Tagged with subjects: • Agave
Found in books: Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 7, 52, 141, 177, 192, 334, 335, 337, 339, 343, 359; Chrysanthou (2018), Plutarch's 'Parallel Lives': Narrative Technique and Moral Judgement. 117; Jouanna (2012), Greek Medicine from Hippocrates to Galen, 73; Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112, 113; Lyons (1997), Gender and Immortality: Heroines in Ancient Greek Myth and Cult, 110; Mcclellan (2019), Paulinus Noster: Self and Symbols in the Letters of Paulinus of Nola, 189, 190; Simon, Zeyl, and Shapiro, (2021), The Gods of the Greeks, 319
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82 Διόνυσον θεραπεύει.
100 τέλεσαν, ταυρόκερων θεὸν'
102 στεφάνοις, ἔνθεν ἄγραν θηροτρόφον 103 μαινάδες ἀμφιβάλλονται 104 πλοκάμοις. Χορός
608 ὦ φάος μέγιστον ἡμῖν εὐίου βακχεύματος, 609 ὡς ἐσεῖδον ἀσμένη σε, μονάδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρημίαν. Διόνυσος
618 πρὸς φάτναις δὲ ταῦρον εὑρών, οὗ καθεῖρξʼ ἡμᾶς ἄγων,
629 κᾆθʼ ὁ Βρόμιος, ὡς ἔμοιγε φαίνεται, δόξαν λέγω, 630 φάσμʼ ἐποίησεν κατʼ αὐλήν· ὃ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῦθʼ ὡρμημένος 631 ᾖσσε κἀκέντει φαεννὸν αἰθέρʼ, ὡς σφάζων ἐμέ.
646 φαίνῃ πρὸς οἴκοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς, ἔξω βεβώς; Διόνυσος
680 ὁρῶ δὲ θιάσους τρεῖς γυναικείων χορῶν, 681 ὧν ἦρχʼ ἑνὸς μὲν Αὐτονόη, τοῦ δευτέρου
697 σύνδεσμʼ ἐλέλυτο, καὶ καταστίκτους δορὰς 698 ὄφεσι κατεζώσαντο λιχμῶσιν γένυν. 729 κἀγὼ ʼξεπήδησʼ ὡς συναρπάσαι θέλων, 730 λόχμην κενώσας ἔνθʼ ἐκρυπτόμην δέμας. 731 ἣ δʼ ἀνεβόησεν· Ὦ δρομάδες ἐμαὶ κύνες, 732 θηρώμεθʼ ἀνδρῶν τῶνδʼ ὕπʼ· ἀλλʼ ἕπεσθέ μοι, 733 ἕπεσθε θύρσοις διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμέναι. 735 βακχῶν σπαραγμόν, αἳ δὲ νεμομέναις χλόην 736 μόσχοις ἐπῆλθον χειρὸς ἀσιδήρου μέτα. 737 καὶ τὴν μὲν ἂν προσεῖδες εὔθηλον πόριν 738 μυκωμένην ἔχουσαν ἐν χεροῖν δίχα, 739 ἄλλαι δὲ δαμάλας διεφόρουν σπαράγμασιν. 740 εἶδες δʼ ἂν ἢ πλεύρʼ ἢ δίχηλον ἔμβασιν 741 ῥιπτόμενʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω· κρεμαστὰ δὲ 742 ἔσταζʼ ὑπʼ ἐλάταις ἀναπεφυρμένʼ αἵματι. 743 ταῦροι δʼ ὑβρισταὶ κἀς κέρας θυμούμενοι 744 τὸ πρόσθεν ἐσφάλλοντο πρὸς γαῖαν δέμας, 745 μυριάσι χειρῶν ἀγόμενοι νεανίδων. 746 θᾶσσον δὲ διεφοροῦντο σαρκὸς ἐνδυτὰ 747 ἢ σὲ ξυνάψαι βλέφαρα βασιλείοις κόραις. 748 χωροῦσι δʼ ὥστʼ ὄρνιθες ἀρθεῖσαι δρόμῳ 749 πεδίων ὑποτάσεις, αἳ παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥοαῖς 750 εὔκαρπον ἐκβάλλουσι Θηβαίων στάχυν· 751 Ὑσιάς τʼ Ἐρυθράς θʼ, αἳ Κιθαιρῶνος λέπας 752 νέρθεν κατῳκήκασιν, ὥστε πολέμιοι, 753 ἐπεσπεσοῦσαι πάντʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω 754 διέφερον· ἥρπαζον μὲν ἐκ δόμων τέκνα· 755 ὁπόσα δʼ ἐπʼ ὤμοις ἔθεσαν, οὐ δεσμῶν ὕπο 756 προσείχετʼ οὐδʼ ἔπιπτεν ἐς μέλαν πέδον, 757 οὐ χαλκός, οὐ σίδηρος· ἐπὶ δὲ βοστρύχοις 758 πῦρ ἔφερον, οὐδʼ ἔκαιεν. οἳ δʼ ὀργῆς ὕπο 759 ἐς ὅπλʼ ἐχώρουν φερόμενοι βακχῶν ὕπο· 760 οὗπερ τὸ δεινὸν ἦν θέαμʼ ἰδεῖν, ἄναξ. 761 τοῖς μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ᾕμασσε λογχωτὸν βέλος, 762 κεῖναι δὲ θύρσους ἐξανιεῖσαι χερῶν 763 ἐτραυμάτιζον κἀπενώτιζον φυγῇ 764 γυναῖκες ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινος. 765 πάλιν δʼ ἐχώρουν ὅθεν ἐκίνησαν πόδα, 766 κρήνας ἐπʼ αὐτὰς ἃς ἀνῆκʼ αὐταῖς θεός. 767 νίψαντο δʼ αἷμα, σταγόνα δʼ ἐκ παρηίδων 768 γλώσσῃ δράκοντες ἐξεφαίδρυνον χροός. 770 δέχου πόλει τῇδʼ· ὡς τά τʼ ἄλλʼ ἐστὶν μέγας, 771 κἀκεῖνό φασιν αὐτόν, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω, 772 τὴν παυσίλυπον ἄμπελον δοῦναι βροτοῖς. 773 οἴνου δὲ μηκέτʼ ὄντος οὐκ ἔστιν Κύπρις 774 οὐδʼ ἄλλο τερπνὸν οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις ἔτι. Χορός
920 καὶ ταῦρος ἡμῖν πρόσθεν ἡγεῖσθαι δοκεῖς
925 τί φαίνομαι δῆτʼ; οὐχὶ τὴν Ἰνοῦς στάσιν 926 ἢ τὴν Ἀγαύης ἑστάναι, μητρός γʼ ἐμῆς; Διόνυσος 927 αὐτὰς ἐκείνας εἰσορᾶν δοκῶ σʼ ὁρῶν. 928 ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἕδρας σοι πλόκαμος ἐξέστηχʼ ὅδε, 929 οὐχ ὡς ἐγώ νιν ὑπὸ μίτρᾳ καθήρμοσα. Πενθεύς 930 ἔνδον προσείων αὐτὸν ἀνασείων τʼ ἐγὼ 931 καὶ βακχιάζων ἐξ ἕδρας μεθώρμισα. Διόνυσος 932 ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἡμεῖς, οἷς σε θεραπεύειν μέλει, 933 πάλιν καταστελοῦμεν· ἀλλʼ ὄρθου κάρα. Πενθεύς 934 ἰδού, σὺ κόσμει· σοὶ γὰρ ἀνακείμεσθα δή. Διόνυσος 935 ζῶναί τέ σοι χαλῶσι κοὐχ ἑξῆς πέπλων 936 στολίδες ὑπὸ σφυροῖσι τείνουσιν σέθεν. Πενθεύς 937 κἀμοὶ δοκοῦσι παρά γε δεξιὸν πόδα· 938 τἀνθένδε δʼ ὀρθῶς παρὰ τένοντʼ ἔχει πέπλος. Διόνυσος
1007 φανερά τʼ· ὤ, νάει ν ἐπὶ τὰ καλὰ βίον,
1013 ἴτω δίκα φανερός, ἴτω ξιφηφόρος
1018 φάνηθι ταῦρος ἢ πολύκρανος ἰδεῖν 1019 δράκων ἢ πυριφλέγων ὁρᾶσθαι λέων.
1031 ὦναξ Βρόμιε, θεὸς φαίνῃ μέγας. Ἄγγελος
1079 Διόνυσος, ἀνεβόησεν· Ὦ νεάνιδες,
1089 σαφῆ κελευσμὸν Βακχίου Κάδμου κόραι,
1114 1115 καὶ προσπίτνει νιν· ὃ δὲ μίτραν κόμης ἄπο 1116 ἔρριψεν, ὥς νιν γνωρίσασα μὴ κτάνοι 1117 τλήμων Ἀγαύη, καὶ λέγει, παρηίδος 1118 ψαύων· Ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, εἰμί, παῖς σέθεν 1119 Πενθεύς, ὃν ἔτεκες ἐν δόμοις Ἐχίονος· 1120 οἴκτιρε δʼ ὦ μῆτέρ με, μηδὲ ταῖς ἐμαῖς 1121 ἁμαρτίαισι παῖδα σὸν κατακτάνῃς. 1123 κόρας ἑλίσσουσʼ, οὐ φρονοῦσʼ ἃ χρὴ φρονεῖν, 1124 ἐκ Βακχίου κατείχετʼ, οὐδʼ ἔπειθέ νιν. 1125 λαβοῦσα δʼ ὠλένης ἀριστερὰν χέρα, 1126 πλευραῖσιν ἀντιβᾶσα τοῦ δυσδαίμονος 1127 ἀπεσπάραξεν ὦμον, οὐχ ὑπὸ σθένους, 1128 ἀλλʼ ὁ θεὸς εὐμάρειαν ἐπεδίδου χεροῖν· 1129 Ἰνὼ δὲ τἀπὶ θάτερʼ ἐξειργάζετο, 1130 ῥηγνῦσα σάρκας, Αὐτονόη τʼ ὄχλος τε πᾶς 1131 ἐπεῖχε βακχῶν· ἦν δὲ πᾶσʼ ὁμοῦ βοή, 1132 ὃ μὲν στενάζων ὅσον ἐτύγχανʼ ἐμπνέων, 1133 αἳ δʼ ἠλάλαζον. ἔφερε δʼ ἣ μὲν ὠλένην, 1134 ἣ δʼ ἴχνος αὐταῖς ἀρβύλαις· γυμνοῦντο δὲ 1135 πλευραὶ σπαραγμοῖς· πᾶσα δʼ ᾑματωμένη 1136 χεῖρας διεσφαίριζε σάρκα Πενθέως. 1138 πέτραις, τὸ δʼ ὕλης ἐν βαθυξύλῳ φόβῃ, 1139 οὐ ῥᾴδιον ζήτημα· κρᾶτα δʼ ἄθλιον, 1140 ὅπερ λαβοῦσα τυγχάνει μήτηρ χεροῖν, 1141 πήξασʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρον θύρσον ὡς ὀρεστέρου 1142 φέρει λέοντος διὰ Κιθαιρῶνος μέσου, 1143 λιποῦσʼ ἀδελφὰς ἐν χοροῖσι μαινάδων. 1144 χωρεῖ δὲ θήρᾳ δυσπότμῳ γαυρουμένη 1145 τειχέων ἔσω τῶνδʼ, ἀνακαλοῦσα Βάκχιον 1146 τὸν ξυγκύναγον, τὸν ξυνεργάτην ἄγρας, 1147 τὸν καλλίνικον, ᾧ δάκρυα νικηφορεῖ. 1174 λέοντος ἀγροτέρου νέον ἶνιν· 1177 Χορός 1177 Ἀγαύη 1178 κατεφόνευσέ νιν. Χορός 1179 part= 1180 μάκαιρʼ Ἀγαύη κλῃζόμεθʼ ἐν θιάσοις. Χορός 1181 Χορός 1181 Ἀγαύη 11
82 μετʼ ἐμὲ μετʼ ἐμὲ τοῦδʼ 1183 Ἀγαύη 1183 ἔθιγε θηρός· εὐτυχής γʼ ἅδʼ ἄγρα. Χορός 1184 Χορός 1185 νέος ὁ μόσχος ἄρτι word split in text 1186 γένυν ὑπὸ κόρυθʼ ἁπαλότριχα 1187 κατάκομον θάλλει. Χορός 1188 πρέπει γʼ ὥστε θὴρ ἄγραυλος φόβῃ. Ἀγαύη 1189 ὁ Βάκχιος κυναγέτας 1190 σοφὸς σοφῶς ἀνέπηλʼ ἐπὶ θῆρα 1191 τόνδε μαινάδας. Χορός 1192 ὁ γὰρ ἄναξ ἀγρεύς. Ἀγαύη 1194 τάχα δὲ Καδμεῖοι Χορός 1196 λαβοῦσαν ἄγραν τάνδε λεοντοφυῆ. Χορός 1198 μεγάλα μεγάλα καὶ 1199 φανερὰ τᾷδʼ ἄγρᾳ κατειργασμένα. Χορός 1200 δεῖξόν νυν, ὦ τάλαινα, σὴν νικηφόρον 1201 ἀστοῖσιν ἄγραν ἣν φέρουσʼ ἐλήλυθας. Ἀγαύη 1202 ὦ καλλίπυργον ἄστυ Θηβαίας χθονὸς 1203 ναίοντες, ἔλθεθʼ ὡς ἴδητε τήνδʼ ἄγραν, 1204 Κάδμου θυγατέρες θηρὸς ἣν ἠγρεύσαμεν, 1205 οὐκ ἀγκυλητοῖς Θεσσαλῶν στοχάσμασιν, 1206 οὐ δικτύοισιν, ἀλλὰ λευκοπήχεσι 1207 χειρῶν ἀκμαῖσιν. κᾆτα κομπάζειν χρεὼν 1208 καὶ λογχοποιῶν ὄργανα κτᾶσθαι μάτην; 1209 ἡμεῖς δέ γʼ αὐτῇ χειρὶ τόνδε θʼ εἵλομεν, 1210 χωρίς τε θηρὸς ἄρθρα διεφορήσαμεν. 1212 Πενθεύς τʼ ἐμὸς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; αἰρέσθω λαβὼν 1213 πηκτῶν πρὸς οἴκους κλιμάκων προσαμβάσεις, 1214 ὡς πασσαλεύσῃ κρᾶτα τριγλύφοις τόδε 1215 λέοντος ὃν πάρειμι θηράσασʼ ἐγώ. Κάδμος 1216 ἕπεσθέ μοι φέροντες ἄθλιον βάρος 1217 Πενθέως, ἕπεσθε, πρόσπολοι, δόμων πάρος, 1218 οὗ σῶμα μοχθῶν μυρίοις ζητήμασιν 1219 φέρω τόδʼ, εὑρὼν ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς 1220 διασπαρακτόν, κοὐδὲν ἐν ταὐτῷ πέδῳ 1221 λαβών, ἐν ὕλῃ κείμενον δυσευρέτῳ. 1223 ἤδη κατʼ ἄστυ τειχέων ἔσω βεβὼς 1224 σὺν τῷ γέροντι Τειρεσίᾳ Βακχῶν πάρα· 1225 πάλιν δὲ κάμψας εἰς ὄρος κομίζομαι 1226 τὸν κατθανόντα παῖδα Μαινάδων ὕπο. 1227 καὶ τὴν μὲν Ἀκτέωνʼ Ἀρισταίῳ ποτὲ 1228 τεκοῦσαν εἶδον Αὐτονόην Ἰνώ θʼ ἅμα 1229 ἔτʼ ἀμφὶ δρυμοὺς οἰστροπλῆγας ἀθλίας, 1230 τὴν δʼ εἶπέ τίς μοι δεῦρο βακχείῳ ποδὶ 1231 στείχειν Ἀγαύην, οὐδʼ ἄκραντʼ ἠκούσαμεν· 1232 λεύσσω γὰρ αὐτήν, ὄψιν οὐκ εὐδαίμονα. Ἀγαύη 1233 πάτερ, μέγιστον κομπάσαι πάρεστί σοι, 1234 πάντων ἀρίστας θυγατέρας σπεῖραι μακρῷ 1235 θνητῶν· ἁπάσας εἶπον, ἐξόχως δʼ ἐμέ, 1236 ἣ τὰς παρʼ ἱστοῖς ἐκλιποῦσα κερκίδας 1237 ἐς μείζονʼ ἥκω, θῆρας ἀγρεύειν χεροῖν. 1238 φέρω δʼ ἐν ὠλέναισιν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, τάδε 1239 λαβοῦσα τἀριστεῖα, σοῖσι πρὸς δόμοις 1240 ὡς ἀγκρεμασθῇ· σὺ δέ, πάτερ, δέξαι χεροῖν· 1241 γαυρούμενος δὲ τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἀγρεύμασιν 1242 κάλει φίλους ἐς δαῖτα· μακάριος γὰρ εἶ, 1243 μακάριος, ἡμῶν τοιάδʼ ἐξειργασμένων. Κάδμος 1244 ὦ πένθος οὐ μετρητὸν οὐδʼ οἷόν τʼ ἰδεῖν, 1245 φόνον ταλαίναις χερσὶν ἐξειργασμένων. 1246 καλὸν τὸ θῦμα καταβαλοῦσα δαίμοσιν 1247 ἐπὶ δαῖτα Θήβας τάσδε κἀμὲ παρακαλεῖς. 1248 οἴμοι κακῶν μὲν πρῶτα σῶν, ἔπειτʼ ἐμῶν· 1249 ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς ἐνδίκως μέν, ἀλλʼ ἄγαν, 1250 Βρόμιος ἄναξ ἀπώλεσʼ οἰκεῖος γεγώς. Ἀγαύη 1251 ὡς δύσκολον τὸ γῆρας ἀνθρώποις ἔφυ 1252 ἔν τʼ ὄμμασι σκυθρωπόν. εἴθε παῖς ἐμὸς 1253 εὔθηρος εἴη, μητρὸς εἰκασθεὶς τρόποις, 1254 ὅτʼ ἐν νεανίαισι Θηβαίοις ἅμα 1255 θηρῶν ὀριγνῷτʼ· ἀλλὰ θεομαχεῖν μόνον 1256 οἷός τʼ ἐκεῖνος. νουθετητέος, πάτερ, 1257 σοὐστίν. τίς αὐτὸν δεῦρʼ ἂν ὄψιν εἰς ἐμὴν 1258 καλέσειεν, ὡς ἴδῃ με τὴν εὐδαίμονα; Κάδμος
1264 πρῶτον μὲν ἐς τόνδʼ αἰθέρʼ ὄμμα σὸν μέθες. Ἀγαύη 1265 ἰδού· τί μοι τόνδʼ ἐξυπεῖπας εἰσορᾶν; Κάδμος 1266 ἔθʼ αὑτὸς ἤ σοι μεταβολὰς ἔχειν δοκεῖ; Ἀγαύη 1267 λαμπρότερος ἢ πρὶν καὶ διειπετέστερος. Κάδμος 1268 τὸ δὲ πτοηθὲν τόδʼ ἔτι σῇ ψυχῇ πάρα; Ἀγαύη 1269 οὐκ οἶδα τοὔπος τοῦτο. γίγνομαι δέ πως 1270 ἔννους, μετασταθεῖσα τῶν πάρος φρενῶν. Κάδμος ' None | sup>
82 brandishing the thyrsos, garlanded with ivy, serves Dionysus.Go, Bacchae, go, Bacchae, escorting the god Bromius, child of a god,
100 had perfected him, the bull-horned god, and he crowned him with crowns of snakes, for which reason Maenads cloak their wild prey over their locks. Choru'
102 had perfected him, the bull-horned god, and he crowned him with crowns of snakes, for which reason Maenads cloak their wild prey over their locks. Choru
608 Oh greatest light for us in our joyful revelry, how happy I am to see you—I who was alone and desolate before. Dionysu
618 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,
629 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— 630 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,
646 Here is the man. What is this? How do you appear in front of my house, having come out? Dionysu
680 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,
697 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
728 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. Agave happened to be leaping near me, and I sprang forth, wanting to snatch her, 730 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 735 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. 740 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, 745 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 Asopu 750 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; 755 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, 760 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. 765 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, 770 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. Chorus Leader
920 And you seem to lead me, being like a bull and horns seem to grow on your head. But were you ever before a beast? For you have certainly now become a bull. Dionysu
925 How do I look? Don’t I have the posture of Ino, or of my mother Agave? Dionysu 927 Looking at you I think I see them. But this lock of your hair has come out of place, not the way I arranged it under your headband. Pentheu 930 I displaced it indoors, shaking my head forwards and backwards and practising my Bacchic revelry. Dionysu 932 But I who ought to wait on you will re-arrange it. Hold up your head. Pentheu 933 Here, you arrange it; for I depend on you, indeed. Dionysu 935 Your girdle has come loose, and the pleats of your gown do not extend regularly down around your ankles. Pentheu 937 At least on my right leg, I believe they don’t. But on this side the robe sits well around the back of my leg. Dionysu
992 or of Libyan Gorgons. Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throat
1007 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,
1013 banishing customs that are outside of justice.Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throat
1018 Appear as a bull or many-headed serpent or raging lion to see.
1031 Lord Bacchus, truly you appear to be a great god. Messenger
1079 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,
1089 kept 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,
1114 to 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, 1115 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. 1120 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. 1125 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, 1130 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 bare 1135 from 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, 1140 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 herself 1145 on 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. 1174 I caught this young wild lion cub without snares, 1177 Kithairon— Choru 1178 Slew him. Choru 1179 Who struck him? Agave 1180 I am called blessed Agave in the revels. Choru 1181 Who else? Agave 11
82 Kadmos’ what? Agave 1184 Share in the feast then. Choru 1185 The bull is young; his cheek is just growing downy under his soft-haired crest. Choru 1188 Yes, his hair looks like a wild beast’s. Agave 1189 Bacchus, a wise huntsman, 1190 wisely set the Maenads against this beast. Choru 1192 Our lord is a hunter. Agave 1193 Do you praise me? Choru 1194 Soon the Kadmeans— Choru 1195 And your son Pentheus, too— Agave 1197 Extraordinary. Agave 1198 Are you proud? Agave 1200 Now show the citizens, wretched woman, the booty which you have brought in victory. Agave 1202 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, 1205 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 and 1210 tore 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 thi 1215 lion’s head which I have captured and brought here. Enter Kadmos and his servants, carrying the remains of Pentheus’ body Kadmo 1216 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, 1220 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. 1225 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. 1230 But some one told me that Agave was coming here with Bacchic foot, and this was correct, for I see her—no happy sight! Agave 1233 Father, you may make a great boast, that you have born daughters the best by far of all 1235 mortals. 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, 1240 o 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. Kadmo 1244 O grief beyond measuring, one which I cannot stand to see, 1245 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, 1250 lord Bromius the god has destroyed us, though he is a member of our own family. Agave 1251 How morose and sullen in its countece 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 beast 1255 together 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? Kadmo
1264 First cast your eye up to this sky. Agave 1265 All right; why do you tell me to look at it? Kadmo 1266 Is it still the same, or does it appear to have changed? Agave 1267 It is brighter than before and more translucent. Kadmo 1268 Is your soul still quivering? Agave 1269 I don’t understand your words. I have become somehow 1270 obered, changing from my former state of mind. Kadmo ' None |
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