| ἐφʼ ἣν ἔπεμψας, οὐδʼ ἄκρανθʼ ὡρμήσαμεν. | for which you sent us, nor have we set out in vain. This beast was docile in our hands and did not withdraw in flight, but yielded not unwillingly. He did not turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek, but laughed and allowed us to bind him and lead him away. |
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| ὁ θὴρ δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδʼ ὑπέσπασεν | for which you sent us, nor have we set out in vain. This beast was docile in our hands and did not withdraw in flight, but yielded not unwillingly. He did not turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek, but laughed and allowed us to bind him and lead him away. |
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| φυγῇ πόδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας | for which you sent us, nor have we set out in vain. This beast was docile in our hands and did not withdraw in flight, but yielded not unwillingly. He did not turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek, but laughed and allowed us to bind him and lead him away. |
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| οὐδʼ ὠχρός, οὐδʼ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν | for which you sent us, nor have we set out in vain. This beast was docile in our hands and did not withdraw in flight, but yielded not unwillingly. He did not turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek, but laughed and allowed us to bind him and lead him away. |
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| γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο | for which you sent us, nor have we set out in vain. This beast was docile in our hands and did not withdraw in flight, but yielded not unwillingly. He did not turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek, but laughed and allowed us to bind him and lead him away. |
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| ἔμενέ τε, τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος. | He remained still, making my work easy, and I in shame said: Stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me. And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison |
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| κἀγὼ διʼ αἰδοῦς εἶπον· Ὦ ξένʼ, οὐχ ἑκὼν | He remained still, making my work easy, and I in shame said: Stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me. And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison |
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| ἄγω σε, Πενθέως δʼ ὅς μʼ ἔπεμψʼ ἐπιστολαῖς. | He remained still, making my work easy, and I in shame said: Stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me. And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison |
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| nan | He remained still, making my work easy, and I in shame said: Stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me. And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison |
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| κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης | He remained still, making my work easy, and I in shame said: Stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me. And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison |
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| φροῦδαί γʼ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας | are set loose and gone, and are gamboling in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god. Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without human hand. This man has come to Thebe |
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| σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν· | are set loose and gone, and are gamboling in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god. Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without human hand. This man has come to Thebe |
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| αὐτόματα δʼ αὐταῖς δεσμὰ διελύθη ποδῶν | are set loose and gone, and are gamboling in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god. Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without human hand. This man has come to Thebe |
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| κλῇδές τʼ ἀνῆκαν θύρετρʼ ἄνευ θνητῆς χερός. | are set loose and gone, and are gamboling in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god. Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without human hand. This man has come to Thebe |
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| πολλῶν δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ θαυμάτων ἥκει πλέως | are set loose and gone, and are gamboling in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god. Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without human hand. This man has come to Thebe |
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| ἐς τάσδε Θήβας. σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν. Πενθεύς | full of many wonders. You must take care of the rest. Pentheu |
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| μέθεσθε χειρῶν τοῦδʼ· ἐν ἄρκυσιν γὰρ ὢν | Release his hands, for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me. But your body is not ill-formed, stranger, for women’s purposes, for which reason you have come to Thebes . |
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| οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὠκὺς ὥστε μʼ ἐκφυγεῖν. | Release his hands, for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me. But your body is not ill-formed, stranger, for women’s purposes, for which reason you have come to Thebes . |
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| nan | Release his hands, for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me. But your body is not ill-formed, stranger, for women’s purposes, for which reason you have come to Thebes . |
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| ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας, ἐφʼ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει· | Release his hands, for caught in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me. But your body is not ill-formed, stranger, for women’s purposes, for which reason you have come to Thebes . |
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| πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναός, οὐ πάλης ὕπο | For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire; and you have a white skin from careful preparation, hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade. |
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| γένυν παρʼ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος, πόθου πλέως· | For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire; and you have a white skin from careful preparation, hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade. |
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| λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις | For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire; and you have a white skin from careful preparation, hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade. |
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| οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς | For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire; and you have a white skin from careful preparation, hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade. |
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| τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος. | For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire; and you have a white skin from careful preparation, hunting after Aphrodite by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade. |
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| πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος. Διόνυσος | First then tell me who your family is. Dionysu |
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| οὐ κόμπος οὐδείς· ῥᾴδιον δʼ εἰπεῖν τόδε. | I can tell you this easily, without boasting. I suppose you are familiar with flowery Tmolus. Pentheu |
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| τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων. Πενθεύς | I can tell you this easily, without boasting. I suppose you are familiar with flowery Tmolus. Pentheu |
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| οἶδʼ, ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ. Διόνυσος | I know of it; it surrounds the city of Sardis . Dionysu |
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| ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς. Πενθεύς | PENTHEUS: What makes thee bring these mysteries to Hellas? DIONYSUS: Dionysus, the son of Zeus, initiated me. PENTHEUS: Is there a Zeus in Lydia, who begets new gods? DIONYSUS: No, but Zeus who married Semele in Hellas. PENTHEUS: Was it by night or in the face of day that he constrained thee? DIONYSUS: 'Twas face to face he intrusted his mysteries to me. PENTHEUS: Pray, what special feature stamps thy rites? DIONYSUS: That is a secret to be hidden from the uninitiated. PENTHEUS: What profit bring they to their votaries? DIONYSUS: Thou must not be told, though 'tis well worth knowing. PENTHEUS: A pretty piece of trickery, to excite my curiosity! DIONYSUS: A man of godless life is an abomination to the rites of the god. PENTHEUS: Thou sayest thou didst see the god clearly; what was he like? DIONYSUS: What his fancy chose; I was not there to order this. PENTHEUS: Another clever twist and turn of thine, without a word of answer. DIONYSUS: He were a fool, methinks, who would utter wisdom to a fool. PENTHEUS: Hast thou come hither first with this deity? DIONYSUS: All foreigners already celebrate these mysteries with dances. PENTHEUS: The reason being, they are far behind Hellenes in wisdom. DIONYSUS: In this at least far in advance, though their customs differ. |
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| ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς. Πενθεύς | I am from there, and Lydia is my fatherland. Pentheu |
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| πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα; Διόνυσος | Why do you bring these rites to Hellas ? Dionysu |
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| Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ, ὁ τοῦ Διός. Πενθεύς | Dionysus, the child of Zeus, sent me. Pentheu |
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| Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις, ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς; Διόνυσος | Is there a Zeus who breeds new gods there? Dionysu |
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| οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις. Πενθεύς | No, but the one who married Semele here. Pentheu |
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| πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν; Διόνυσος | Did he compel you at night, or in your sight? Dionysu |
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| ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα, καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια. Πενθεύς | Seeing me just as I saw him, he gave me sacred rites. Pentheu |
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| τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι; Διόνυσος | What appearance do your rites have? Dionysu |
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| ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν. Πενθεύς | They can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry. Pentheu |
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| ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα; Διόνυσος | And do they have any profit to those who sacrifice? Dionysu |
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| οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ, ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι. Πενθεύς | It is not lawful for you to hear, but they are worth knowing. Pentheu |
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| εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας, ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω. Διόνυσος | You have counterfeited this well, so that I desire to hear. Dionysu |
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| ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ. Πενθεύς | The rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety. Pentheu |
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| τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς, ποῖός τις ἦν; Διόνυσος | Are you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like? Dionysu |
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| ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ· οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε. Πενθεύς | He was as he chose; I did not order this. Pentheu |
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| τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων. Διόνυσος | Again you diverted my question well, speaking mere nonsense. Dionysu |
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| δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν. Πενθεύς | One will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man. Pentheu |
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| ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα; Διόνυσος | Did you come here first, bringing the god? Dionysu |
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| πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια. Πενθεύς | All the barbarians celebrate these rites. Pentheu |
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| φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ. Διόνυσος | Yes, for they are far more foolish than Hellenes. Dionysu |
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| τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον· οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι. Πενθεύς | PENTHEUS: Is it by night or day thou performest these devotions? DIONYSUS: By night mostly; darkness lends solemnity. PENTHEUS: Calculated to entrap and corrupt women. DIONYSUS: Day too for that matter may discover shame. PENTHEUS: This vile quibbling settles thy punishment. DIONYSUS: Brutish ignorance and godlessness will settle thine. PENTHEUS: How bold our Bacchanal is growing! a very master in this wordy strife! DIONYSUS: Tell me what I am to suffer; what is the grievous doom thou wilt inflict upon me? PENTHEUS: First will I shear off thy dainty tresses. DIONYSUS: My locks are sacred; for the god I let them grow. PENTHEUS: Next surrender that thyrsus. DIONYSUS: Take it from me thyself; 'tis the wand of Dionysus I am bearing. PENTHEUS: In dungeon deep thy body will I guard. DIONYSUS: The god himself will set me free, whene'er I list. PENTHEUS: Perhaps he may, when thou standest amid thy Bacchanals and callest on his name. DIONYSUS: Even now he is near me and witnesses my treatment. PENTHEUS: Why, where is he? To my eyes he is invisible. DIONYSUS: He is by my side; thou art a godless man and therefore dost not see him. PENTHEUS: Seize him! the fellow scorns me and Thebes too. DIONYSUS: I bid you bind me not, reason addressing madness. |
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| τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον· οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι. Πενθεύς | In this at any rate they are wiser; but their laws are different. Pentheu |
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| τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς; Διόνυσος | Do you perform the rites by night or by day? Dionysu |
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| νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά· σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος. Πενθεύς | Mostly by night; darkness conveys awe. Pentheu |
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| τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν. Διόνυσος | This is treacherous towards women, and unsound. Dionysu |
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| κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν. Πενθεύς | Even during the day someone may devise what is shameful. Pentheu |
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| δίκην σε δοῦναι δεῖ σοφισμάτων κακῶν. Διόνυσος | You must pay the penalty for your evil contrivances. Dionysu |
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| σὲ δʼ ἀμαθίας γε κἀσεβοῦντʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν. Πενθεύς | And you for your ignorance and impiety toward the god. Pentheu |
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| ὡς θρασὺς ὁ βάκχος κοὐκ ἀγύμναστος λόγων. Διόνυσος | How bold the Bacchant is, and not unpracticed in speaking! Dionysu |
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