2. Euripides, Bacchae, 1, 39-40, 50-52, 72, 115, 119, 214, 216-220, 222-232, 234, 257, 260-264, 268-269, 275, 278-284, 312-314, 321, 325-327, 331-340, 343-344, 352-359, 361-362, 366, 368-431, 435-450, 453-460, 464-488, 537-544, 596-599, 681, 704-708, 726, 748, 751-754, 762-764, 775-777, 787-791, 794-797, 800, 810-815, 818-819, 821-846, 848, 850-854, 857-858, 912-976, 978, 990, 992, 995-998, 1007, 1013, 1015-1023, 1037, 1078-1083, 1107-1113, 1115, 1118-1122, 1137-1139, 1141, 1166, 1168-1258, 1264-1270, 1310, 1330-1331, 1349, 1358, 1389-1390 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
Tagged with subjects: • Pentheus • Pentheus, • Pentheus, as mystic initiand • Pentheus, as scapegoat • Pentheus, death • Pentheus, robing of • death, of Pentheus, in Bacchae • eros, Bacchants, obsession of Pentheus with sexual impropriety of • madness, of Pentheus in Bacchae • transvestism and cross-dressing, of Pentheus
Found in books: Bednarek (2021), The Myth of Lycurgus in Aeschylus, Naevius, and beyond, 31, 35, 39, 99, 111, 112, 113, 114, 129, 138, 189; Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 52, 53, 141, 166, 173, 301, 302, 307, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 353, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 458, 459, 460, 536; Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 230; Chrysanthou (2018), Plutarch's 'Parallel Lives': Narrative Technique and Moral Judgement. 117; Del Lucchese (2019), Monstrosity and Philosophy: Radical Otherness in Greek and Latin Culture, 25, 27, 49; Gorain (2019), Language in the Confessions of Augustine, 15, 25; Konig (2022), The Folds of Olympus: Mountains in Ancient Greek and Roman Culture, 48, 49; Lyons (1997), Gender and Immortality: Heroines in Ancient Greek Myth and Cult, 109; Mcclellan (2019), Paulinus Noster: Self and Symbols in the Letters of Paulinus of Nola, 189, 190; Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221; Panoussi(2019), Brides, Mourners, Bacchae: Women's Rituals in Roman Literature, 155, 216, 249, 251, 257; Petrovic and Petrovic (2016), Inner Purity and Pollution in Greek Religion, 236, 237, 238; Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 64, 159, 160, 161, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185; Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 46, 103, 106, 118, 176, 205, 220, 223, 233, 372, 374, 375; Simon, Zeyl, and Shapiro, (2021), The Gods of the Greeks, 319
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1 ἥκω Διὸς παῖς τήνδε Θηβαίων χθόνα39 δεῖ γὰρ πόλιν τήνδʼ ἐκμαθεῖν, κεἰ μὴ θέλει, 40 ἀτέλεστον οὖσαν τῶν ἐμῶν βακχευμάτων,
50 δεικνὺς ἐμαυτόν· ἢν δὲ Θηβαίων πόλις 5
1 ὀργῇ σὺν ὅπλοις ἐξ ὄρους βάκχας ἄγειν 52 ζητῇ, ξυνάψω μαινάσι στρατηλατῶν.
72 Διόνυσον ὑμνήσω. Χορός
1
15 Βρόμιος ὅστις ἄγῃ θιάσουσ—
1
19 οἰστρηθεὶς Διονύσῳ. Χορός 2
14 ὡς ἐπτόηται· τί ποτʼ ἐρεῖ νεώτερον; Πενθεύς 2
16 κλύω δὲ νεοχμὰ τήνδʼ ἀνὰ πτόλιν κακά, 2
17 γυναῖκας ἡμῖν δώματʼ ἐκλελοιπέναι 2
18 πλασταῖσι βακχείαισιν, ἐν δὲ δασκίοις 2
19 ὄρεσι θοάζειν, τὸν νεωστὶ δαίμονα 220 Διόνυσον, ὅστις ἔστι, τιμώσας χοροῖς·
222 κρατῆρας, ἄλλην δʼ ἄλλοσʼ εἰς ἐρημίαν 223 πτώσσουσαν εὐναῖς ἀρσένων ὑπηρετεῖν, 224 πρόφασιν μὲν ὡς δὴ μαινάδας θυοσκόους, 225 τὴν δʼ Ἀφροδίτην πρόσθʼ ἄγειν τοῦ Βακχίου. 227 σῴζουσι πανδήμοισι πρόσπολοι στέγαις· 228 ὅσαι δʼ ἄπεισιν, ἐξ ὄρους θηράσομαι, 229 Ἰνώ τʼ Ἀγαύην θʼ, ἥ μʼ ἔτικτʼ Ἐχίονι, 230 Ἀκταίονός τε μητέρʼ, Αὐτονόην λέγω. 23
1 καὶ σφᾶς σιδηραῖς ἁρμόσας ἐν ἄρκυσιν 232 παύσω κακούργου τῆσδε βακχείας τάχα.
234 γόης ἐπῳδὸς Λυδίας ἀπὸ χθονός,
257 σκοπεῖν πτερωτοὺς κἀμπύρων μισθοὺς φέρειν.
260 τελετὰς πονηρὰς εἰσάγων· γυναιξὶ γὰρ 26
1 ὅπου βότρυος ἐν δαιτὶ γίγνεται γάνος, 262 οὐχ ὑγιὲς οὐδὲν ἔτι λέγω τῶν ὀργίων. Χορός 263 τῆς δυσσεβείας. ὦ ξένʼ, οὐκ αἰδῇ θεοὺς 264 Κάδμον τε τὸν σπείραντα γηγενῆ στάχυν,
268 σὺ δʼ εὔτροχον μὲν γλῶσσαν ὡς φρονῶν ἔχεις, 269 ἐν τοῖς λόγοισι δʼ οὐκ ἔνεισί σοι φρένες.
275 τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι· Δημήτηρ θεά—
278 ὃς δʼ ἦλθʼ ἔπειτʼ, ἀντίπαλον ὁ Σεμέλης γόνος 279 βότρυος ὑγρὸν πῶμʼ ηὗρε κεἰσηνέγκατο 280 θνητοῖς, ὃ παύει τοὺς ταλαιπώρους βροτοὺς 28
1 λύπης, ὅταν πλησθῶσιν ἀμπέλου ῥοῆς, 282 ὕπνον τε λήθην τῶν καθʼ ἡμέραν κακῶν 283 δίδωσιν, οὐδʼ ἔστʼ ἄλλο φάρμακον πόνων. 284 οὗτος θεοῖσι σπένδεται θεὸς γεγώς, 3
12 φρονεῖν δόκει τι· τὸν θεὸν δʼ ἐς γῆν δέχου 3
13 καὶ σπένδε καὶ βάκχευε καὶ στέφου κάρα. 3
14 32
1 κἀκεῖνος, οἶμαι, τέρπεται τιμώμενος.
325 κοὐ θεομαχήσω σῶν λόγων πεισθεὶς ὕπο. 326 μαίνῃ γὰρ ὡς ἄλγιστα, κοὔτε φαρμάκοις 327 ἄκη λάβοις ἂν οὔτʼ ἄνευ τούτων νοσεῖς. Χορός 33
1 οἴκει μεθʼ ἡμῶν, μὴ θύραζε τῶν νόμων. 332 νῦν γὰρ πέτῃ τε καὶ φρονῶν οὐδὲν φρονεῖς. 333 κεἰ μὴ γὰρ ἔστιν ὁ θεὸς οὗτος, ὡς σὺ φῄς, 334 παρὰ σοὶ λεγέσθω· καὶ καταψεύδου καλῶς 335 ὡς ἔστι, Σεμέλη θʼ ἵνα δοκῇ θεὸν τεκεῖν, 336 ἡμῖν τε τιμὴ παντὶ τῷ γένει προσῇ. 338 ὃν ὠμόσιτοι σκύλακες ἃς ἐθρέψατο 3
39 διεσπάσαντο, κρείσσονʼ ἐν κυναγίαις 340 Ἀρτέμιδος εἶναι κομπάσαντʼ, ἐν ὀργάσιν.
343 οὐ μὴ προσοίσεις χεῖρα, βακχεύσεις δʼ ἰών, 344 μηδʼ ἐξομόρξῃ μωρίαν τὴν σὴν ἐμοί; 353 τὸν θηλύμορφον ξένον, ὃς ἐσφέρει νόσον 354 καινὴν γυναιξὶ καὶ λέχη λυμαίνεται. 355 κἄνπερ λάβητε, δέσμιον πορεύσατε 356 δεῦρʼ αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν λευσίμου δίκης τυχὼν 357 θάνῃ, πικρὰν βάκχευσιν ἐν Θήβαις ἰδών. Τειρεσίας 358 ὦ σχέτλιʼ, ὡς οὐκ οἶσθα ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ λόγων. 359 μέμηνας ἤδη· καὶ πρὶν ἐξέστης φρενῶν. 36
1 ὑπέρ τε τούτου καίπερ ὄντος ἀγρίου 362 ὑπέρ τε πόλεως τὸν θεὸν μηδὲν νέον
366 τῷ Βακχίῳ γὰρ τῷ Διὸς δουλευτέον.
368 τοῖς σοῖσι, Κάδμε· μαντικῇ μὲν οὐ λέγω, 369 τοῖς πράγμασιν δέ· μῶρα γὰρ μῶρος λέγει. Χορός 370 Ὁσία πότνα θεῶν, 37
1 Ὁσία δʼ ἃ κατὰ γᾶν 3
72 χρυσέαν πτέρυγα φέρεις, 373 τάδε Πενθέως ἀίεις; 374 ἀίεις οὐχ ὁσίαν 375 ὕβριν ἐς τὸν Βρόμιον, τὸν 376 Σεμέλας, τὸν παρὰ καλλιστεφάνοις 377 εὐφροσύναις δαίμονα 378 πρῶτον μακάρων; ὃς τάδʼ ἔχει, 379 θιασεύειν τε χοροῖς 380 μετά τʼ αὐλοῦ γελάσαι 38
1 ἀποπαῦσαί τε μερίμνας, 382 ὁπόταν βότρυος ἔλθῃ 383 γάνος ἐν δαιτὶ θεῶν, κισσοφόροις 384 δʼ ἐν θαλίαις ἀνδράσι 385 κρατὴρ ὕπνον ἀμφιβάλλῃ Χορός 386 ἀχαλίνων στομάτων 387 ἀνόμου τʼ ἀφροσύνας 388 τὸ τέλος δυστυχία· 389 ὁ δὲ τᾶς ἡσυχίας
390 βίοτος καὶ τὸ φρονεῖν
39
1 ἀσάλευτόν τε μένει καὶ
392 συνέχει δώματα· πόρσω
393 γὰρ ὅμως αἰθέρα ναίοντες
394 ὁρῶσιν τὰ βροτῶν οὐρανίδαι.
395 τὸ σοφὸν δʼ οὐ σοφία
396 τό τε μὴ θνητὰ φρονεῖν.
397 βραχὺς αἰών· ἐπὶ τούτῳ
398 δέ τις ἂν μεγάλα διώκων
399 τὰ παρόντʼ οὐχὶ φέροι. μαινομένων 400 οἵδε τρόποι καὶ 40
1 κακοβούλων παρʼ ἔμοιγε φωτῶν. Χορός 402 ἱκοίμαν ποτὶ Κύπρον, 403 νᾶσον τᾶς Ἀφροδίτας, 404 ἵνʼ οἱ θελξίφρονες νέμονται 405 θνατοῖσιν Ἔρωτες, 406 Πάφον θʼ ἃν ἑκατόστομοι 407 βαρβάρου ποταμοῦ ῥοαὶ 408 καρπίζουσιν ἄνομβροι. 409 οὗ δʼ ἁ καλλιστευομένα 4
10 Πιερία μούσειος ἕδρα, 4
1
1 σεμνὰ κλιτὺς Ὀλύμπου, 4
12 ἐκεῖσʼ ἄγε με, Βρόμιε Βρόμιε, 4
13 πρόβακχʼ εὔιε δαῖμον. 4
14 ἐκεῖ Χάριτες, 4
15 ἐκεῖ δὲ Πόθος· ἐκεῖ δὲ βάκχαις 4
16 θέμις ὀργιάζειν. Χορός 4
17 ὁ δαίμων ὁ Διὸς παῖς 4
18 χαίρει μὲν θαλίαισιν, 4
19 φιλεῖ δʼ ὀλβοδότειραν Εἰρήναν, 420 κουροτρόφον θεάν. 42
1 ἴσαν δʼ ἔς τε τὸν ὄλβιον 422 τόν τε χείρονα δῶκʼ ἔχειν 423 οἴνου τέρψιν ἄλυπον· 424 μισεῖ δʼ ᾧ μὴ ταῦτα μέλει, 425 κατὰ φάος νύκτας τε φίλας 426 εὐαίωνα διαζῆν, 427 σοφὰν δʼ ἀπέχειν πραπίδα φρένα τε 428 περισσῶν παρὰ φωτῶν· 430 τὸ πλῆθος ὅ τι 43
1 τὸ φαυλότερον ἐνόμισε χρῆταί
435 ἐφʼ ἣν ἔπεμψας, οὐδʼ ἄκρανθʼ ὡρμήσαμεν. 436 ὁ θὴρ δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδʼ ὑπέσπασεν 437 φυγῇ πόδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας 438 οὐδʼ ὠχρός, οὐδʼ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν, 4
39 γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο 440 ἔμενέ τε, τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος. 44
1 κἀγὼ διʼ αἰδοῦς εἶπον· Ὦ ξένʼ, οὐχ ἑκὼν 442 ἄγω σε, Πενθέως δʼ ὅς μʼ ἔπεμψʼ ἐπιστολαῖς. 444 κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης, 445 φροῦδαί γʼ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας 446 σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν· 447 αὐτόματα δʼ αὐταῖς δεσμὰ διελύθη ποδῶν 448 κλῇδές τʼ ἀνῆκαν θύρετρʼ ἄνευ θνητῆς χερός. 449 πολλῶν δʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ θαυμάτων ἥκει πλέως 4
50 ἐς τάσδε Θήβας. σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν. Πενθεύς 454 ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας, ἐφʼ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει· 455 πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναός, οὐ πάλης ὕπο, 456 γένυν παρʼ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος, πόθου πλέως· 457 λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις, 458 οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς, 459 τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος. 460 πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος. Διόνυσος
464 ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς. Πενθεύς 465 πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα; Διόνυσος 466 Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ, ὁ τοῦ Διός. Πενθεύς 467 Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις, ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς; Διόνυσος 468 οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις. Πενθεύς 469 πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν; Διόνυσος 470 ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα, καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια. Πενθεύς 47
1 τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι; Διόνυσος 4
72 ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν. Πενθεύς 473 ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα; Διόνυσος 474 οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ, ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι. Πενθεύς 475 εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας, ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω. Διόνυσος 476 ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ. Πενθεύς 477 τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς, ποῖός τις ἦν; Διόνυσος 478 ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ· οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε. Πενθεύς 479 τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων. Διόνυσος 480 δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν. Πενθεύς 48
1 ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα; Διόνυσος 482 πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια. Πενθεύς 483 φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ. Διόνυσος 484 τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον· οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι. Πενθεύς 485 τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς; Διόνυσος 486 νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά· σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος. Πενθεύς 487 τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν. Διόνυσος 488 κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν. Πενθεύς
537 οἵαν οἵαν ὀργὰν 538 ἀναφαίνει χθόνιον 5
39 γένος ἐκφύς τε δράκοντός 540 ποτε Πενθεύς, ὃν Ἐχίων 54
1 ἐφύτευσε χθόνιος, 542 ἀγριωπὸν τέρας, οὐ φῶτα word split in text 543 βρότειον, φόνιον δʼ ὥστε word split in text 544 γίγαντʼ ἀντίπαλον θεοῖς·
596 ἆ ἆ,
596 πῦρ οὐ λεύσσεις, οὐδʼ αὐγάζῃ, 597 Σεμέλας ἱερὸν ἀμφὶ τάφον, ἅν 598 ποτε κεραυνόβολος ἔλιπε φλόγα 599 Δίου βροντᾶς; 68
1 ὧν ἦρχʼ ἑνὸς μὲν Αὐτονόη, τοῦ δευτέρου
704 θύρσον δέ τις λαβοῦσʼ ἔπαισεν ἐς πέτραν, 705 ὅθεν δροσώδης ὕδατος ἐκπηδᾷ νοτίς· 706 ἄλλη δὲ νάρθηκʼ ἐς πέδον καθῆκε γῆς, 707 καὶ τῇδε κρήνην ἐξανῆκʼ οἴνου θεός· 708 ὅσαις δὲ λευκοῦ πώματος πόθος παρῆν,
726 Βρόμιον καλοῦσαι· πᾶν δὲ συνεβάκχευʼ ὄρος
748 χωροῦσι δʼ ὥστʼ ὄρνιθες ἀρθεῖσαι δρόμῳ 75
1 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·
762 κεῖναι δὲ θύρσους ἐξανιεῖσαι χερῶν 763 ἐτραυμάτιζον κἀπενώτιζον φυγῇ 764 γυναῖκες ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινος.
775 ταρβῶ μὲν εἰπεῖν τοὺς λόγους ἐλευθέρους 776 πρὸς τὸν τύραννον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται· 777 Διόνυσος ἥσσων οὐδενὸς θεῶν ἔφυ. Πενθεύς
787 πείθῃ μὲν οὐδέν, τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων κλύων, 788 Πενθεῦ· κακῶς δὲ πρὸς σέθεν πάσχων ὅμως 789 οὔ φημι χρῆναί σʼ ὅπλʼ ἐπαίρεσθαι θεῷ, 790 ἀλλʼ ἡσυχάζειν· Βρόμιος οὐκ ἀνέξεται 79
1 κινοῦντα βάκχας σʼ εὐίων ὀρῶν ἄπο. Πενθεύς
794 θύοιμʼ ἂν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυμούμενος 795 πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζοιμι θνητὸς ὢν θεῷ. Πενθεύς 796 θύσω, φόνον γε θῆλυν, ὥσπερ ἄξιαι, 797 πολὺν ταράξας ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς. Διόνυσος
800 ἀπόρῳ γε τῷδε συμπεπλέγμεθα ξένῳ, 8
10 ἆ. 8
1
1 βούλῃ σφʼ ἐν ὄρεσι συγκαθημένας ἰδεῖν; Πενθεύς 8
12 μάλιστα, μυρίον γε δοὺς χρυσοῦ σταθμόν. Διόνυσος 8
13 τί δʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τοῦδε πέπτωκας μέγαν; Πενθεύς 8
14 λυπρῶς νιν εἰσίδοιμʼ ἂν ἐξῳνωμένας. Διόνυσος 8
15 ὅμως δʼ ἴδοις ἂν ἡδέως ἅ σοι πικρά; Πενθεύς 8
18 ἀλλʼ ἐμφανῶς· καλῶς γὰρ ἐξεῖπας τάδε. Διόνυσος 8
19 ἄγωμεν οὖν σε κἀπιχειρήσεις ὁδῷ; Πενθεύς 82
1 στεῖλαί νυν ἀμφὶ χρωτὶ βυσσίνους πέπλους. Πενθεύς 822 τί δὴ τόδʼ; ἐς γυναῖκας ἐξ ἀνδρὸς τελῶ; Διόνυσος 823 μή σε κτάνωσιν, ἢν ἀνὴρ ὀφθῇς ἐκεῖ. Πενθεύς 824 εὖ γʼ εἶπας αὖ τόδʼ· ὥς τις εἶ πάλαι σοφός. Διόνυσος 825 Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς ἐξεμούσωσεν τάδε. Πενθεύς 826 πῶς οὖν γένοιτʼ ἂν ἃ σύ με νουθετεῖς καλῶς; Διόνυσος 827 ἐγὼ στελῶ σε δωμάτων ἔσω μολών. Πενθεύς 828 τίνα στολήν; ἦ θῆλυν; ἀλλʼ αἰδώς μʼ ἔχει. Διόνυσος 829 οὐκέτι θεατὴς μαινάδων πρόθυμος εἶ. Πενθεύς 830 στολὴν δὲ τίνα φῂς ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐμὸν βαλεῖν; Διόνυσος 83
1 κόμην μὲν ἐπὶ σῷ κρατὶ ταναὸν ἐκτενῶ. Πενθεύς 832 τὸ δεύτερον δὲ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τί μοι; Διόνυσος 833 πέπλοι ποδήρεις· ἐπὶ κάρᾳ δʼ ἔσται μίτρα. Πενθεύς 834 ἦ καί τι πρὸς τοῖσδʼ ἄλλο προσθήσεις ἐμοί; Διόνυσος 835 θύρσον γε χειρὶ καὶ νεβροῦ στικτὸν δέρας. Πενθεύς 836 οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν. Διόνυσος 837 ἀλλʼ αἷμα θήσεις συμβαλὼν βάκχαις μάχην. Πενθεύς 838 ὀρθῶς· μολεῖν χρὴ πρῶτον εἰς κατασκοπήν. Διόνυσος 8
39 σοφώτερον γοῦν ἢ κακοῖς θηρᾶν κακά. Πενθεύς 840 καὶ πῶς διʼ ἄστεως εἶμι Καδμείους λαθών; Διόνυσος 84
1 ὁδοὺς ἐρήμους ἴμεν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἡγήσομαι. Πενθεύς 842 πᾶν κρεῖσσον ὥστε μὴ ʼγγελᾶν βάκχας ἐμοί. 843 ἐλθόντʼ ἐς οἴκους Διόνυσος 844 ἔξεστι· πάντῃ τό γʼ ἐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς πάρα. Πενθεύς 845 στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἢ γὰρ ὅπλʼ ἔχων πορεύσομαι 846 ἢ τοῖσι σοῖσι πείσομαι βουλεύμασιν. Διόνυσος
848 γυναῖκες, ἁνὴρ ἐς βόλον καθίσταται, 8
50 τεισώμεθʼ αὐτόν. πρῶτα δʼ ἔκστησον φρενῶν, 85
1 ἐνεὶς ἐλαφρὰν λύσσαν· ὡς φρονῶν μὲν εὖ 852 οὐ μὴ θελήσῃ θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολήν, 853 ἔξω δʼ ἐλαύνων τοῦ φρονεῖν ἐνδύσεται. 854 χρῄζω δέ νιν γέλωτα Θηβαίοις ὀφλεῖν
857 ἀλλʼ εἶμι κόσμον ὅνπερ εἰς Ἅιδου λαβὼν 858 ἄπεισι μητρὸς ἐκ χεροῖν κατασφαγείς, 9
12 σὲ τὸν πρόθυμον ὄνθʼ ἃ μὴ χρεὼν ὁρᾶν 9
13 σπεύδοντά τʼ ἀσπούδαστα, Πενθέα λέγω, 9
14 ἔξιθι πάροιθε δωμάτων, ὄφθητί μοι, 9
15 σκευὴν γυναικὸς μαινάδος βάκχης ἔχων, 9
16 μητρός τε τῆς σῆς καὶ λόχου κατάσκοπος· 9
17 πρέπεις δὲ Κάδμου θυγατέρων μορφὴν μιᾷ. Πενθεύς 9
18 καὶ μὴν ὁρᾶν μοι δύο μὲν ἡλίους δοκῶ, 9
19 δισσὰς δὲ Θήβας καὶ πόλισμʼ ἑπτάστομον· 920 καὶ ταῦρος ἡμῖν πρόσθεν ἡγεῖσθαι δοκεῖς 92
1 καὶ σῷ κέρατα κρατὶ προσπεφυκέναι. 922 ἀλλʼ ἦ ποτʼ ἦσθα θήρ; τεταύρωσαι γὰρ οὖν. Διόνυσος 923 ὁ θεὸς ὁμαρτεῖ, πρόσθεν ὢν οὐκ εὐμενής, 924 ἔνσπονδος ἡμῖν· νῦν δʼ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν. Πενθεύς 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 93
1 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 9
39 ἦ πού με τῶν σῶν πρῶτον ἡγήσῃ φίλων, 940 ὅταν παρὰ λόγον σώφρονας βάκχας ἴδῃς. Πενθεύς 94
1 πότερα δὲ θύρσον δεξιᾷ λαβὼν χερὶ 942 ἢ τῇδε, βάκχῃ μᾶλλον εἰκασθήσομαι; Διόνυσος 943 ἐν δεξιᾷ χρὴ χἅμα δεξιῷ ποδὶ 944 αἴρειν νιν· αἰνῶ δʼ ὅτι μεθέστηκας φρενῶν. Πενθεύς 945 ἆρʼ ἂν δυναίμην τὰς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχὰς 946 αὐταῖσι βάκχαις τοῖς ἐμοῖς ὤμοις φέρειν; Διόνυσος 947 δύναιʼ ἄν, εἰ βούλοιο· τὰς δὲ πρὶν φρένας 948 οὐκ εἶχες ὑγιεῖς, νῦν δʼ ἔχεις οἵας σε δεῖ. Πενθεύς 949 μοχλοὺς φέρωμεν; ἢ χεροῖν ἀνασπάσω 9
50 κορυφαῖς ὑποβαλὼν ὦμον ἢ βραχίονα; Διόνυσος 95
1 μὴ σύ γε τὰ Νυμφῶν διολέσῃς ἱδρύματα 952 καὶ Πανὸς ἕδρας ἔνθʼ ἔχει συρίγματα. Πενθεύς 953 καλῶς ἔλεξας· οὐ σθένει νικητέον 954 γυναῖκας· ἐλάταισιν δʼ ἐμὸν κρύψω δέμας. Διόνυσος 955 κρύψῃ σὺ κρύψιν ἥν σε κρυφθῆναι χρεών, 956 ἐλθόντα δόλιον μαινάδων κατάσκοπον. Πενθεύς 957 καὶ μὴν δοκῶ σφᾶς ἐν λόχμαις ὄρνιθας ὣς 958 λέκτρων ἔχεσθαι φιλτάτοις ἐν ἕρκεσιν. Διόνυσος 959 οὐκοῦν ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἀποστέλλῃ φύλαξ· 960 λήψῃ δʼ ἴσως σφᾶς, ἢν σὺ μὴ ληφθῇς πάρος. Πενθεύς 96
1 κόμιζε διὰ μέσης με Θηβαίας χθονός· 962 μόνος γὰρ αὐτῶν εἰμʼ ἀνὴρ τολμῶν τόδε. Διόνυσος 963 μόνος σὺ πόλεως τῆσδʼ ὑπερκάμνεις, μόνος· 964 τοιγάρ σʼ ἀγῶνες ἀναμένουσιν οὓς ἐχρῆν. 965 ἕπου δέ· πομπὸς δʼ εἶμʼ ἐγὼ σωτήριος, 966 Διόνυσος 966 Πενθεύς 968 Πενθεύς 97
1 δεινὸς σὺ δεινὸς κἀπὶ δείνʼ ἔρχῃ πάθη, 9
72 ὥστʼ οὐρανῷ στηρίζον εὑρήσεις κλέος. 974 Κάδμου θυγατέρες· τὸν νεανίαν ἄγω 975 τόνδʼ εἰς ἀγῶνα μέγαν, ὁ νικήσων δʼ ἐγὼ 976 καὶ Βρόμιος ἔσται. τἄλλα δʼ αὐτὸ σημανεῖ. Χορός
978 θίασον ἔνθʼ ἔχουσι Κάδμου κόραι,
990 ὅδʼ ἢ Γοργόνων Λιβυσσᾶν γένος. 996 γόνον γηγενῆ. Χορός 997 ὃς ἀδίκῳ γνώμᾳ παρανόμῳ τʼ ὀργᾷ 998 περὶ σὰ Βάκχιʼ, ὄργια ματρός τε σᾶς
1007 φανερά τʼ· ὤ, νάει ν ἐπὶ τὰ καλὰ βίον,
10
13 ἴτω δίκα φανερός, ἴτω ξιφηφόρος
10
15 τὸν ἄθεον ἄνομον ἄδικον Ἐχίονος
10
16 τόκον γηγενῆ. Χορός' 10
18 φάνηθι ταῦρος ἢ πολύκρανος ἰδεῖν
10
19 δράκων ἢ πυριφλέγων ὁρᾶσθαι λέων.
1020 ἴθʼ, ὦ Βάκχε, θηραγρευτᾷ βακχᾶν
102
1 γελῶντι προσώπῳ περίβαλε βρόχον
1022 θανάσιμον ὑπʼ ἀγέλαν πεσόντι word split in text
1023 τὰν μαινάδων. Ἄγγελος Β
1037 ὁ Διόνυσος ὁ Διόνυσος, οὐ Θῆβαι
1078 ἐκ δʼ αἰθέρος φωνή τις, ὡς μὲν εἰκάσαι
1079 Διόνυσος, ἀνεβόησεν· Ὦ νεάνιδες,
1080 ἄγω τὸν ὑμᾶς κἀμὲ τἀμά τʼ ὄργια
108
1 γέλων τιθέμενον· ἀλλὰ τιμωρεῖσθέ νιν.
1082 καὶ ταῦθʼ ἅμʼ ἠγόρευε καὶ πρὸς οὐρανὸν
1083 καὶ γαῖαν ἐστήριξε φῶς σεμνοῦ πυρός.
1
107 πτόρθου λάβεσθε, μαινάδες, τὸν ἀμβάτην
1
108 θῆρʼ ὡς ἕλωμεν, μηδʼ ἀπαγγείλῃ θεοῦ
1
109 χοροὺς κρυφαίους. αἳ δὲ μυρίαν χέρα
1
1
10 προσέθεσαν ἐλάτῃ κἀξανέσπασαν χθονός·
1
1
1
1 ὑψοῦ δὲ θάσσων ὑψόθεν χαμαιριφὴς
1
1
12 πίπτει πρὸς οὖδας μυρίοις οἰμώγμασιν
1
1
13 Πενθεύς· κακοῦ γὰρ ἐγγὺς ὢν ἐμάνθανεν.
1
1
15 καὶ προσπίτνει νιν· ὃ δὲ μίτραν κόμης ἄπο
1
1
18 ψαύων· Ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, εἰμί, παῖς σέθεν
1
1
19 Πενθεύς, ὃν ἔτεκες ἐν δόμοις Ἐχίονος·
1
120 οἴκτιρε δʼ ὦ μῆτέρ με, μηδὲ ταῖς ἐμαῖς
1
12
1 ἁμαρτίαισι παῖδα σὸν κατακτάνῃς.
1
122
1
138 πέτραις, τὸ δʼ ὕλης ἐν βαθυξύλῳ φόβῃ,
1
1
39 οὐ ῥᾴδιον ζήτημα· κρᾶτα δʼ ἄθλιον,
1
14
1 πήξασʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρον θύρσον ὡς ὀρεστέρου
1
166 Πενθέως Ἀγαύην μητέρʼ ἐν διαστρόφοις
1
174 λέοντος ἀγροτέρου νέον ἶνιν·
1
177 Χορός
1
177 Ἀγαύη
1
178 κατεφόνευσέ νιν. Χορός
1
179 part=
1
180 μάκαιρʼ Ἀγαύη κλῃζόμεθʼ ἐν θιάσοις. Χορός
1
18
1 Χορός
1
18
1 Ἀγαύη
1
182 μετʼ ἐμὲ μετʼ ἐμὲ τοῦδʼ
1
183 Ἀγαύη
1
183 ἔθιγε θηρός· εὐτυχής γʼ ἅδʼ ἄγρα. Χορός
1
184 Χορός
1
185 νέος ὁ μόσχος ἄρτι word split in text
1
186 γένυν ὑπὸ κόρυθʼ ἁπαλότριχα
1
187 κατάκομον θάλλει. Χορός
1
188 πρέπει γʼ ὥστε θὴρ ἄγραυλος φόβῃ. Ἀγαύη
1
189 ὁ Βάκχιος κυναγέτας
1
190 σοφὸς σοφῶς ἀνέπηλʼ ἐπὶ θῆρα
1
19
1 τόνδε μαινάδας. Χορός
1
192 ὁ γὰρ ἄναξ ἀγρεύς. Ἀγαύη
1
194 τάχα δὲ Καδμεῖοι Χορός
1
196 λαβοῦσαν ἄγραν τάνδε λεοντοφυῆ. Χορός
1
198 μεγάλα μεγάλα καὶ
1
199 φανερὰ τᾷδʼ ἄγρᾳ κατειργασμένα. Χορός
1200 δεῖξόν νυν, ὦ τάλαινα, σὴν νικηφόρον
120
1 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,
12
10 χωρίς τε θηρὸς ἄρθρα διεφορήσαμεν.
12
12 Πενθεύς τʼ ἐμὸς παῖς ποῦ ʼστιν; αἰρέσθω λαβὼν
12
13 πηκτῶν πρὸς οἴκους κλιμάκων προσαμβάσεις,
12
14 ὡς πασσαλεύσῃ κρᾶτα τριγλύφοις τόδε
12
15 λέοντος ὃν πάρειμι θηράσασʼ ἐγώ. Κάδμος
12
16 ἕπεσθέ μοι φέροντες ἄθλιον βάρος
12
17 Πενθέως, ἕπεσθε, πρόσπολοι, δόμων πάρος,
12
18 οὗ σῶμα μοχθῶν μυρίοις ζητήμασιν
12
19 φέρω τόδʼ, εὑρὼν ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς
1220 διασπαρακτόν, κοὐδὲν ἐν ταὐτῷ πέδῳ
122
1 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
123
1 στείχειν Ἀγαύην, οὐδʼ ἄκραντʼ ἠκούσαμεν·
1232 λεύσσω γὰρ αὐτήν, ὄψιν οὐκ εὐδαίμονα. Ἀγαύη
1233 πάτερ, μέγιστον κομπάσαι πάρεστί σοι,
1
234 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
12
39 λαβοῦσα τἀριστεῖα, σοῖσι πρὸς δόμοις
1240 ὡς ἀγκρεμασθῇ· σὺ δέ, πάτερ, δέξαι χεροῖν·
124
1 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,
12
50 Βρόμιος ἄναξ ἀπώλεσʼ οἰκεῖος γεγώς. Ἀγαύη
125
1 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,
1
257 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
1
268 τὸ δὲ πτοηθὲν τόδʼ ἔτι σῇ ψυχῇ πάρα; Ἀγαύη
1269 οὐκ οἶδα τοὔπος τοῦτο. γίγνομαι δέ πως
1270 ἔννους, μετασταθεῖσα τῶν πάρος φρενῶν. Κάδμος
1330 δράκων γενήσῃ μεταβαλών, δάμαρ τε σὴ
133
1 ἐκθηριωθεῖσʼ ὄφεος ἀλλάξει τύπον,
1349 πάλαι τάδε Ζεὺς οὑμὸς ἐπένευσεν πατήρ. Ἀγαύη ' None | sup>
1 I, the son of Zeus, have come to this land of the Thebans—Dionysus, whom once Semele, Kadmos’ daughter, bore, delivered by a lightning-bearing flame. And having taken a mortal form instead of a god’s,'
39 And all the female offspring of Thebes , as many as are women, I have driven maddened from the house, and they, mingled with the daughters of Kadmos, sit on roofless rocks beneath green pines. For this city must learn, even if it is unwilling, 40 that it is not initiated into my Bacchic rites, and that I plead the case of my mother, Semele, in appearing manifest to mortals as a divinity whom she bore to Zeus. Now Kadmos has given his honor and power to Pentheus, his daughter’s son,
50 revealing myself. But if ever the city of Thebes should in anger seek to drive the the Bacchae down from the mountains with arms, I, the general of the Maenads, will join battle with them. On which account I have changed my form to a mortal one and altered my shape into the nature of a man.
72 peaking propitious things. For I will celebrate Dionysus with hymns according to eternal custom. Choru
1
15 whoever leads the sacred band is Bromius—to the mountain, to the mountain, where the crowd of women waits, goaded away from their weaving by Dionysus. Choru 2
14 Since you do not see this light, Teiresias, I will be your interpreter. Pentheus, child of Echion, to whom I gave control of this land, is coming here to the house now in haste. How fluttered he is! What new matter will he tell us? Pentheu 2
16 I happened to be at a distance from this land, when I heard of strange evils throughout this city, that the women have left our homes in contrived Bacchic rites, and rush about in the shadowy mountains, honoring with dance 220 this new deity Dionysus, whoever he is. I hear that mixing-bowls stand full in the midst of their assemblies, and that they each creep off different ways into secrecy to serve the beds of men, on the pretext that they are Maenads worshipping; 225 but they consider Aphrodite before Bacchus.As many of them as I have caught, servants keep in the public strongholds with their hands bound, and as many as are absent I will hunt from the mountains, I mean Ino and Agave, who bore me to Echion, and 230 Autonoe, the mother of Actaeon. And having bound them in iron fetters, I will soon stop them from this ill-working revelry. And they say that some stranger has come, a sorcerer, a conjuror from the Lydian land,
257 You persuaded him to this, Teiresias. Do you wish, by introducing another new god to men, to examine birds and receive rewards for sacrifices? If your gray old age did not defend you, you would sit in chains in the midst of the Bacchae,
260 for introducing wicked rites. For where women have the delight of the grape-cluster at a feast, I say that none of their rites is healthy any longer. Chorus Leader 263 Oh, what impiety! O stranger, do you not reverence the gods and Kadmos who sowed the earth-born crop?
268 Whenever a wise man takes a good occasion for his speech, it is not a great task to speak well. You have a rapid tongue as though you were sensible, but there is no sense in your words.
275 are first among men: the goddess Demeter—she is the earth, but call her whatever name you wish; she nourishes mortals with dry food; but he who came afterwards, the offspring of Semele, discovered a match to it, the liquid drink of the grape, and introduced it 280 to mortals. It releases wretched mortals from grief, whenever they are filled with the stream of the vine, and gives them sleep, a means of forgetting their daily troubles, nor is there another cure for hardships. He who is a god is poured out in offerings to the gods, 3
12 do not boast that sovereignty has power among men, nor, even if you think so, and your mind is diseased, believe that you are being at all wise. Receive the god into your land, pour libations to him, celebrate the Bacchic rites, and garland your head.Dionysus will not compel women 32
1 and the city extols the name of Pentheus. He too, I think, delights in being honored. Kadmos, whom you mock, and I will crown our heads with ivy and dance, a gray yoke-team but still we must dance;
325 and I will not be persuaded by your words to fight against the god. For you are mad in a most grievous way, and you will not be cured by drugs, nor are you sick without them. Chorus Leader 33
1 My child, Teiresias has advised you well. Dwell with us, not apart from the laws. For now you flit about and have thoughts without thinking. Even if, as you say, he is not a god, call him one; and tell a glorious falsehood, 335 o that Semele might seem to have borne a god, and honor might come to all our race. You see the wretched fate of Actaeon, who was torn apart in the meadows by the blood-thirsty hounds he had raised, 340 having boasted that he was superior in the hunt to Artemis. May you not suffer this. Come, let me crown your head with ivy; honor the god along with us. Pentheu
343 Don’t lay a hand on me! Go off and hold your revels, but don’t wipe your foolishness off on me. I will seek the punishment of thi
352 and release his garlands to the winds and storms. In this way I will especially wound him. And some of you hunt throughout the city for this effeminate stranger, who introduces a new disease to women and pollutes our beds. 355 If you catch him, bring him here bound, so that he might suffer as punishment a death by stoning, having seen a bitter Bacchic revelry in Thebes . Teiresia 358 O wretched man, how little you know what you are saying! You are mad now, and even before you were out of your wits. 36
1 Let us go, Kadmos, and entreat the god, on behalf of him, though he is savage, and on behalf of the city, to do no ill. But follow me with the ivy-clad staff, and try to support my body, and I will try to support yours;
366 it would be shameful for two old men to fall down. But let that pass, for we must serve Bacchus, the son of Zeus. Beware lest Pentheus bring trouble to your house, Kadmos; I do not speak in prophecy, but judging from the state of things; for a foolish man speaks foolishness. Choru 370 Holiness, queen of the gods, Holiness, who bear your golden wings along the earth, do you hear these words from Pentheus? Do you hear his unholy 375 insolence against Bromius, the child of Semele, the first deity of the gods at the banquets where guests wear beautiful garlands? He holds this office, to join in dances, 380 to laugh with the flute, and to bring an end to cares, whenever the delight of the grape comes at the feasts of the gods, and in ivy-bearing banquet 385 the goblet sheds sleep over men. Choru 386 Misfortune is the result of unbridled mouths and lawless folly; but the life of quiet
390 and wisdom remain unshaken and hold houses together. Though they dwell far off in the heavens the gods see the deeds of mortals.
395 But cleverness is not wisdom, nor is thinking on things unfit for mortals. Life is short, and on this account the one who pursues great things does not achieve that which is present. In my opinion, 400 these are the ways of mad and ill-advised men. Choru 402 Would that I could go to Cyprus , the island of Aphrodite, where the Loves, who soothe 405 mortals’ hearts, dwell, and to Paphos , fertilized without rain by the streams of a foreign river flowing with a hundred mouths. Lead me there, Bromius, Bromius, god of joy who leads the Bacchae, 4
10 to Pieria , beautiful seat of the Muses, the holy slope of Olympus . There are the Graces, there is Desire; there it i 4
15 lawful for the Bacchae to celebrate their rites. Choru 4
17 The god, the son of Zeus, delights in banquets, and loves Peace, giver of riches, 420 goddess who nourishes youths. To the blessed and to the less fortunate, he gives an equal pleasure from wine that banishes grief. He hates the one who does not care about this: 425 to lead a happy life by day and friendly Because the Dionysiac ἱερά take place νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά (486) Dodds, ad loc. night and to keep his wise mind and intellect away from over-curious men. 430 What the common people think and adopt, that would I accept. Enter a servant Servant
435 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. 440 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, 445 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 4
50 full of many wonders. You must take care of the rest. Pentheu
453 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 . 455 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. 460 First then tell me who your family is. Dionysu
464 I am from there, and Lydia is my fatherland. Pentheu 465 Why do you bring these rites to Hellas ? Dionysu 466 Dionysus, the child of Zeus, sent me. Pentheu 467 Is there a Zeus who breeds new gods there? Dionysu 468 No, but the one who married Semele here. Pentheu 469 Did he compel you at night, or in your sight? Dionysu 470 Seeing me just as I saw him, he gave me sacred rites. Pentheu 47
1 What appearance do your rites have? Dionysu 4
72 They can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry. Pentheu 473 And do they have any profit to those who sacrifice? Dionysu 474 It is not lawful for you to hear, but they are worth knowing. Pentheu 475 You have counterfeited this well, so that I desire to hear. Dionysu 476 The rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety. Pentheu 477 Are you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like? Dionysu 478 He was as he chose; I did not order this. Pentheu 479 Again you diverted my question well, speaking mere nonsense. Dionysu 480 One will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man. Pentheu 48
1 Did you come here first, bringing the god? Dionysu 482 All the barbarians celebrate these rites. Pentheu 483 Yes, for they are far more foolish than Hellenes. Dionysu 484 In this at any rate they are wiser; but their laws are different. Pentheu 485 Do you perform the rites by night or by day? Dionysu 486 Mostly by night; darkness conveys awe. Pentheu 487 This is treacherous towards women, and unsound. Dionysu 488 Even during the day someone may devise what is shameful. Pentheu
537 What rage, what rage does the earth-born race show, and Pentheus, 540 once descended from a serpent—Pentheus, whom earth-born Echion bore, a fierce monster, not a mortal man, but like a bloody giant, hostile to the gods.
596 Oh! Oh! Do you not see the the fire, do you not perceive, about the sacred tomb of Semele, the flame that Zeus’ thunderbolt left? 68
1 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,
704 wolf-pup, gave them white milk, as many as had abandoned their new-born infants and had their breasts still swollen. They put on garlands of ivy, and oak, and flowering yew. One took her thyrsos and struck it against a rock, 705 from which a dewy stream of water sprang forth. Another let her thyrsos strike the ground, and there the god sent forth a fountain of wine. All who desired the white drink scratched the earth with the tips of their fingers and obtained streams of milk;
726 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,
748 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 75
1 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;
762 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.
775 I fear to speak freely to the king, but I will speak nevertheless: Dionysus is inferior to none of the gods. Pentheu
787 Pentheus, though you hear my words, you obey not at all. Though I suffer ill at your hands, still I say that it is not right for you to raise arms against a god, 790 but to remain calm. Bromius will not allow you to remove the Bacchae from the joyful mountains. Pentheu
794 I would sacrifice to the god rather 795 than kick against his spurs in anger, a mortal against a god. Pentheu 796 I will sacrifice, making a great slaughter of the women, as they deserve, in the glens of Kithairon. Dionysu
800 This stranger with whom I am locked together is impossible, and neither suffering nor doing will he be quiet. Dionysu 8
10 Ah! Do you wish to see them sitting together in the mountains? Pentheu 8
12 Certainly. I’d give an enormous amount of gold for that. Dionysu 8
13 Why do you desire this so badly? Pentheu 8
14 I would be sorry to see them in their drunkenness. Dionysu 8
15 But would you see gladly what is grievous to you? Pentheu 8
18 You are right: I will go openly. Dionysu 8
19 Shall I guide you? Will you attempt the journey? Pentheu 82
1 Put linen clothes on your body then. Pentheu 822 What is this? Shall I then, instead of a man, be reckoned among the women? Dionysu 823 Lest they kill you if you are seen there as a man. Pentheu 824 Again you speak correctly: how wise you have been all along! Dionysu 825 Dionysus taught me these things fully. Pentheu 826 How can your advice to me be well carried out? Dionysu 827 I will go inside and dress you. Pentheu 828 In what clothing? Female? But shame holds me back. Dionysu 829 Are you no longer eager to view the maenads? Pentheu 830 What clothing do you bid me to put on my body? Dionysu 83
1 I will spread out hair at length on your head. Pentheu 832 What is the second part of my outfit? Dionysu 833 A robe down to your feet. And you will wear a headband. Pentheu 834 And what else will you add to this for me? Dionysu 835 A thyrsos in your hand, and a dappled fawn-skin. Pentheu 836 I could not put on a woman’s dress. Dionysu 837 But you will shed blood if you join battle with the Bacchae. Pentheu 838 True. We must go first and spy. Dionysu 8
39 This is at any rate wiser than hunting trouble with trouble. Pentheu 840 And how will I go through the city without being seen by the Thebans? Dionysu 84
1 We will go on deserted roads. I will lead you. Pentheu 842 Anything is better than to be mocked by the Bacchae. We two will go into the house . . . and I will consider what seems best. Dionysu 844 It will be so; in any case I am ready. Pentheu 845 I will go in. For either I will go bearing arms, or I will obey your counsels. Dionysu
848 Women, the man is caught in our net. He will go to the Bacchae, where he will pay the penalty with his death. Dionysus, now it is your job; for you are not far off. 8
50 Let us punish him. First drive him out of his wits, send upon him a dizzying madness, since if he is of sound mind he will not consent to wear women’s clothing, but driven out of his senses he will put it on. I want him to be a source of laughter to the Thebans, led through the city in
857 women’s guise after making such terrible threats in the past. But now I will go to fit on Pentheus the dress he will wear to the house of Hades, slaughtered by his mother’s hands. He will recognize the son of Zeus, 9
12 You who are eager to see what you ought not and hasty in pursuit of what ought not to be pursued—I mean you, Pentheus, come forth before the house, be seen by me, 9
15 wearing the clothing of a woman, of an inspired maenad, a spy upon your mother and her company. Pentheus emerges. In appearance you are like one of Kadmos’ daughters. Pentheu 9
18 Oh look! I think I see two suns, and twin Thebes , the seven-gated city. 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 923 The god accompanies us, now at truce with us, though formerly not propitious. Now you see what you should see. Pentheu 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 9
39 You will surely consider me the best of your friends, 940 when contrary to your expectation you see the Bacchae acting modestly. Pentheu 94
1 But shall I be more like a maenad holding the thyrsos in my right hand, or in my left? Dionysu 943 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. Pentheu 945 Could I carry on my shoulders the glens of Kithairon, Bacchae and all? Dionysu 947 You could if you were willing. The state of mind you had before was unsound, but now you think as you ought. Pentheu 949 Shall we bring levers? Or shall I draw them up with my hands, 9
50 putting a shoulder or arm under the mountain-tops? Dionysu 95
1 But don’t destroy the seats of the Nymphs and the places where Pan plays his pipes. Pentheu 953 Well said. The women are not to be taken by force; I will hide in the pines. Dionysu 955 You will hide yourself as you should be hidden, coming as a crafty spy on the Maenads. Pentheu 957 Oh, yes! I imagine that like birds they are in the bushes held in the sweetest grips of love. Dionysu 959 You have been sent as a guard against this very event. 960 Perhaps you will catch them, if you yourself are not caught before. Pentheu 96
1 Bring me through the midst of the Theban land. I am the only man of them who dares to perform this deed. Dionysu 963 You alone bear the burden for this city, you alone. Therefore the labors which are proper await you. 965 Follow me. I am your saving guide: another will lead you down from there. Pentheu 967 And you will be remarkable to all. Pentheu 968 You will return here being carried— Pentheu 969 In the arms of your mother. Pentheu 970 Yes indeed, such luxury! Pentheu 97
1 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 man 975 to a great contest, and Bromius and I will be the victors. The rest the matter itself will show. Choru
978 Go to the mountain, go, fleet hounds of Madness, where the daughters of Kadmos hold their company, and drive them raving
990 or of Libyan Gorgons. Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throat 997 Whoever with wicked mind and unjust rage regarding your rites, Bacchus, and those of your mother, comes with raving heart
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,
10
13 banishing customs that are outside of justice.Let manifest justice go forth, let it go with sword in hand, slaying through the throat
10
15 this godless, lawless, unjust, earth-born offspring of Echion. Choru
10
17 Appear as a bull or many-headed serpent or raging lion to see.
1020 Go, Bacchus, with smiling face throw a deadly noose around the hunter of the Bacchae as he falls beneath the flock of Maenads. Second Messenger
1037 Dionysus, Dionysus, not Thebes , holds my allegiance. Messenger
1078 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,
1080 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 glen
1
107 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 hand
1
1
10 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,
1
1
15 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.
1
120 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.
1
137 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,
1
14
1 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
1
166 But, for I see Pentheus’ mother Agave coming home, her eyes contorted, receive the revel of the god of joy! Enter Agave Agave
1
174 I caught this young wild lion cub without snares,
1
177 Kithairon— Choru
1
178 Slew him. Choru
1
179 Who struck him? Agave
1
180 I am called blessed Agave in the revels. Choru
1
18
1 Who else? Agave
1
182 Kadmos’ what? Agave
1
184 Share in the feast then. Choru
1
185 The bull is young; his cheek is just growing downy under his soft-haired crest. Choru
1
188 Yes, his hair looks like a wild beast’s. Agave
1
189 Bacchus, a wise huntsman,
1
190 wisely set the Maenads against this beast. Choru
1
192 Our lord is a hunter. Agave
1
193 Do you praise me? Choru
1
194 Soon the Kadmeans— Choru
1
195 And your son Pentheus, too— Agave
1
197 Extraordinary. Agave
1
198 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
12
10 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
12
15 lion’s head which I have captured and brought here. Enter Kadmos and his servants, carrying the remains of Pentheus’ body Kadmo
12
16 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,
12
50 lord Bromius the god has destroyed us, though he is a member of our own family. Agave
125
1 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
1
268 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
1330 . . . 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.
1349 My father Zeus approved this long ago. Agave ' None |
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6. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.511, 3.531, 3.731, 4.1-4.30, 4.32-4.41, 4.285-4.292, 4.294-4.304, 4.306-4.314, 4.316-4.319, 4.321-4.347, 4.349-4.357, 4.359-4.363, 4.365-4.373, 4.375-4.379, 4.381-4.391, 4.393-4.399, 4.401-4.415 (1st cent. BCE - missingth cent. CE)
Tagged with subjects: • Pentheus • Pentheus, • transvestism and cross-dressing, of Pentheus
Found in books: Bednarek (2021), The Myth of Lycurgus in Aeschylus, Naevius, and beyond, 1; Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 303; Del Lucchese (2019), Monstrosity and Philosophy: Radical Otherness in Greek and Latin Culture, 27; Fabre-Serris et al. (2021), Identities, Ethnicities and Gender in Antiquity, 201, 202; Gorain (2019), Language in the Confessions of Augustine, 54, 72, 180; Mcclellan (2019), Paulinus Noster: Self and Symbols in the Letters of Paulinus of Nola, 189; Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 11, 213, 214; Panoussi(2019), Brides, Mourners, Bacchae: Women's Rituals in Roman Literature, 257; Rutter and Sparkes (2012), Word and Image in Ancient Greece, 121, 132
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4.1 At non Alcithoe Minyeias orgia censet 4.2 accipienda dei, sed adhuc temeraria Bacchum 4.3 progeniem negat esse Iovis, sociasque sorores 4.4 inpietatis habet. Festum celebrare sacerdos 4.6 pectora pelle tegi, crinales solvere vittas, 4.7 serta coma, manibus frondentes sumere thyrsos 4.8 iusserat, et saevam laesi fore numinis iram 4.9 vaticinatus erat. Parent matresque nurusque
4.10 telasque calathosque infectaque pensa reponunt,
4.11 turaque dant Bacchumque vocant Bromiumque Lyaeumque
4.13 additur his Nyseus indetonsusque Thyoneus,
4.14 et cum Lenaeo genialis consitor uvae,
4.15 Nycteliusque Eleleusque parens et Iacchus et Euhan,
4.16 et quae praeterea per Graias plurima gentes
4.17 nomina, Liber, habes. Tibi enim inconsumpta iuventa est,
4.18 tu puer aeternus, tu formosissimus alto
4.19 conspiceris caelo, tibi, cum sine cornibus adstas, 4.20 virgineum caput est. Oriens tibi victus, adusque 4.22 Penthea tu, venerande, bipenniferumque Lycurgum 4.23 sacrilegos mactas, Tyrrhenaque mittis in aequor 4.24 corpora, tu biiugum pictis insignia frenis 4.25 colla premis lyncum; bacchae satyrique sequuntur, 4.26 quique senex ferula titubantes ebrius artus 4.27 sustinet et pando non fortiter haeret asello. 4.28 Quacumque ingrederis, clamor iuvenalis et una 4.29 femineae voces inpulsaque tympana palmis 4.30 concavaque aera sot longoque foramine buxus.
4.32 iussaque sacra colunt. Solae Minyeides intus 4.33 intempestiva turbantes festa Minerva 4.34 aut ducunt lanas, aut stamina pollice versant, 4.35 aut haerent telae famulasque laboribus urgent. 4.36 E quibus una levi deducens pollice filum 4.37 “dum cessant aliae commentaque sacra frequentant, 4.38 nos quoque, quas Pallas, melior dea, detinet” inquit, 4.39 “utile opus manuum vario sermone levemus: 4.40 perque vices aliquid, quod tempora longa videri 4.41 non sinat, in medium vacuas referamus ad aures.”
4.285 Unde sit infamis, quare male fortibus undis 4.286 Salmacis enervet tactosque remolliat artus, 4.288 Mercurio puerum diva Cythereide natum 4.289 naides Idaeis enutrivere sub antris; 4.290 cuius erat facies, in qua materque paterque 4.291 cognosci possent; nomen quoque traxit ab illis. 4.292 Is tria cum primum fecit quinquennia, montes
4.294 ignotis errare locis, ignota videre 4.295 flumina gaudebat, studio minuente laborem. 4.296 Ille etiam Lycias urbes Lyciaeque propinquos 4.297 Caras adit. Videt hic stagnum lucentis ad imum 4.298 usque solum lymphae. Non illic canna palustris 4.299 nec steriles ulvae nec acuta cuspide iunci: 4.300 perspicuus liquor est; stagni tamen ultima vivo 4.301 caespite cinguntur semperque virentibus herbis. 4.302 Nympha colit, sed nec venatibus apta, nec arcus 4.303 flectere quae soleat nec quae contendere cursu, 4.304 solaque naiadum celeri non nota Dianae.
4.306 “Salmaci, vel iaculum vel pictas sume pharetras, 4.307 et tua cum duris venatibus otia misce.” 4.308 Nec iaculum sumit nec pictas illa pharetras, 4.309 nec sua cum duris venatibus otia miscet, 4.310 sed modo fonte suo formosos perluit artus, 4.311 saepe Cytoriaco deducit pectine crines 4.312 et, quid se deceat, spectatas consulit undas; 4.313 nunc perlucenti circumdata corpus amictu 4.314 mollibus aut foliis aut mollibus incubat herbis;
4.316 cum puerum vidit visumque optavit habere. 4.317 Nec tamen ante adiit, etsi properabat adire, 4.318 quam se conposuit, quam circumspexit amictus, 4.319 et finxit vultum et meruit formosa videri.
4.321 esse deus, seu tu deus es, potes esse Cupido,
4.322 sive es mortalis, qui te genuere, beati,
4.323 et frater felix, et fortunata profecto,
4.324 siqua tibi soror est, et quae dedit ubera nutrix:
4.325 sed longe cunctis longeque beatior illa,
4.326 siqua tibi sponsa est, siquam dignabere taeda.
4.327 Haec tibi sive aliqua est, mea sit furtiva voluptas,
4.328 seu nulla est, ego sim, thalamumque ineamus eundem.”
4.329 Nais ab his tacuit. Pueri rubor ora notavit 4.330 (nescit enim, quid amor), sed et erubuisse decebat. 4.331 Hic color aprica pendentibus arbore pomis 4.332 aut ebori tincto est, aut sub candore rubenti, 4.333 cum frustra resot aera auxiliaria, lunae. 4.334 Poscenti nymphae sine fine sororia saltem 4.335 oscula iamque manus ad eburnea colla ferenti 4.336 “desinis? aut fugio, tecumque” ait “ista relinquo.” 4.337 Salmacis extimuit “loca” que “haec tibi libera trado, 4.338 hospes” ait, simulatque gradu discedere verso, 4.339 tunc quoque respiciens, fruticumque recondita silva 4.340 delituit, flexuque genu submisit. At ille, 4.341 scilicet ut vacuis et inobservatus in herbis, 4.342 huc it et hinc illuc, et in adludentibus undis 4.343 summa pedum taloque tenus vestigia tingit; 4.344 nec mora, temperie blandarum captus aquarum 4.345 mollia de tenero velamina corpore ponit. 4.346 Tum vero placuit, nudaeque cupidine formae 4.347 Salmacis exarsit: flagrant quoque lumina nymphae,
4.349 opposita speculi referitur imagine Phoebus. 4.350 Vixque moram patitur, vix iam sua gaudia differt, 4.351 iam cupit amplecti, iam se male continet amens. 4.352 Ille cavis velox adplauso corpore palmis 4.353 desilit in latices, alternaque bracchia ducens 4.354 in liquidis translucet aquis, ut eburnea siquis 4.355 signa tegat claro vel candida lilia vitro. 4.356 “Vicimus et meus est!” exclamat nais et omni 4.357 veste procul iacta mediis inmittitur undis,
4.359 subiectatque manus invitaque pectora tangit, 4.360 et nunc hac iuveni, nunc circumfunditur illac; 4.361 denique nitentem contra elabique volentem 4.362 inplicat, ut serpens, quam regia sustinet ales 4.363 sublimemque rapit: pendens caput illa pedesque
4.365 utve solent hederae longos intexere truncos, 4.366 utque sub aequoribus deprensum polypus hostem 4.367 continet, ex omni dimissis parte flagellis. 4.368 Perstat Atlantiades, sperataque gaudia nymphae 4.369 denegat. Illa premit, commissaque corpore toto 4.370 sicut inhaerebat, “pugnes licet, inprobe” dixit, 4.371 “non tamen effugies. Ita di iubeatis! et istum 4.372 nulla dies a me nec me diducat ab isto.” 4.373 Vota suos habuere deos: nam mixta duorum
4.375 una, velut, siquis conducat cortice ramos, 4.376 crescendo iungi pariterque adolescere cernit. 4.377 Sic ubi conplexu coierunt membra tenaci, 4.378 nec duo sunt et forma duplex, nec femina dici 4.379 nec puer ut possit: neutrumque et utrumque videntur.
4.381 semimarem fecisse videt, mollitaque in illis 4.382 membra, manus tendens, sed non iam voce virili, 4.383 Hermaphroditus ait: “Nato date munera vestro, 4.384 et pater et genetrix, amborum nomen habenti: 4.385 quisquis in hos fontes vir venerit, exeat inde 4.386 semivir et tactis subito mollescat in undis.” 4.387 Motus uterque parens nati rata verba biformis 4.388 fecit et incesto fontem medicamine tinxit.” 4.389 Finis erat dictis. Sed adhuc Minyeia proles 4.390 urget opus spernitque deum festumque profanat, 4.391 tympana cum subito non adparentia raucis
4.393 tinnulaque aera sot; redolent murraeque crocique, 4.394 resque fide maior, coepere virescere telae 4.395 inque hederae faciem pendens frondescere vestis. 4.396 Pars abit in vites, et quae modo fila fuerunt, 4.397 palmite mutantur; de stamine pampinus exit; 4.398 purpura fulgorem pictis adcommodat uvis. 4.399 Iamque dies exactus erat, tempusque subibat,
4.401 sed cum luce tamen dubiae confinia noctis: 4.402 tecta repente quati pinguesque ardere videntur 4.403 lampades et rutilis conlucere ignibus aedes 4.404 falsaque saevarum simulacra ululare ferarum. 4.405 Fumida iamdudum latitant per tecta sorores, 4.406 diversaeque locis ignes ac lumina vitant; 4.407 dumque petunt tenebras, parvos membrana per artus 4.408 porrigitur tenuique includit bracchia pinna. 4.409 Nec qua perdiderint veterem ratione figuram 4.410 scire sinunt tenebrae. Non illas pluma levavit, 4.411 sustinuere tamen se perlucentibus alis; 4.412 conataeque loqui minimam et pro corpore vocem 4.413 emittunt, peraguntque leves stridore querellas. 4.414 Tectaque, non silvas celebrant lucemque perosae 4.415 nocte volant, seroque tenent a vespere nomen.' ' None | sup>
4.1 Alcithoe, daughter of King Minyas, 4.2 consents not to the orgies of the God; 4.3 denies that Bacchus is the son of Jove, 4.4 and her two sisters join her in that crime. 4.6 keeping it sacred, had forbade all toil.— 4.7 And having draped their bosoms with wild skins, 4.8 they loosed their long hair for the sacred wreaths, 4.9 and took the leafy thyrsus in their hands;—
4.10 for so the priest commanded them. Austere
4.11 the wrath of Bacchus if his power be scorned.
4.13 and putting by their wickers and their webs,
4.14 dropt their unfinished toils to offer up
4.15 frankincense to the God; invoking him
4.16 with many names:—“O Bacchus! O Twice-born!
4.17 O Fire-begot! Thou only child Twice-mothered!
4.18 God of all those who plant the luscious grape!
4.19 O Liber !” All these names and many more, 4.20 for ages known—throughout the lands of Greece . 4.22 and lo, thou art an ever-youthful boy, 4.23 most beautiful of all the Gods of Heaven, 4.24 mooth as a virgin when thy horns are hid.—' "4.25 The distant east to tawny India 's clime," '4.26 where rolls remotest Ganges to the sea, 4.27 was conquered by thy might.—O Most-revered! 4.28 Thou didst destroy the doubting Pentheus,' "4.29 and hurled the sailors' bodies in the deep," '4.30 and smote Lycurgus, wielder of the ax.
4.32 with showy harness.—Satyrs follow thee; 4.33 and Bacchanals, and old Silenus, drunk, 4.34 unsteady on his staff; jolting so rough 4.35 on his small back-bent ass; and all the way 4.36 resounds a youthful clamour; and the scream 4.37 of women! and the noise of tambourines! 4.38 And the hollow cymbals! and the boxwood flutes,— 4.39 fitted with measured holes.—Thou art implored 4.40 by all Ismenian women to appear 4.41 peaceful and mild; and they perform thy rites.”
4.285 And thou whose orb should joy the universe' "4.286 art gazing only on Leucothea's charms." '4.288 forgetting all besides. Too early thou 4.289 art rising from thy bed of orient skies, 4.290 too late thy setting in the western waves; 4.291 o taking time to gaze upon thy love, 4.292 thy frenzy lengthens out the wintry hour!
4.294 dark shadows of this trouble in thy mind, 4.295 unwonted aspect, casting man perplexed 4.296 in abject terror. Pale thou art, though not 4.297 betwixt thee and the earth the shadowous moon 4.298 bedims thy devious way. Thy passion give 4.299 to grief thy countece—for her thy heart 4.300 alone is grieving—Clymene and Rhodos , 4.301 and Persa, mother of deluding Circe, 4.302 are all forgotten for thy doting hope; 4.303 even Clytie, who is yearning for thy love, 4.304 no more can charm thee; thou art so foredone.
4.306 Leucothea, daughter of Eurynome,' "4.307 most beauteous matron of Arabia 's strand," '4.308 where spicey odours blow. Eurynome' "4.309 in youthful prime excelled her mother's grace," '4.310 and, save her daughter, all excelled besides.' "4.311 Leucothea's father, Orchamas was king" '4.312 where Achaemenes whilom held the sway;' "4.313 and Orchamas from ancient Belus' death" '4.314 might count his reign the seventh in descent.
4.316 are hid below the western skies; when there, 4.317 and spent with toil, in lieu of nibbling herb 4.318 they take ambrosial food: it gives their limb 4.319 restoring strength and nourishes anew.
4.321 and Night resumes his reign, the god appear
4.322 disguised, unguessed, as old Eurynome
4.323 to fair Leucothea as she draws the threads,
4.324 all smoothly twisted from her spindle. There
4.325 he sits with twice six hand-maids ranged around,
4.326 and as the god beholds her at the door
4.327 he kisses her, as if a child beloved
4.328 and he her mother. And he spoke to her:
4.329 “Let thy twelve hand-maids leave us undisturbed, 4.330 for I have things of close import to tell, 4.331 and seemly, from a mother to her child.”, 4.332 o when they all withdrew the god began, 4.333 “Lo, I am he who measures the long year; 4.334 I see all things, and through me the wide world 4.335 may see all things; I am the glowing eye 4.336 of the broad universe! Thou art to me 4.337 the glory of the earth!” Filled with alarm, 4.338 from her relaxed fingers she let fall 4.339 the distaff and the spindle, but, her fear 4.340 o lovely in her beauty seemed, the God 4.341 no longer brooked delay: he changed his form 4.342 back to his wonted beauty and resumed 4.343 his bright celestial. Startled at the sight 4.344 the maid recoiled a space; but presently 4.345 the glory of the god inspired her love; 4.346 and all her timid doubts dissolved away; 4.347 without complaint she melted in his arms.' "
4.349 that Clytie, envious of Leucothea's joy," '4.350 where evil none was known, a scandal made; 4.351 and having published wide their secret love,' "4.352 leucothea's father also heard the tale." '4.353 Relentlessly and fierce, his cruel hand 4.354 buried his living daughter in the ground, 4.355 who, while her arms implored the glowing Sun, 4.356 complained. “For love of thee my life is lost.” 4.357 And as she wailed her father sowed her there.
4.359 to scatter the loose sand, a way to open, 4.360 that she might look with beauteous features forth 4.361 too late! for smothered by the compact earth, 4.362 thou canst not lift thy drooping head; alas! 4.363 A lifeless corse remains.
4.365 ince Phaethon was blasted by the bolt, 4.366 down-hurled by Jove, had ever grieved the God 4.367 who daily drives his winged steeds. In vain 4.368 he strives with all the magic of his ray 4.369 to warm her limbs anew. — The deed is done— 4.370 what vantage gives his might if fate deny? 4.371 He sprinkles fragrant nectar on her grave, 4.372 and lifeless corse, and as he wails exclaims, 4.373 “But naught shall hinder you to reach the skies.”
4.375 of nectar, sweet and odourate, dissolve 4.376 and adds its fragrant juices to the earth: 4.377 lowly from this a sprout of Frankincense 4.378 takes root in riched soil, and bursting through 4.379 the sandy hillock shows its top.
4.381 to Clytie comes the author of sweet light, 4.382 for though her love might make excuse of grief, 4.383 and grief may plead to pardon jealous words, 4.384 his heart disdains the schemist of his woe; 4.385 and she who turned to sour the sweet of love, 4.386 from that unhallowed moment pined away. 4.387 Envious and hating all her sister Nymphs, 4.388 day after day,—and through the lonely nights, 4.389 all unprotected from the chilly breeze, 4.390 her hair dishevelled, tangled, unadorned, 4.391 he sat unmoved upon the bare hard ground.' "
4.393 or haply by her own tears' bitter brine;—" '4.394 all other nourishment was naught to her.— 4.395 She never raised herself from the bare ground, 4.396 though on the god her gaze was ever fixed;— 4.397 he turned her features towards him as he moved: 4.398 they say that afterwhile her limbs took root 4.399 and fastened to the around.
4.401 overspread her countece, that turned as pale 4.402 and bloodless as the dead; but here and there 4.403 a blushing tinge resolved in violet tint; 4.404 and something like the blossom of that name 4.405 a flower concealed her face. Although a root 4.406 now holds her fast to earth, the Heliotrope 4.407 turns ever to the Sun, as if to prove 4.408 that all may change and love through all remain. 4.409 Thus was the story ended. All were charmed 4.410 to hear recounted such mysterious deeds. 4.411 While some were doubting whether such were true 4.412 others affirmed that to the living God 4.413 is nothing to restrain their wondrous works, 4.414 though surely of the Gods, immortal, none 4.415 accorded Bacchus even thought or place.' ' None |
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