DIONYSUS

’Twas even then I mocked him: He thought me in his chain;

He touched me not, nor reached me; His idle thoughts were vain!

In the stable stood a heifer, Where he thought he had me bound:

Round the beast’s knees his cords And cloven hoofs he wound.

Wrath-breathing, from his body The sweat fell like a flood:

He bit his lips in fury, While I beside who stood

Looked on in unmoved quiet.

As at that instant come,

Shook Bacchus the strong palace, And on his mother’s tomb

Flames kindled. When he saw it, On fire the palace deeming,

Hither he rushed and thither, For “water, water,” screaming;

And every slave ‘gan labour, But laboured all in vain.

The toil he soon abandoned. As though I had fled amain

He rushed into the palace: In his hand the dark sword gleamed.

Then, as it seemed, great Bromius — I say, but as it seemed —

In the hall a bright light kindled. On that he rushed, and there,

As slaying me in vengeance, Stood stabbing the thin air.

But then the avenging Bacchus Wrought new calamities;

From roof to base that palace In smouldering ruin lies.

Bitter ruing our imprisonment, With toil forspent he threw

On earth his useless weapon. Mortal, he had dared to do

’Gainst a god unholy battle. But I, in quiet state,

Unheeding Pentheus’ anger, Came through the palace gate.

It seems even now his sandal Is sounding on its way:

Soon is he here before us, And what now will he say?

With ease will I confront him, Ire-breathing though he stand.

’Tis easy to a wise man To practise self-command.

PENTHEUS

I am outraged — mocked! The stranger hath escaped me

Whom I so late had bound in iron chains.

Off, off! He is here! — the man? How’s this? How stands he

Before our palace, as just issuing forth?

DIONYSUS

Stay thou thy step! Subdue thy wrath to peace!

PENTHEUS

How, having burst thy chains, hast thou come forth?

DIONYSUS

Said I not — heardst thou not? “There’s one will free me!

PENTHEUS

What one? Thou speakest still words new and strange.

DIONYSUS

He who for man plants the rich-tendrilled vine.

PENTHEUS

Well layest thou this reproach on Dionysus.

Without there, close and bar the towers around!

DIONYSUS

What! and the gods! O’erleap they not all walls?

PENTHEUS

Wise in all wisdom save in that thou shouldst have!

DIONYSUS

In that I should have wisest still am I.

But listen first, and hear the words of him

Who comes to thee with tidings from the mountains

Here will we stay. Fear not, we will not fly!

MESSENGER

Pentheus, that rulest o’er this land of Thebes!

I come from high Cithæron, ever white

With the bright glittering snow’s perennial rays.

PENTHEUS

Why com’st thou? On what pressing mission bound?

MESSENGER

I’ve seen the frenzied Bacchanals, who had fled

On their white feet, forth goaded from the land.

I come to tell to thee and to this city