And in the garlanded banquets of men, whenever the mixing bowl casts sleep around them.
Of unbridled mouths and of lawless folly, the end is misfortune.
But the life of quietness and wisdom remain unshaken and hold houses together.
For, though they dwell far off in the ether, the heavenly ones nevertheless see the affairs of mortals.
Cleverness is not wisdom, nor is thinking thoughts that are not mortal.
Life is short; and in this brief time, if someone pursues great things, he would not gain what is present.
These are the ways of madmen and of ill-advised men, in my judgment.
§402ἱκοίμαν ποτὶ Κύπρον, §403νᾶσον τᾶς Ἀφροδίτας, §404ἵνʼ οἱ θελξίφρονες νέμον- §405ται θνατοῖσιν Ἔρωτες, §406Πάφον θʼ ἃν ἑκατόστομοι §407βαρβάρου ποταμοῦ ῥοαὶ §408καρπίζουσιν ἄνομβροι.
Would that I might go to Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite, where the heart-soothing Loves dwell for mortals, and to Paphos, which the hundred-mouthed streams of a foreign river fertilize without rain.
§409οὗ δʼ ἁ καλλιστευομένα §410Πιερία μούσειος ἕδρα, §411σεμνὰ κλιτὺς Ὀλύμπου, §412ἐκεῖσʼ ἄγε με, Βρόμιε Βρόμιε, §413πρόβακχʼ εὔιε δαῖμον.
And where the most beautiful Pieria, seat of the Muses, is, the holy slope of Olympus, lead me there, Bromius, Bromius, leading deity of the Bacchic revels.
There are the Graces, there is Desire; and there it is lawful for the Bacchae to celebrate their rites.
§417ὁ δαίμων ὁ Διὸς παῖς §418χαίρει μὲν θαλίαισιν, §419φιλεῖ δʼ ὀλβοδότειραν Εἰ- §420ρήναν, κουροτρόφον θεάν.
The god, the son of Zeus, rejoices in banquets, and loves wealth-giving Peace, the youth-nourishing goddess.
And to both the rich and the lesser, he gave to possess in equal measure the painless pleasure of wine.
§424μισεῖ δʼ ᾧ μὴ ταῦτα μέλει, §425κατὰ φάος νύκτας τε φίλας §426εὐαίωνα διαζῆν, §427σοφὰν δʼ ἀπέχειν πραπίδα φρένα τε §428περισσῶν παρὰ φωτῶν·
But he hates the one who does not care for these things, to live a happy life through the light and the pleasant nights, and to keep his wise mind and heart away from excessive men.
What the simpler multitude holds as law and uses, this I would accept.
Pentheus, we are here, having caught this prey for which you sent us, nor has our rush been in vain.
§436ὁ θὴρ δʼ ὅδʼ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδʼ ὑπέσπασεν §437φυγῇ πόδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας §438οὐδʼ ὠχρός, οὐδʼ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν, §439γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο §440ἔμενέ τε, τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος.
This wild beast was gentle to us, nor did he withdraw his foot in flight, but gave his hands not unwillingly, nor did he grow pale, nor did he change his wine-dark cheek, but laughing he allowed us to bind and lead him away, and he waited, making my task easy.
§441κἀγὼ διʼ αἰδοῦς εἶπον· Ὦ ξένʼ, οὐχ ἑκὼν §442ἄγω σε, Πενθέως δʼ ὅς μʼ ἔπεμψʼ ἐπιστολαῖς. §443ἃς δʼ αὖ σὺ βάκχας εἷρξας, ἃς συνήρπασας §444κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης, §445φροῦδαί γʼ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας §446σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν·
And I, out of shame, said: "O stranger, I do not lead you willingly, but by the orders of Pentheus who sent me." As for the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you seized and bound in the chains of the public prison, they are gone, released, and to the mountain glades they skip, calling upon Bromius as god.
Of their own accord, the bonds were loosed from their feet, and keys unlocked the doors without human hand.
This man has come full of many wonders to this city of Thebes.
σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν.
But the rest must be your concern.
Release his hands; for being in the nets, he is not so swift as to escape me.
But indeed, your body is not ungraceful, stranger, for women, which is why you are present in Thebes.
For your hair is long, not from wrestling, poured down by your very cheek, full of desire.
§457λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις, §458οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς, §459τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος.
And you have a white skin by preparation, not from the rays of the sun, but under the shade, hunting after Aphrodite with beauty.
§460πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος.
First of all, then, tell me who you are by race.
§461οὐ κόμπος οὐδείς· ῥᾴδιον δʼ εἰπεῖν τόδε.
There is no boast; and this is easy to tell.
§462τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων.
You know of flowery Tmolus, I suppose, by hearing of it.
§463οἶδʼ, ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ.
I know it, which surrounds the city of Sardis in a circle.
§464ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς.
I am from there, and Lydia is my homeland.
§465πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα;
And from where do you bring these rites to Greece?
§466Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ, ὁ τοῦ Διός.
Dionysus himself initiated us, the son of Zeus.
§467Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις, ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς;
Is there some Zeus there, who begets new gods?
§468οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις.
No, but the one who united here with Semele in marriage.
§469πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν;
Did he compel you by night, or face to face?
§470ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα, καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια.
Seeing me as I saw him, and he gave me the rites.
§471τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι;
What appearance do these rites have for you?
§472ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν.
They are forbidden to be known by mortals uninitiated in Bacchus.
§473ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα;
And what benefit do they have for those who sacrifice?
§474οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ, ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι.
It is not lawful for you to hear, but they are worthy of knowing.
§475εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας, ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω.
You have counterfeitly tricked this well, so that I would wish to hear.
§476ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ.
The rites of the god hate the one who practices impiety.
§477τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς, ποῖός τις ἦν;
Since you say you saw the god clearly, what was he like?
§478ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ· οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε.
Whatever he wished; I did not ordain this.
§479τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων.
Again you have bypassed this well, saying nothing.
§480δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν.
To an ignorant man, one who speaks wise things will seem not to be wise.
§481ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα;
Did you come here first, bringing the god?