§754διέφερον· ἥρπαζον μὲν ἐκ δόμων τέκνα·
(Messenger) They carried things off; they snatched children from their homes.
§755ὁπόσα δʼ ἐπʼ ὤμοις ἔθεσαν, οὐ δεσμῶν ὕπο §756προσείχετʼ οὐδʼ ἔπιπτεν ἐς μέλαν πέδον, §757οὐ χαλκός, οὐ σίδηρος·
And whatever they placed on their shoulders clung to them without bonds and did not fall to the dark ground, neither bronze nor iron.
ἐπὶ δὲ βοστρύχοις §758πῦρ ἔφερον, οὐδʼ ἔκαιεν.
And upon their tresses they carried fire, and it did not burn them.
οἳ δʼ ὀργῆς ὕπο §759ἐς ὅπλʼ ἐχώρουν φερόμενοι βακχῶν ὕπο·
But the others, in their rage, went to arms, being plundered by the Bacchae.
§760οὗπερ τὸ δεινὸν ἦν θέαμʼ ἰδεῖν, ἄναξ.
And there, O King, was a terrible sight to behold.
§761τοῖς μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ᾕμασσε λογχωτὸν βέλος, §762κεῖναι δὲ θύρσους ἐξανιεῖσαι χερῶν §763ἐτραυμάτιζον κἀπενώτιζον φυγῇ §764γυναῖκες ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινος.
For their pointed spears did not draw blood, but they, hurling the thyrsoi from their hands, caused wounds and turned them to flight, women routing men, not without some god's help.
Then they went back to where they had started their step, to the very fountains which the god had sent up for them.
And they washed away the blood, and the drops from their cheeks the snakes licked off with their tongues, cleaning their skin.
§769τὸν δαίμονʼ οὖν τόνδʼ ὅστις ἔστʼ, ὦ δέσποτα, §770δέχου πόλει τῇδʼ· ὡς τά τʼ ἄλλʼ ἐστὶν μέγας, §771κἀκεῖνό φασιν αὐτόν, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω, §772τὴν παυσίλυπον ἄμπελον δοῦναι βροτοῖς.
Therefore, O master, receive this divinity, whoever he is, into this city; for as he is great in other things, they also say this of him, as I hear, that he gave to mortals the vine that puts an end to grief.
For when there is no longer wine, there is no Aphrodite nor any other pleasure left for human beings.
§775ταρβῶ μὲν εἰπεῖν τοὺς λόγους ἐλευθέρους §776πρὸς τὸν τύραννον, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται· §777Διόνυσος ἥσσων οὐδενὸς θεῶν ἔφυ.
I fear to speak free words to the tyrant, but nevertheless it shall be said: Dionysus was born second to none of the gods.
(Pentheus) Already like fire this outrage of the Bacchae is kindled near us, a great reproach to the Hellenes.
§780ἀλλʼ οὐκ ὀκνεῖν δεῖ·
But we must not hesitate.
στεῖχʼ ἐπʼ Ἠλέκτρας ἰὼν §781πύλας· κέλευε πάντας ἀσπιδηφόρους §782ἵππων τʼ ἀπαντᾶν ταχυπόδων ἐπεμβάτας §783πέλτας θʼ ὅσοι πάλλουσι καὶ τόξων χερὶ §784ψάλλουσι νευράς, ὡς ἐπιστρατεύσομεν
Go to the Electran gates; order all the shield-bearers and riders of swift-footed horses to assemble, and as many as brandish light shields and with their hands pluck the bowstrings, so that we may march against the Bacchae.
For indeed this goes too far, if we are to suffer what we are suffering at the hands of women.
(Dionysus) You are persuaded in nothing, hearing my words, Pentheus.
Although suffering ill at your hands, nevertheless I say that you must not raise arms against a god, but keep quiet.
Βρόμιος οὐκ ἀνέξεται §791κινοῦντα βάκχας σʼ εὐίων ὀρῶν ἄπο.
Bromius will not tolerate you moving the Bacchae away from the joyful mountains.
§792οὐ μὴ φρενώσεις μʼ, ἀλλὰ δέσμιος φυγὼν
(Pentheus) Do not lecture me!
§793σῴσῃ τόδʼ;
But having escaped from bonds, keep this safe.
ἢ σοὶ πάλιν ἀναστρέψω δίκην;
Or shall I bring justice back upon you?
(Dionysus) I would sacrifice to him rather than, being angry, kick against the pricks, being a mortal against a god.
(Pentheus) I will sacrifice, yes, a slaughter of women, as they deserve, causing much confusion in the folds of Cithaeron.
§798φεύξεσθε πάντες·
(Dionysus) You will all flee.
καὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, ἀσπίδας §799θύρσοισι βακχῶν ἐκτρέπειν χαλκηλάτους
And this is shameful, to turn away bronze-beaten shields before the thyrsoi of the Bacchae.
(Pentheus) We are entangled with this impossible stranger, who neither suffering nor doing will keep silent.
§802ὦ τᾶν, ἔτʼ ἔστιν εὖ καταστῆσαι τάδε.
(Dionysus) My friend, it is still possible to settle these things well.
§803τί δρῶντα;
(Pentheus) By doing what?
δουλεύοντα δουλείαις ἐμαῖς;
By serving my own servants?
§804ἐγὼ γυναῖκας δεῦρʼ ὅπλων ἄξω δίχα.
(Dionysus) I will bring the women here without weapons.
§805οἴμοι· τόδʼ ἤδη δόλιον ἔς με μηχανᾷ.
(Pentheus) Alas, now you are contriving this trick against me.
§806ποῖόν τι, σῷσαί σʼ εἰ θέλω τέχναις ἐμαῖς;
(Dionysus) What kind of trick, if I wish to save you by my arts?
§807ξυνέθεσθε κοινῇ τάδʼ, ἵνα βακχεύητʼ ἀεί.
(Pentheus) You have plotted this together in common, so that you may revel forever.
§808καὶ μὴν ξυνεθέμην—τοῦτό γʼ ἔστι—τῷ θεῷ.
(Dionysus) Indeed I plotted—that is true—with the god.
§809ἐκφέρετέ μοι δεῦρʼ ὅπλα, σὺ δὲ παῦσαι λέγων.
(Pentheus) Bring out my weapons here, and you, stop speaking!
§810ἆ.
(Dionysus) Ah!
§811βούλῃ σφʼ ἐν ὄρεσι συγκαθημένας ἰδεῖν;
Do you wish to see them sitting together in the mountains?
§812μάλιστα, μυρίον γε δοὺς χρυσοῦ σταθμόν.
(Pentheus) Extremely, even if I had to pay a vast weight of gold.
§813τί δʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τοῦδε πέπτωκας μέγαν;
(Dionysus) Why have you fallen into such a great desire for this?
§814λυπρῶς νιν εἰσίδοιμʼ ἂν ἐξῳνωμένας.
(Pentheus) I would see them with sorrow, drunk as they are.
§815ὅμως δʼ ἴδοις ἂν ἡδέως ἅ σοι πικρά;
(Dionysus) But still you would gladly see what is bitter to you?
§816σάφʼ ἴσθι, σιγῇ γʼ ὑπʼ ἐλάταις καθήμενος.
(Pentheus) Be well assured, sitting in silence under the silver firs.
§817ἀλλʼ ἐξιχνεύσουσίν σε, κἂν ἔλθῃς λάθρᾳ.
(Dionysus) But they will track you down, even if you go in secret.
§818ἀλλʼ ἐμφανῶς· καλῶς γὰρ ἐξεῖπας τάδε.
(Pentheus) Well then, openly; for you speak this well.
§819ἄγωμεν οὖν σε κἀπιχειρήσεις ὁδῷ;
(Dionysus) Shall we lead you, then, and will you attempt the journey?
§820ἄγʼ ὡς τάχιστα, τοῦ χρόνου δέ σοι φθονῶ.
(Pentheus) Lead as quickly as possible, for I grudge you the time.
§821στεῖλαί νυν ἀμφὶ χρωτὶ βυσσίνους πέπλους.
(Dionysus) Array yourself now in fine linen robes around your body.
§822τί δὴ τόδʼ;
(Pentheus) What is this?
ἐς γυναῖκας ἐξ ἀνδρὸς τελῶ;
Shall I be classed among women, from being a man?
§823μή σε κτάνωσιν, ἢν ἀνὴρ ὀφθῇς ἐκεῖ.
(Dionysus) Lest they kill you, if you are seen there as a man.
§824εὖ γʼ εἶπας αὖ τόδʼ·
(Pentheus) Well spoken again.
ὥς τις εἶ πάλαι σοφός.
How wise you have been all along.
§825Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς ἐξεμούσωσεν τάδε.
(Dionysus) Dionysus inspired these things in me.
§826πῶς οὖν γένοιτʼ ἂν ἃ σύ με νουθετεῖς καλῶς;
(Pentheus) How then can that which you advise so well come about?
§827ἐγὼ στελῶ σε δωμάτων ἔσω μολών.
(Dionysus) I will dress you, going inside the palace.
§828τίνα στολήν;
(Pentheus) What kind of dress?
ἦ θῆλυν;
A female one?
ἀλλʼ αἰδώς μʼ ἔχει.
But shame holds me.
§829οὐκέτι θεατὴς μαινάδων πρόθυμος εἶ.
(Dionysus) You are no longer an eager spectator of the maenads.
§830στολὴν δὲ τίνα φῂς ἀμφὶ χρῶτʼ ἐμὸν βαλεῖν;
(Pentheus) But what kind of dress do you say to put on my body?
§831κόμην μὲν ἐπὶ σῷ κρατὶ ταναὸν ἐκτενῶ.
(Dionysus) I will stretch out your hair long upon your head.
§832τὸ δεύτερον δὲ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τί μοι;
(Pentheus) And what is the second part of my attire?
§833πέπλοι ποδήρεις· ἐπὶ κάρᾳ δʼ ἔσται μίτρα.
(Dionysus) Robes reaching to your feet; and upon your head will be a headband.
§834ἦ καί τι πρὸς τοῖσδʼ ἄλλο προσθήσεις ἐμοί;
(Pentheus) Will you add anything else to this for me?