The Bacchae (848-939)

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.

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

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,

Dionysus, who is in fact a god, the most terrible and yet most mild to men.

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,

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.

Oh look! I think I see two suns, and twin Thebes, the seven-gated city.

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.

The god accompanies us, now at truce with us, though formerly not propitious. Now you see what you should see.

How do I look? Don’t I have the posture of Ino, or of my mother Agave?

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.

I displaced it indoors, shaking my head forwards and backwards and practising my Bacchic revelry.

But I who ought to wait on you will re-arrange it. Hold up your head.

Here, you arrange it; for I depend on you, indeed.

Your girdle has come loose, and the pleats of your gown do not extend regularly down around your ankles.

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.

You will surely consider me the best of your friends,