The Bacchae — Euripides
You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : The Bacchae of Euripides Author : Euripides Translator : Gilbert Murray Release date : February 4, 2011 [eBook #35173] Most recently updated: January 7, 2021 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35173 Credits : Produced by Barbara Watson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) *** START OF Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 7s. 6d. each net. Each Volume Illustrated from ancient Sculptures and Vase-Painting. AESCHYLUS: The Orestean Trilogy. By Prof. G. C. Warr . With an Introduction on The Rise of Greek Tragedy , and 13 Illustrations. SOPHOCLES: Œdipus Tyrannus and Coloneus , and Antigone . By Prof. J. S. Phillimore . With an Introduction on Sophocles and his Treatment of Tragedy , and 16 Illustrations. EURIPIDES: Hippolytus ; Bacchae ; Aristophanes' 'Frogs.' By Prof. Gilbert Murray . With an Appendix on The Lost Tragedies of Euripides , and an Introduction on The Significance of the Bacchae in Athenian History , and 12 Illustrations. [ Third Edition. ALSO UNIFORM WITH THE ABOVE THE HOMERIC HYMNS. A New Prose Rendering by Andrew Lang , with Essays Critical and Explanatory, and 14 Illustrations. THE PLAYS OF EURIPIDES Translated into English Rhyming Verse, with Explanatory Notes, by Prof. Gilbert Murray . Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. each net. The Trojan Women. Electra. Hippolytus. Fifth Edition. Bacchae. Second Edition. The Trojan Women. Electra. } Paper Covers, Impl. 16mo, 1s. each net THE BACCHAE OF EURIPIDES TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH RHYMING VERSE WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES BY GILBERT MURRAY, M.A., LL.D. EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF GREEK IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW; SOMETIME FELLOW OF NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD SECOND EDITION LONDON GEORGE ALLEN, 156, CHARING CROSS ROAD One Shilling Net. 1906 [All rights reserved] THE BACCHAE CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY Dionysus, the God ; son of Zeus and of the Theban princess Semelê . Cadmus , formerly King of Thebes, father of Semelê . Pentheus , King of Thebes, grandson of Cadmus . Agâvê , daughter of Cadmus, mother of Pentheus . Teiresias , an aged Theban prophet . A Soldier of Pentheus' Guard. Two Messengers. A Chorus of Inspired Damsels , following Dionysus from the East. " The play was first produced after the death of Euripides by his son, who bore the same name, together with the 'Iphigenîa in Aulis' and the 'Alcmaeon,' probably in the year 405 B.C. " THE BACCHAE The background represents the front of the Castle of Pentheus , King of Thebes. At one side is visible the sacred Tomb of Semelê, a little enclosure overgrown with wild vines, with a cleft in the rocky floor of it from which there issues at times steam or smoke. The God Dionysus is discovered alone . Dionysus. Behold, God's Son is come unto this land Of Thebes, even I, Dionysus, whom the brand Of heaven's hot splendour lit to life, when she Who bore me, Cadmus' daughter Semelê, Died here. So, changed in shape from God to man, I walk again by Dirce's streams and scan Ismenus' shore. There by the castle side I see her place, the Tomb of the Lightning's Bride, The wreck of smouldering chambers, and the great Faint wreaths of fire undying—as the hate Dies not, that Hera held for Semelê. Aye, Cadmus hath done well; in purity He keeps this place apart, inviolate, His daughter's sanctuary; and I have set My green and clustered vines to robe it round. Far now behind me lies the golden ground Of Lydian and of Phrygian; far away The wide hot plains where Persian sunbeams play, The Bactrian war-holds, and the storm-oppressed Clime of the Mede, and Araby the Blest, And Asia all, that by the salt sea lies In proud embattled cities, motley-wise Of Hellene and Barbarian interwrought; And now I come to Hellas—having taught All the world else my dances and my rite Of mysteries, to show me in men's sight Manifest God. And first of Hellene lands I cry thus Thebes to waken; set her hands To clasp my wand, mine ivied javelin, And round her shoulders hang my wild fawn-skin. For they have scorned me whom it least beseemed, Semelê's sisters; mocked my birth, nor deemed That Dionysus sprang from Dian seed. My mother sinned, said they; and in her need, With Cadmus plotting, cloaked her human shame With the dread name of Zeus; for that the flame From heaven consumed her, seeing she lied to God. Thus must they vaunt; and therefore hath my rod On them first fallen, and stung them forth wild-eyed From empty chambers; the bare mountain side Is made their home, and all their hearts are flame. Yea, I have bound upon the necks of them The harness of my rites. And with them all The seed of womankind from hut and hall Of Thebes, hath this my magic goaded out. And there, with the old King's daughters, in a rout Confused, they make their dwelling-place between The roofless rocks and shadowy pine trees green. Thus shall this Thebes, how sore soe'er it smart, Learn and forget not, till she crave her part In mine adoring; thus must I speak clear To save my mother's fame, and crown me here As true God, born by Semelê to Zeus. Now Cadmus yieldeth up his throne and use Of royal honour to his daughter's son Pentheus; who on my body hath begun A war with God. He thrusteth me away From due drink-offering, and, when men pray, My name entreats not. Therefore on his own Head and his people's shall my power be shown. Then to another land, when all things here Are well, must I fare onward, making clear My godhead's might. But should this Theban town Essay with wrath and battle to drag down My maids, lo, in their path myself shall be, And maniac armies battled after me! For this I veil my godhead w