The Bacchae of Euripides Part 10

Thy shape, methinks, is like to one Of Cadmus' royal maids!

PENTHEUS.

Yea; and mine eye Is bright! Yon sun shines twofold in the sky, Thebes twofold and the Wall of Seven Gates. . . .

And is it a Wild Bull this, that walks and waits Before me? There are horns upon thy brow!

What art thou, man or beast? For surely now The Bull is on thee!

DIONYSUS.

He who erst was wrath, Goes with us now in gentleness. He hath Unsealed thine eyes to see what thou shouldst see.

PENTHEUS.

Say; stand I not as Ino stands, or she Who bore me?

DIONYSUS.

When I look on thee, it seems I see their very selves!--But stay; why streams That lock abroad, not where I laid it, crossed Under the coif?

PENTHEUS.

I did it, as I tossed My head in dancing, to and fro, and cried His holy music!

DIONYSUS (_tending him_).

It shall soon be tied Aright. 'Tis mine to tend thee. . . . Nay, but stand With head straight.

PENTHEUS.

In the hollow of thy hand I lay me. Deck me as thou wilt.

DIONYSUS.

Thy zone Is loosened likewise; and the folded gown Not evenly falling to the feet.

PENTHEUS.

'Tis so, By the right foot. But here, methinks, they flow In one straight line to the heel.

DIONYSUS (_while tending him_).

And if thou prove Their madness true, aye, more than true, what love And thanks hast thou for me?

PENTHEUS (_not listening to him_).

In my right hand Is it, or thus, that I should bear the wand, To be most like to them?

DIONYSUS.

Up let it swing In the right hand, timed with the right foot's spring. . . .

'Tis well thy heart is changed!

PENTHEUS (_more wildly_).

What strength is this!

Kithaeron's steeps and all that in them is-- How say'st thou?--Could my shoulders lift the whole?

DIONYSUS.

Surely thou canst, and if thou wilt! Thy soul, Being once so sick, now stands as it should stand.

PENTHEUS.

Shall it be bars of iron? Or this bare hand And shoulder to the crags, to wrench them down?

DIONYSUS.

Wouldst wreck the Nymphs' wild temples, and the brown Rocks, where Pan pipes at noonday?

PENTHEUS.

Nay; not I!

Force is not well with women. I will lie Hid in the pine-brake.

DIONYSUS.

Even as fits a spy On holy and fearful things, so shalt thou lie!

PENTHEUS (_with a laugh_).

They lie there now, methinks--the wild birds, caught By love among the leaves, and fluttering not!

DIONYSUS.

It may be. That is what thou goest to see, Aye, and to trap them--so they trap not thee!

PENTHEUS.

Forth through the Thebans' town! I am their king, Aye, their one Man, seeing I dare this thing!

DIONYSUS.

Yea, thou shalt bear their burden, thou alone; Therefore thy trial awaiteth thee!--But on; With me into thine ambush shalt thou come Unscathed; then let another bear thee home!

PENTHEUS.

The Queen, my mother.

DIONYSUS.