The Bacchae of Euripides Part 4

Most oft by night; 'tis a majestic thing, The darkness.

PENTHEUS.

Ha! with women worshipping?

'Tis craft and rottenness!

DIONYSUS.

By day no less, Whoso will seek may find unholiness.

PENTHEUS.

Enough! Thy doom is fixed, for false pretence Corrupting Thebes.

DIONYSUS.

Not mine; but thine, for dense Blindness of heart, and for blaspheming G.o.d!

PENTHEUS.

A ready knave it is, and brazen-browed, This mystery-priest!

DIONYSUS.

Come, say what it shall be, My doom; what dire thing wilt thou do to me?

PENTHEUS.

First, shear that delicate curl that dangles there.

[_He beckons to the soldiers, who approach_ DIONYSUS.

DIONYSUS.

I have vowed it to my G.o.d; 'tis holy hair.

[_The soldiers cut off the tress._

PENTHEUS.

Next, yield me up thy staff!

DIONYSUS.

Raise thine own hand To take it. This is Dionysus' wand.

[PENTHEUS _takes the staff_.

PENTHEUS.

Last, I will hold thee prisoned here.

DIONYSUS.

My Lord G.o.d will unloose me, when I speak the word.

PENTHEUS.

He may, if e'er again amid his bands Of saints he hears thy voice!

DIONYSUS.

Even now he stands Close here, and sees all that I suffer.

PENTHEUS.

What?

Where is he? For mine eyes discern him not.

DIONYSUS.

Where I am! 'Tis thine own impurity That veils him from thee.

PENTHEUS.

The dog jeers at me!

At me and Thebes! Bind him!

[_The soldiers begin to bind him._

DIONYSUS.

I charge ye, bind Me not! I having vision and ye blind!

PENTHEUS.

And I, with better right, say bind the more!

[_The soldiers obey._

DIONYSUS.

Thou knowest not what end thou seekest, nor What deed thou doest, nor what man thou art!

PENTHEUS. (_mocking_).

Agave's son, and on the father's part Echion's, hight Pentheus!

DIONYSUS.