The Bacchae

Dionysus. (Enter Dionysus.) I to this land of Thebes have come, Zeus' Son Dionysus, born erstwhile of Kadmus' child Semelê, brought by levin-brand to travail. My shape from God to mortal semblance changed, I stand by Dirkê's springs, Ismenus' flood. I see my thunder-blasted mother's tomb Here nigh the halls: the ruins of her home Smoulder with Zeus's flame that liveth yet— Hera's undying outrage on my mother. Kadmus doth well, that he ordains this close, His child's grave, hallowed: with the clustering green Of vines I, even I, embowered it round. Leaving the gold-abounding Lydian meads And Phrygian, o'er the Persian's sun-smit tracts, By Bactrian strongholds, Media's storm-swept land, Still pressing on, by Araby the Blest, And through all Asia, by the briny sea Lying with stately-towered cities thronged, Peopled with Hellenes blent with aliens, To this of Hellene cities first I come. My dances there and rites have I ordained That I might be God manifest to men. So, of all Hellas, Thebes with my acclaim I first thrilled, there with fawn-skin girt her limbs, And gave her hand the ivied thyrsus-spear, Because my mother's sisters—shame on them!— Proclaimed Dionysus never born of Zeus; But Semelê by a man undone, said they, Charged upon Zeus her sin of wantonness— A subtle wile of Kadmus! Hence, they vaunted, Zeus slew the liar who named him paramour. These therefore frenzy-stung I have driven from home, And mid the hills with soul distraught they dwell, The vesture of my revels forced to wear; And all the woman-seed of Kadmus' folk, Yea all, I drave forth raving from their homes: And, mingled with the sons of Kadmus, these 'Neath green pines sit on crags all shelterless. For this Thebes needs must learn, how loth soe'er, What means it not to be in my great rites Initiate, and that Semelê's cause I plead, To men God manifest, whom she bare to Zeus. Now Kadmus gave his crown and royal estate To Pentheus, of another daughter born, Who wars with Heaven in me, and from libations Thrusts, nor makes mention of me in his prayers. Therefore to him my godhead will I prove, And to all Thebans. To another land Then, after triumph here, will I depart, And manifest myself. If Thebes in wrath Take arms to chase her Bacchants from the hills, Leading my Maenads I will clash in fight. For this cause have I taken mortal form, And changed my shape to fashion of a man. Ho, ye who Lydia's rock-wall, Tmolus, left, Women, my revel-rout, from alien homes To share my rest and my wayfaring brought, Uplift the cymbals to the Phrygian towns Native, great Mother Rhea's device and mine, And smite them, compassing yon royal halls Of Pentheus, so that Kadmus' town may see. I to Kithairon's glens will go, where bide My Bacchanals, and join the dances there. (Exit.) Enter Chorus, waving the thyrsus-wands, and clashing their timbrels.