Classical Mythology

282 THE MYTHS OF CREATION: THE GODS

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

like?

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

says nothing.

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

to me?

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

It is not right for you to learn this, but the knowledge is worth much.

Your answer is clever, designed to make me want to hear more.

An impious man is abhorred by the god and his mysteries.

You say that you saw the god clearly; well then, what did he look

He looked as he wished; I had no control over his appearance.

Once again you have sidetracked me cleverly with an answer that

The words of the wise seem foolish to the ignorant.

Have you come here first of all to introduce your god?

Every foreigner already dances his rituals.

Yes, of course, for they are far inferior to Hellenes.

Customs differ, but in these rituals the foreigners are superior.

Do you perform your holy rites by night or by day?

By night for the most part; darkness adds to the solemnity.

For women it is treacherous and corrupt.

One may find, if one looks for it, shameful behavior by daylight too.

You must be punished for your evil sophistries.

And you for your ignorance and blasphemy against the god.

How bold our Bacchant is and how facile his retorts.

What punishment must I suffer? What terrible thing will you do

First I shall cut your pretty locks.

My hair is sacred; it belongs to the god.

Hand over your thyrsus then.

Take it away from me yourself. I carry it for Dionysus; it really

belongs to him.

PENTHEUS: I shall close you up in a prison.

DIONYSUS: The god himself will free me, whenever I wish.

PENTHEUS: As you call on him when you take your stand amid your Bacchic

women, I suppose.

DIONYSUS: Even now he is near at hand and sees what I endure.

Where is he? My eyes cannot see him.

Here with me. But you in your blasphemy cannot perceive him

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

for yourself.

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

PENTHEUS:

DIONYSUS:

Guards, seize him; he is making a fool of me and of all Thebes.

I tell you not to bind me—I am the sane one, not you.

My orders are to bind you, and I have the upper hand.

You do not know what life you live, what you do, or who you are.

I am Pentheus, the son of Agave; my father is Echion.

Your name, Pentheus, which means sorrow, is appropriate for the

doom that will be yours.

PENTHEUS: Get out of here—Guards, imprison him in the neighboring sta-

bles where he may find his secret darkness—do your mystic dances there. And

the women you have brought with you as accomplices in your evil I shall either

keep as slaves myself to work the loom or sell them to others—this will stop

their hands from beating out their din on tambourines.