Third Episode
A VOICE WITHIN.Io! Io!Awake, ye damsels; hear my cry,Calling my Chosen; hearken ye!
A MAIDEN.Who speaketh? Oh, what echoes thus?
ANOTHER.A Voice, a Voice, that calleth us!
THE VOICE.Be of good cheer! Lo, it is I,The Child of Zeus and Semele.
A MAIDEN.O Master, Master, it is Thou!
ANOTHER.O Holy Voice, be with us now!
THE VOICE.Spirit of the Chained Earthquake,Hear my word; awake, awake!
(An Earthquake suddenly shakes the pillars of the Castle.)
A MAIDEN.Ha! what is coming? Shall the hallOf Pentheus racked in ruin fall?
LEADER.Our God is in the house! Ye maids adore Him!
CHORUS.We adore Him all!
THE VOICE.Unveil the Lightning's eye; arouseThe fire that sleeps, against this house!
(Fire leaps up on the Tomb of Semele.)
A MAIDEN.Ah, saw ye, marked ye there the flameFrom Semele's enhallowed sodAwakened? Yea, the Death that cameAblaze from heaven of old, the sameHot splendour of the shaft of God?
LEADER.Oh, cast ye, cast ye, to the earth! The LordCometh against this house! Oh, cast ye down,Ye trembling damsels; He, our own adored,God's Child hath come, and all is overthrown!
(The Maidens cast themselves upon the ground, their eyes earthward.)DIONYSUS, alone and unbound, enters from the Castle.
DIONYSUS.Ye Damsels of the Morning Hills, why lie ye thus dismayed?Ye marked him, then, our Master, and the mighty hand he laidOn tower and rock, shaking the house of Pentheus?--But arise,And cast the trembling from your flesh, and lift untroubled eyes.
LEADER.O Light in Darkness, is it thou? O Priest, is this thy face?My heart leaps out to greet thee from the deep of loneliness.
DIONYSUS.Fell ye so quick despairing, when beneath the Gate I passed?Should the gates of Pentheus quell me, or his darkness make me fast?
LEADER.Oh, what was left if thou wert gone? What could I but despair?How hast thou 'scaped the man of sin? Who freed thee from the snare?
DIONYSUS.I had no pain nor peril; 'twas mine own hand set me free.
LEADER.Thine arms were gyved!
DIONYSUS.Nay, no gyve, no touch, was laid on me!'Twas there I mocked him, in his gyves, and gave him dreams for food.For when he led me down, behold, before the stall there stoodA Bull of Offering. And this King, he bit his lips, and straightFell on and bound it, hoof and limb, with gasping wrath and sweat.And I sat watching!--Then a Voice; and lo, our Lord was come,And the house shook, and a great flame stood o'er his mother's tomb.And Pentheus hied this way and that, and called his thralls amainFor water, lest his roof-tree burn; and all toiled, all in vain.Then deemed a-sudden I was gone; and left his fire, and spedBack to the prison portals, and his lifted sword shone red.But there, methinks, the God had wrought--I speak but as I guess--Some dream-shape in mine image; for he smote at emptiness,Stabbed in the air, and strove in wrath, as though 'twere me he slew.Then 'mid his dreams God smote him yet again! He overthrewAll that high house. And there in wreck for evermore it lies,That the day of this my bondage may be sore in Pentheus' eyes!And now his sword is fallen, and he lies outworn and wanWho dared to rise against his God in wrath, being but man.And I uprose and left him, and in all peace took my pathForth to my Chosen, recking light of Pentheus and his wrath.But soft, methinks a footstep sounds even now within the hall;'Tis he; how think ye he will stand, and what words speak withal?I will endure him gently, though he come in fury hot.For still are the ways of Wisdom, and her temper trembleth not!
(Enter PENTHEUS in fury.)
PENTHEUS.It is too much! This Eastern knave hath slippedHis prison, whom I held but now, hard grippedIn bondage.--Ha! 'Tis he!--What, sirrah, howShow'st thou before my portals?
(He advances furiously upon him.)
DIONYSUS.Softly thou!And set a quiet carriage to thy rage.
PENTHEUS.How comest thou here? How didst thou break thy cage?Speak!
DIONYSUS.Said I not, or didst thou mark not me,There was One living that should set me free?
PENTHEUS.Who? Ever wilder are these tales of thine.
DIONYSUS.He who first made for man the clustered vine.
PENTHEUS.I scorn him and his vines!
DIONYSUS.For Dionyse'Tis well; for in thy scorn his glory lies.
PENTHEUS (to his guard).Go swift to all the towers, and bar withalEach gate!
DIONYSUS.What, cannot God o'erleap a wall?
PENTHEUS.Oh, wit thou hast, save where thou needest it!
DIONYSUS.Whereso it most imports, there is my wit!--Nay, peace! Abide till he who hasteth fromThe mountain side with news for thee, be come.We will not fly, but wait on thy command.
(Enter suddenly and in haste a Messenger from the Mountain.)
MESSENGER.Great Pentheus, Lord of all this Theban land,I come from high Kithaeron, where the froreSnow spangles gleam and cease not evermore. . .
PENTHEUS.And what of import may thy coming bring?
MESSENGER.I have seen the Wild White Women there, O King,Whose fleet limbs darted arrow-like but nowFrom Thebes away, and come to tell thee howThey work strange deeds and passing marvel. YetI first would learn thy pleasure. Shall I setMy whole tale forth, or veil the stranger part?Yea, Lord, I fear the swiftness of thy heart,Thine edged wrath and more than royal soul.
PENTHEUS.Thy tale shall nothing scathe thee.--Tell the whole.It skills not to be wroth with honesty.Nay, if thy news of them be dark, 'tis heShall pay it, who bewitched and led them on.
MESSENGER.Our herded kine were moving in the dawnUp to the peaks, the greyest, coldest time,When the first rays steal earthward, and the rimeYields, when I saw three bands of them. The oneAutonoe led, one Ino, one thine ownMother, Agave. There beneath the treesSleeping they lay, like wild things flung at easeIn the forest; one half sinking on a bedOf deep pine greenery; one with careless headAmid the fallen oak leaves; all most coldIn purity--not as thy tale was toldOf wine-cups and wild music and the chaseFor love amid the forest's loneliness.Then rose the Queen Agave suddenlyAmid her band, and gave the God's wild cry,"Awake, ye Bacchanals! I hear the soundOf horned kine. Awake ye!"--Then, all round,Alert, the warm sleep fallen from their eyes,A marvel of swift ranks I saw them rise,Dames young and old, and gentle maids unwedAmong them. O'er their shoulders first they shedTheir tresses, and caught up the fallen foldOf mantles where some clasp had loosened hold,And girt the dappled fawn-skins in with longQuick snakes that hissed and writhed with quivering tongue.And one a young fawn held, and one a wildWolf cub, and fed them with white milk, and smiledIn love, young mothers with a mother's breastAnd babes at home forgotten! Then they pressedWreathed ivy round their brows, and oaken spraysAnd flowering bryony. And one would raiseHer wand and smite the rock, and straight a jetOf quick bright water came. Another setHer thyrsus in the bosomed earth, and thereWas red wine that the God sent up to her,A darkling fountain. And if any lipsSought whiter draughts, with dipping finger-tipsThey pressed the sod, and gushing from the groundCame springs of milk. And reed-wands ivy-crownedRan with sweet honey, drop by drop.--O King,Hadst thou been there, as I, and seen this thing,With prayer and most high wonder hadst thou goneTo adore this God whom now thou rail'st upon!Howbeit, the kine-wardens and shepherds straightCame to one place, amazed, and held debate;And one being there who walked the streets and scannedThe ways of speech, took lead of them whose handKnew but the slow soil and the solemn hill,And flattering spoke, and asked: "Is it your will,Masters, we stay the mother of the King,Agave, from her lawless worshipping,And win us royal thanks?"--And this seemed goodTo all; and through the branching underwoodWe hid us, cowering in the leaves. And thereThrough the appointed hour they made their prayerAnd worship of the Wand, with one accordOf heart and cry--"Iacchos, Bromios, Lord,God of God born!"--And all the mountain felt,And worshipped with them; and the wild things kneltAnd ramped and gloried, and the wildernessWas filled with moving voices and dim stress.Soon, as it chanced, beside my thicket-closeThe Queen herself passed dancing, and I roseAnd sprang to seize her. But she turned her faceUpon me: "Ho, my rovers of the chase,My wild White Hounds, we are hunted! Up, each rodAnd follow, follow, for our Lord and God!"Thereat, for fear they tear us, all we fledAmazed; and on, with hand unweaponedThey swept toward our herds that browsed the greenHill grass. Great uddered kine then hadst thou seenBellowing in sword-like hands that cleave and tear,A live steer riven asunder, and the airTossed with rent ribs or limbs of cloven tread,And flesh upon the branches, and a redRain from the deep green pines. Yea, bulls of pride,Horns swift to rage, were fronted and asideFlung stumbling, by those multitudinous handsDragged pitilessly. And swifter were the bandsOf garbed flesh and bone unbound withalThan on thy royal eyes the lids may fall.Then on like birds, by their own speed upborne,They swept toward the plains of waving cornThat lie beside Asopus' banks, and bringTo Thebes the rich fruit of her harvesting.On Hysiae and Erythrae that lie nursedAmid Kithaeron's bowering rocks, they burstDestroying, as a foeman's army comes.They caught up little children from their homes,High on their shoulders, babes unheld, that swayedAnd laughed and fell not; all a wreck they made;Yea, bronze and iron did shatter, and in playStruck hither and thither, yet no wound had they;Caught fire from out the hearths, yea, carried hotFlames in their tresses and were scorched not!The village folk in wrath took spear and sword,And turned upon the Bacchae. Then, dread Lord,The wonder was. For spear nor barbed brandCould scathe nor touch the damsels; but the Wand,The soft and wreathed wand their white hands sped,Blasted those men and quelled them, and they fledDizzily. Sure some God was in these things!And the holy women back to those strange springsReturned, that God had sent them when the dayDawned, on the upper heights; and washed awayThe stain of battle. And those girdling snakesHissed out to lap the waterdrops from cheeksAnd hair and breast.Therefore I counsel thee,O King, receive this Spirit, whoe'er he be,To Thebes in glory. Greatness manifoldIs all about him; and the tale is toldThat this is he who first to man did giveThe grief-assuaging vine. Oh, let him live;For if he die, then Love herself is slain,And nothing joyous in the world again!
LEADER.Albeit I tremble, and scarce may speak my thoughtTo a king's face, yet will I hide it not.Dionyse is God, no God more true nor higher!
PENTHEUS.It bursts hard by us, like a smothered fire,This frenzy of Bacchic women! All my landIs made their mock.--This needs an iron hand!Ho, Captain! Quick to the Electran Gate;Bid gather all my men-at-arms thereat;Call all that spur the charger, all who knowTo wield the orbed targe or bend the bow;We march to war!--'Fore God, shall women dareSuch deeds against us? 'Tis too much to bear!
DIONYSUS.Thou mark'st me not, O King, and holdest lightMy solemn words; yet, in thine own despite,I warn thee still. Lift thou not up thy spearAgainst a God, but hold thy peace, and fearHis wrath! He will not brook it, if thou frightHis Chosen from the hills of their delight.
PENTHEUS.Peace, thou! And if for once thou hast slipped thy chain,Give thanks!--Or shall I knot thine arms again?
DIONYSUS.Better to yield him prayer and sacrificeThan kick against the pricks, since DionyseIs God, and thou but mortal.
PENTHEUS.That will I!Yea, sacrifice of women's blood, to cryHis name through all Kithaeron!
DIONYSUS.Ye shall fly,All, and abase your shields of bronzen rimBefore their wands.
PENTHEUS.There is no way with him,This stranger that so dogs us! Well or illI may entreat him, he must babble still!
DIONYSUS.Wait, good my friend! These crooked matters mayEven yet be straightened.
(PENTHEUS has started as though to seek his army at the gate.)
PENTHEUS.Aye, if I obeyMine own slaves' will; how else?
DIONYSUS.Myself will leadThe damsels hither, without sword or steed.
PENTHEUS.How now?--This is some plot against me!
DIONYSUS.WhatDost fear? Only to save thee do I plot.
PENTHEUS.It is some compact ye have made, wherebyTo dance these hills for ever!
DIONYSUS.Verily,That is my compact, plighted with my Lord!
PENTHEUS (turning from him).Ho, armourers! Bring forth my shield and sword!--And thou, be silent!
DIONYSUS.(After regarding him fixedly, speaks with resignation)
Ah!--Have then thy will!
(He fixes his eyes upon PENTHEUS again, while the armourers bring out his armour; then speaks in a tone of command.)
Man, thou wouldst fain behold them on the hillPraying!
PENTHEUS.(Who during the rest of this scene, with a few exceptions, simply speaks the thoughts that DIONYSUS puts into him, losing power over his own mind)
That would I, though it cost me allThe gold of Thebes!
DIONYSUS.So much? Thou art quick to fallTo such great longing.
PENTHEUS.(Somewhat bewildered at what he has said)
Aye; 'twould grieve me muchTo see them flown with wine.
DIONYSUS.Yet cravest thou suchA sight as would much grieve thee?
PENTHEUS.Yes; I fainWould watch, ambushed among the pines.
DIONYSUS.'Twere vainTo hide. They soon will track thee out.
PENTHEUS.Well said!'Twere best done openly.
DIONYSUS.Wilt thou be ledBy me, and try the venture?
PENTHEUS.Aye, indeed!Lead on. Why should we tarry?
DIONYSUS.First we needA rich and trailing robe of fine-linenTo gird thee.
PENTHEUS.Nay; am I a woman, then,And no man more?
DIONYSUS.Wouldst have them slay thee dead?No man may see their mysteries.
PENTHEUS.Well said!--I marked thy subtle temper long ere now.
DIONYSUS.'Tis Dionyse that prompteth me.
PENTHEUS.And howMean'st thou the further plan?
DIONYSUS.First take thy wayWithin. I will array thee.
PENTHEUS.What array?The woman's? Nay, I will not.
DIONYSUS.Doth it changeSo soon, all thy desire to see this strangeAdoring?
PENTHEUS.Wait! What garb wilt thou bestowAbout me?
DIONYSUS.First a long tress dangling lowBeneath thy shoulders.
PENTHEUS.Aye, and next?
DIONYSUS.The saidRobe, falling to thy feet; and on thine headA snood.
PENTHEUS.And after? Hast thou aught beyond?
DIONYSUS.Surely; the dappled fawn-skin and the wand.
PENTHEUS (after a struggle with himself).Enough! I cannot wear a robe and snood.
DIONYSUS.Wouldst liefer draw the sword and spill men's blood?
PENTHEUS (again doubting).True, that were evil.--Aye; 'tis best to goFirst to some place of watch.
DIONYSUS.Far wiser so,Than seek by wrath wrath's bitter recompense.
PENTHEUS.What of the city streets? Canst lead me henceUnseen of any?
DIONYSUS.Lonely and untriedThy path from hence shall be, and I thy guide!
PENTHEUS.I care for nothing, so these BacchanalsTriumph not against me! . . . Forward to my hallsWithin!--I will ordain what seemeth best.
DIONYSUS.So be it, O King! 'Tis mine to obey thine hest,Whate'er it be.
PENTHEUS.(After hesitating once more and waiting)
Well, I will go--perchanceTo march and scatter them with serried lance,Perchance to take thy plan. . . . I know not yet.
(Exit PENTHEUS into the Castle.)
DIONYSUS.Damsels, the lion walketh to the net!He finds his Bacchae now, and sees and dies,And pays for all his sin!--O Dionyse,This is thine hour and thou not far away.Grant us our vengeance!--First, O Master, stayThe course of reason in him, and instilA foam of madness. Let his seeing will,Which ne'er had stooped to put thy vesture on,Be darkened, till the deed is lightly done.Grant likewise that he find through all his streetsLoud scorn, this man of wrath and bitter threatsThat made Thebes tremble, led in woman's guise.I go to fold that robe of sacrificeOn Pentheus, that shall deck him to the dark,His mother's gift!--So shall he learn and markGod's true Son, Dionyse, in fulness God,Most fearful, yet to man most soft of mood.
(Exit DIONYSUS, following PENTHEUS into the Castle.)
Words in this poem 65
- semele n.
- A daughter of Cadmus, and by Zeus mother of Bacchus.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- adore v. t.
- To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to honor as deity or as divine. [OE. aouren, anouren, adoren, OF. aorer, adorer, F. adorer, fr. L. adorare; ad + orare to speak, pray, os, oris, mouth. In OE. confused with honor, the French pr]
- unveil v. t.
- To remove a veil from; to divest of a veil; to uncover; to disclose to view; to reveal; as, she unveiled her face. [1st pref. un- + veil.]
- ablaze adv.
- On fire; in a blaze, gleaming. Milman. [Pref. a- + blaze.]
- splendour n.
- Great brightness; brilliant luster; brilliancy; as, the splendor ot the sun. B. Jonson. [L. fr. splendere to shine: cf. F. splendeur.]
- earthward adv.
- Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward.
- loneliness n.
- The condition of being lonely; solitude; seclusion.
- despairing a.
- Feeling or expressing despair; hopeless.
- quell v. t.
- To take the life of; to kill. [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- gyve n.
- A shackle; especially, one to confine the legs; a fetter. [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. gefyn, Ir. geibbionn, Gael. geimheal.]
- shook v. t.
- To pack, as staves, in a shook.
- amain adv.
- With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
- methinks v.
- It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
- evermore adv.
- During eternity; always; forever; for an indefinite period; at all times; -- often used substantively with for.
- withal adv.
- With this; with that. [With + all.]
- knave n.
- A boy; especially, a boy servant. Wyclif. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.]
- didst
- , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
- theban a.
- Of or pertaining to Thebes. Theban year (Anc. Chron.), the Egyptian year of 365 days and 6 hours. J. Bryant. [L. Thebanus.]
- scathe v. t.
- To do harm to; to injure; to damage; to waste; to destroy. [Icel. skatha; akin to AS. sceathan, sceth\'eban, Dan. skade, Sw. skada, D. & G. schaden, OHG. scadon, Goth. skaÞjan.]
- wroth a.
- Full of wrath; angry; incensed; much exasperated; wrathful. [OE. wroth, wrap, AS. wraedh wroth, crooked, bad; akin to wriedhan to writhe, and to OS. wreedhangry, D. wreed cruel, OHG. reid twisted, Icel. reiedhr angry, Dan]
- rime n.
- A rent or long aperture; a chink; a fissure; a crack. Sir T. [L. rima.]
- greenery n.
- Green plants; verdure.
- amid prep.
- In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
- girt v. t.
- To gird; to encircle; to invest by means of a girdle; to measure the girth of; as, to girt a tree. [From Girt, n., cf. Girth, v.]
- dappled a.
- Marked with spots of different shades of color; spotted; variegated; as, a dapple horse.
- oaken a.
- Made or consisting of oaks or of the wood of oaks. [AS. acen.]
- bosomed a.
- Having, or resembling, bosom; kept in the bosom; hidden.
- darkling a.
- Becoming dark or gloomy; frowing.
- howbeit conj.
- Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; although; albeit; yet; but; however. [How + be + it.]
- spoke n.
- The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
- underwood n.
- Small trees and bushes that grow among large trees; coppice; underbrush; -- formerly used in the plural.
- gloried a.
- Illustrious; honorable; noble. [See Glory.]
- thereat adv.
- At that place; there.
- uddered a.
- Having an udder or udders.
- multitudinous a.
- Consisting of a multitude; manifold in number or condition; as, multitudinous waves.
- swifter v. t.
- To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.
- garbed a.
- Dressed; habited; clad.
- swayed a.
- Bent down, and hollow in the back; sway-backed; -- said of a horse.
- folk n.
- In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
- blasted a.
- Blighted; withered.
- dizzily adv.
- In a dizzy manner or state.
- albeit conj.
- Even though; although; notwithstanding. [OE. al be although it be, where al is our all. Cf. Although.]
- scarce a.
- Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
- bacchic a.
- Of or relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial, or riotous,with intoxication.
- needs adv.
- Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
- charger n.
- One who, or that which charges.
- wield v. t.
- To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
- orbed a.
- Having the form of an orb; round.
- targe n.
- A shield or target. [F. Cf. Target.]
- entreat v. t.
- To treat, or conduct toward; to deal with; to use. [OE. entreten to treat, request, OF. entraiter to treat of; pref. en- (L. in) + traitier to treat. See Treat.]
- steed n.
- A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
- resignation n.
- The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or comission. [F. résignation. See Resign.]
- armour n.
- Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
- fain v. t.
- To be glad ; to wish or desire.
- flown a.
- Flushed, inflated.
- garb n.
- External appearance, as expressive of the feelings or character; looks; fashion or manner, as of speech. [OF. garbe looks, countenance, grace, ornament, fr. OHG. garawi, garwi, ornament, dress. akin to E. gear. See Gear, n.]
- tress n.
- A braid, knot, or curl, of hair; a ringlet. [OE. tresse, OF. trece, F. tresse, LL. tricia, fr. Gr. tri`cha threefold, because a tress is usually formed by interlacing three pieces; akin to trei^s three. Se]
- snood n.
- The fillet which binds the hair of a young unmarried woman, and is emblematic of her maiden character. [AS. sn. Cf. Snare.]
- aught n.
- Property; possession. [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
- spill n.
- A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]
- unseen a.
- Not seen or discovered.
- hest n.
- Command; precept; injunction. See Behest. [AS. hs, fr. h to call, bid. See Hight, and cf. Behest.]
- serried a.
- Crowded; compact; dense; pressed together. [See Serry.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Third Episode is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Bacchae of Euripides, translated into English verse by Gilbert Murray, Project Gutenberg ebook #35173, the Gilbert Murray translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Euripides, Third Episode, in The Bacchae (1904), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #35173, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/euripides-bacchae/third-episode.html, id L28769.
Form and metre
Third Episode is 453 lines in 103 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 86%).
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 --AA within · io · cryA · yeA
- 4 -AA voice · iA · semeleA
- 7 -AA voice · earthquakeA · awakeA
- 9 -AA maiden · hallA · fallA
- 14 -ABAAB maiden · flameA · sodB · cameA · sameA · godB
- 15 -A-A- leader · lordA · down · adoredA · overthrown
- 17 -AABB dionysus · dismayedA · laidA · ariseB · eyesB
- 18 -AA leader · faceA · lonelinessA
- 19 -AA dionysus · passedA · fastA
- 20 -AA leader · despairA · snareA
- 23 --------AABBCCDDEE--FFGGHH dionysus · me · food · stood · straight · sweat · come · tomb · amainA · vainA · spedB · redB · guessC · emptinessC · slewD · overthrewD · liesE · eyesE · wan · man · pathF · wrathF · hallG · withalG · hotH · notH
- 25 -AA-- pentheus · slippedA · grippedA · how · portals
- 29 -AA dionysus · meA · freeA
- 37 --AA- dionysus · wit · fromA · comeA · command
- 39 --AA messenger · land · froreA · evermoreA
- 41 --AABBCC- messenger · king · nowA · howA · yetB · setB · partC · heartC · soul
- 43 --AA--BBCCDDEE--FFGGHHII--JJKKLLMM--NNOOPP--QQRRSSTTUUVVWWXXYYY-YYZZ--aabbccddeeffgghhii--jjkkllmm--nnoopp---qqrr---- messenger · dawn · timeA · rimeA · one · own · treesB · easeB · bedC · headC · coldD · toldD · chaseE · lonelinessE · suddenly · cry · soundF · roundF · eyesG · riseG · unwedH · shedH · foldI · holdI · long · tongue · wildJ · smiledJ · breastK · pressedK · spraysL · raiseL · jetM · setM · there · her · lipsN · tipsN · groundO · crownedO · kingP · thingP · gone · upon · straightQ · debateQ · scannedR · handR · hillS · willS · kingT · worshippingT · goodU · underwoodU · thereV · prayerV · accordW · lordW · feltX · kneltX · wildernessY · stressY · closeY · rose · faceY · chaseY · rodZ · godZ · fled · unweaponed · greena · seena · tearb · airb · treadc · redc · prided · asided · handse · bandse · withalf · fallf · upborneg · corng · bringh · harvestingh · nursedi · bursti · comes · homes · swayedj · madej · playk · theyk · hotl · notl · swordm · lordm · brand · wand · spedn · fledn · thingso · springso · dayp · awayp · snakes · cheeks · breast · theeq · beq · manifoldr · toldr · give · live · slain · again
- 45 --AA--BBCC pentheus · fire · landA · handA · gate · thereat · knowB · bowB · dareC · bearC
- 46 -AABBAA dionysus · lightA · despiteA · spearB · fearB · frightA · delightA
- 47 -AA pentheus · chainA · againA
- 49 -AA- pentheus · iA · cryA · kithaeron
- 51 --AA pentheus · him · illA · stillA
- 55 -AA dionysus · leadA · steedA
- 84 -AA- dionysus · changeA · strangeA · adoring
- 88 -AA- dionysus · saidA · headA · snood
- 96 -AA dionysus · untriedA · guideA
- 97 -AA- pentheus · bacchanalsA · hallsA · best
- 100 AA- perchanceA · lanceA · yet
- 102 --A-BBCC----A-DD-- dionysus · net · diesA · dionyse · awayB · stayB · instilC · willC · on · done · streets · threats · guiseA · sacrifice · darkD · markD · god · mood
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| A VOICE WITHIN. | 4 | ···· |
| Io! Io! | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| Awake, ye damsels; hear my cry, | 8 | ˘/·/˘··· |
| Calling my Chosen; hearken ye! | 8 | /˘·/˘/˘· |
| A MAIDEN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Who speaketh? Oh, what echoes thus? | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| ANOTHER. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| A Voice, a Voice, that calleth us! | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| THE VOICE. | 2 | ·· |
| Be of good cheer! Lo, it is I, | 8 | ········ |
| The Child of Zeus and Semele. | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| A MAIDEN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| O Master, Master, it is Thou! | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| ANOTHER. | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| O Holy Voice, be with us now! | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| THE VOICE. | 2 | ·· |
| Spirit of the Chained Earthquake, | 7 | /˘···/· |
| Hear my word; awake, awake! | 7 | ···˘/˘/ |
| (An Earthquake suddenly shakes the pillars of the Castle.) | 13 | ·/·/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| A MAIDEN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Ha! what is coming? Shall the hall | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Of Pentheus racked in ruin fall? | 9 | ····˘·/˘· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Our God is in the house! Ye maids adore Him! | 11 | /·······˘/· |
| CHORUS. | 2 | /˘ |
| We adore Him all! | 5 | ·˘/·· |
| THE VOICE. | 2 | ·· |
| Unveil the Lightning's eye; arouse | 8 | ˘/·/˘·˘/ |
| The fire that sleeps, against this house! | 9 | ·/˘······ |
| (Fire leaps up on the Tomb of Semele.) | 10 | /······/˘· |
| A MAIDEN. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Ah, saw ye, marked ye there the flame | 9 | ····˘···· |
| From Semele's enhallowed sod | 9 | ·/˘····˘· |
| Awakened? Yea, the Death that came | 9 | ˘/˘˘····· |
| Ablaze from heaven of old, the same | 9 | ˘/·/˘···· |
| Hot splendour of the shaft of God? | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Oh, cast ye, cast ye, to the earth! The Lord | 10 | ·········· |
| Cometh against this house! Oh, cast ye down, | 10 | /˘········ |
| Ye trembling damsels; He, our own adored, | 10 | ·/˘/˘·/·˘/ |
| God's Child hath come, and all is overthrown! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| (The Maidens cast themselves upon the ground, their eyes earthward.) | 14 | ·/˘·˘/········ |
| DIONYSUS, alone and unbound, enters from the Castle. | 14 | ···˘/·˘//˘··/˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Ye Damsels of the Morning Hills, why lie ye thus dismayed? | 14 | ·/˘··/˘·····˘/ |
| Ye marked him, then, our Master, and the mighty hand he laid | 14 | ····//˘··/˘··· |
| On tower and rock, shaking the house of Pentheus?--But arise, | 14 | ·/··/˘······˘/ |
| And cast the trembling from your flesh, and lift untroubled eyes. | 14 | ···/˘·····˘/˘· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| O Light in Darkness, is it thou? O Priest, is this thy face? | 14 | ···/˘········· |
| My heart leaps out to greet thee from the deep of loneliness. | 13 | ···········/˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Fell ye so quick despairing, when beneath the Gate I passed? | 14 | ····˘/˘······· |
| Should the gates of Pentheus quell me, or his darkness make me fast? | 15 | ··········/˘··· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Oh, what was left if thou wert gone? What could I but despair? | 14 | ············˘/ |
| How hast thou 'scaped the man of sin? Who freed thee from the snare? | 14 | ·············· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| I had no pain nor peril; 'twas mine own hand set me free. | 14 | ·····/˘······· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Thine arms were gyved! | 4 | ···· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Nay, no gyve, no touch, was laid on me! | 9 | ········· |
| 'Twas there I mocked him, in his gyves, and gave him dreams for food. | 14 | ·············· |
| For when he led me down, behold, before the stall there stood | 14 | ······˘/······ |
| A Bull of Offering. And this King, he bit his lips, and straight | 14 | ···/˘········· |
| Fell on and bound it, hoof and limb, with gasping wrath and sweat. | 14 | ·········/˘··· |
| And I sat watching!--Then a Voice; and lo, our Lord was come, | 14 | ···/˘·····/··· |
| And the house shook, and a great flame stood o'er his mother's tomb. | 14 | ···········/˘· |
| And Pentheus hied this way and that, and called his thralls amain | 14 | ············˘/ |
| For water, lest his roof-tree burn; and all toiled, all in vain. | 14 | ·/˘··········· |
| Then deemed a-sudden I was gone; and left his fire, and sped | 14 | ···/˘······/·· |
| Back to the prison portals, and his lifted sword shone red. | 14 | ···/˘/˘··/˘··· |
| But there, methinks, the God had wrought--I speak but as I guess-- | 14 | ··˘/·········· |
| Some dream-shape in mine image; for he smote at emptiness, | 13 | ·····/˘····/˘ |
| Stabbed in the air, and strove in wrath, as though 'twere me he slew. | 14 | ·············· |
| Then 'mid his dreams God smote him yet again! He overthrew | 14 | ········˘/··˘/ |
| All that high house. And there in wreck for evermore it lies, | 14 | ·········/˘··· |
| That the day of this my bondage may be sore in Pentheus' eyes! | 15 | ······/˘······· |
| And now his sword is fallen, and he lies outworn and wan | 14 | ·····/˘······· |
| Who dared to rise against his God in wrath, being but man. | 13 | ··········/·· |
| And I uprose and left him, and in all peace took my path | 14 | ·············· |
| Forth to my Chosen, recking light of Pentheus and his wrath. | 14 | ···/˘/˘······· |
| But soft, methinks a footstep sounds even now within the hall; | 14 | ··˘/·/··/····· |
| 'Tis he; how think ye he will stand, and what words speak withal? | 14 | ············˘/ |
| I will endure him gently, though he come in fury hot. | 14 | ··˘/·/˘····/˘· |
| For still are the ways of Wisdom, and her temper trembleth not! | 15 | ······/˘··/˘/˘· |
| (Enter PENTHEUS in fury.) | 7 | /˘···/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| It is too much! This Eastern knave hath slipped | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| His prison, whom I held but now, hard gripped | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| In bondage.--Ha! 'Tis he!--What, sirrah, how | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Show'st thou before my portals? | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| (He advances furiously upon him.) | 10 | ·˘/˘/˘˘··· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Softly thou! | 3 | /˘· |
| And set a quiet carriage to thy rage. | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| How comest thou here? How didst thou break thy cage? | 11 | ··········· |
| Speak! | 1 | · |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Said I not, or didst thou mark not me, | 9 | ········· |
| There was One living that should set me free? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Who? Ever wilder are these tales of thine. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| He who first made for man the clustered vine. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| I scorn him and his vines! | 6 | ······ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| For Dionyse | 3 | ··· |
| 'Tis well; for in thy scorn his glory lies. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| PENTHEUS (to his guard). | 5 | ····· |
| Go swift to all the towers, and bar withal | 10 | ·····/··˘/ |
| Each gate! | 2 | ·· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| What, cannot God o'erleap a wall? | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Oh, wit thou hast, save where thou needest it! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Whereso it most imports, there is my wit!-- | 10 | /˘··/˘···· |
| Nay, peace! Abide till he who hasteth from | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| The mountain side with news for thee, be come. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| We will not fly, but wait on thy command. | 10 | ········˘/ |
| (Enter suddenly and in haste a Messenger from the Mountain.) | 14 | /˘/˘····/˘··/˘ |
| MESSENGER. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Great Pentheus, Lord of all this Theban land, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| I come from high Kithaeron, where the frore | 10 | ·········· |
| Snow spangles gleam and cease not evermore. . . | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| And what of import may thy coming bring? | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| MESSENGER. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| I have seen the Wild White Women there, O King, | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| Whose fleet limbs darted arrow-like but now | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| From Thebes away, and come to tell thee how | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| They work strange deeds and passing marvel. Yet | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| I first would learn thy pleasure. Shall I set | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| My whole tale forth, or veil the stranger part? | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Yea, Lord, I fear the swiftness of thy heart, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Thine edged wrath and more than royal soul. | 10 | ··˘····/˘· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Thy tale shall nothing scathe thee.--Tell the whole. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| It skills not to be wroth with honesty. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Nay, if thy news of them be dark, 'tis he | 10 | ·········· |
| Shall pay it, who bewitched and led them on. | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| MESSENGER. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Our herded kine were moving in the dawn | 10 | //˘··/˘··· |
| Up to the peaks, the greyest, coldest time, | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| When the first rays steal earthward, and the rime | 10 | ·········· |
| Yields, when I saw three bands of them. The one | 10 | ·········· |
| Autonoe led, one Ino, one thine own | 10 | ·········· |
| Mother, Agave. There beneath the trees | 10 | /˘˘/˘····· |
| Sleeping they lay, like wild things flung at ease | 10 | /˘········ |
| In the forest; one half sinking on a bed | 11 | ··/˘··/˘··· |
| Of deep pine greenery; one with careless head | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Amid the fallen oak leaves; all most cold | 10 | ˘/·/˘····· |
| In purity--not as thy tale was told | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| Of wine-cups and wild music and the chase | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| For love amid the forest's loneliness. | 10 | ··˘/·/˘/˘˘ |
| Then rose the Queen Agave suddenly | 10 | ····˘/˘/˘˘ |
| Amid her band, and gave the God's wild cry, | 10 | ˘/········ |
| "Awake, ye Bacchanals! I hear the sound | 10 | ˘/·˘/˘···· |
| Of horned kine. Awake ye!"--Then, all round, | 10 | ··˘·˘/···· |
| Alert, the warm sleep fallen from their eyes, | 10 | ˘/···/˘··· |
| A marvel of swift ranks I saw them rise, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Dames young and old, and gentle maids unwed | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| Among them. O'er their shoulders first they shed | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Their tresses, and caught up the fallen fold | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Of mantles where some clasp had loosened hold, | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| And girt the dappled fawn-skins in with long | 10 | ····˘····· |
| Quick snakes that hissed and writhed with quivering tongue. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And one a young fawn held, and one a wild | 10 | ·········· |
| Wolf cub, and fed them with white milk, and smiled | 10 | ·········· |
| In love, young mothers with a mother's breast | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| And babes at home forgotten! Then they pressed | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Wreathed ivy round their brows, and oaken sprays | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| And flowering bryony. And one would raise | 10 | ·/˘/˘˘···· |
| Her wand and smite the rock, and straight a jet | 10 | ·········· |
| Of quick bright water came. Another set | 10 | ···/˘·˘/˘· |
| Her thyrsus in the bosomed earth, and there | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Was red wine that the God sent up to her, | 10 | ·········· |
| A darkling fountain. And if any lips | 10 | ·/˘/˘··/˘· |
| Sought whiter draughts, with dipping finger-tips | 10 | ·/˘··/˘/˘· |
| They pressed the sod, and gushing from the ground | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Came springs of milk. And reed-wands ivy-crowned | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Ran with sweet honey, drop by drop.--O King, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Hadst thou been there, as I, and seen this thing, | 10 | ·········· |
| With prayer and most high wonder hadst thou gone | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To adore this God whom now thou rail'st upon! | 11 | ·˘/········ |
| Howbeit, the kine-wardens and shepherds straight | 11 | ˘/˘··/˘·/˘· |
| Came to one place, amazed, and held debate; | 10 | ····˘/··˘/ |
| And one being there who walked the streets and scanned | 10 | ··/······· |
| The ways of speech, took lead of them whose hand | 10 | ·········· |
| Knew but the slow soil and the solemn hill, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And flattering spoke, and asked: "Is it your will, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Masters, we stay the mother of the King, | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| Agave, from her lawless worshipping, | 10 | ˘/˘··/˘/˘˘ |
| And win us royal thanks?"--And this seemed good | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| To all; and through the branching underwood | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| We hid us, cowering in the leaves. And there | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Through the appointed hour they made their prayer | 10 | ··˘/˘/···· |
| And worship of the Wand, with one accord | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Of heart and cry--"Iacchos, Bromios, Lord, | 9 | ········· |
| God of God born!"--And all the mountain felt, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And worshipped with them; and the wild things knelt | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| And ramped and gloried, and the wilderness | 10 | ···/˘··/˘˘ |
| Was filled with moving voices and dim stress. | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Soon, as it chanced, beside my thicket-close | 10 | ····˘/·/˘· |
| The Queen herself passed dancing, and I rose | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| And sprang to seize her. But she turned her face | 10 | ·········· |
| Upon me: "Ho, my rovers of the chase, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| My wild White Hounds, we are hunted! Up, each rod | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| And follow, follow, for our Lord and God!" | 10 | ·/˘/˘·/··· |
| Thereat, for fear they tear us, all we fled | 10 | ˘/········ |
| Amazed; and on, with hand unweaponed | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| They swept toward our herds that browsed the green | 10 | ····/····· |
| Hill grass. Great uddered kine then hadst thou seen | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Bellowing in sword-like hands that cleave and tear, | 10 | /˘········ |
| A live steer riven asunder, and the air | 11 | ···/˘˘/˘··· |
| Tossed with rent ribs or limbs of cloven tread, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And flesh upon the branches, and a red | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Rain from the deep green pines. Yea, bulls of pride, | 10 | ·········· |
| Horns swift to rage, were fronted and aside | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| Flung stumbling, by those multitudinous hands | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| Dragged pitilessly. And swifter were the bands | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| Of garbed flesh and bone unbound withal | 10 | ··˘···˘/˘/ |
| Than on thy royal eyes the lids may fall. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Then on like birds, by their own speed upborne, | 10 | ·········· |
| They swept toward the plains of waving corn | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| That lie beside Asopus' banks, and bring | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| To Thebes the rich fruit of her harvesting. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| On Hysiae and Erythrae that lie nursed | 9 | ········˘ |
| Amid Kithaeron's bowering rocks, they burst | 10 | ˘/···/˘··· |
| Destroying, as a foeman's army comes. | 10 | ˘/˘····/˘· |
| They caught up little children from their homes, | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| High on their shoulders, babes unheld, that swayed | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And laughed and fell not; all a wreck they made; | 10 | ·········· |
| Yea, bronze and iron did shatter, and in play | 10 | ···/·/˘··· |
| Struck hither and thither, yet no wound had they; | 11 | ·/˘·/˘····· |
| Caught fire from out the hearths, yea, carried hot | 10 | ·/·····/˘· |
| Flames in their tresses and were scorched not! | 10 | ···/˘···˘· |
| The village folk in wrath took spear and sword, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| And turned upon the Bacchae. Then, dread Lord, | 10 | ··˘······· |
| The wonder was. For spear nor barbed brand | 10 | ·/˘·····˘· |
| Could scathe nor touch the damsels; but the Wand, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| The soft and wreathed wand their white hands sped, | 10 | ····˘····· |
| Blasted those men and quelled them, and they fled | 10 | /˘········ |
| Dizzily. Sure some God was in these things! | 10 | /˘˘······· |
| And the holy women back to those strange springs | 11 | ··/˘/˘····· |
| Returned, that God had sent them when the day | 10 | ˘/········ |
| Dawned, on the upper heights; and washed away | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| The stain of battle. And those girdling snakes | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Hissed out to lap the waterdrops from cheeks | 10 | ·········· |
| And hair and breast. | 4 | ···· |
| Therefore I counsel thee, | 6 | ···/˘· |
| O King, receive this Spirit, whoe'er he be, | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| To Thebes in glory. Greatness manifold | 10 | ···/˘/˘/˘· |
| Is all about him; and the tale is told | 10 | ·········· |
| That this is he who first to man did give | 10 | ·········· |
| The grief-assuaging vine. Oh, let him live; | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| For if he die, then Love herself is slain, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| And nothing joyous in the world again! | 10 | ·/˘/˘···˘/ |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Albeit I tremble, and scarce may speak my thought | 12 | ˘/˘·/˘······ |
| To a king's face, yet will I hide it not. | 10 | ·········· |
| Dionyse is God, no God more true nor higher! | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| It bursts hard by us, like a smothered fire, | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| This frenzy of Bacchic women! All my land | 11 | ·/˘···/˘··· |
| Is made their mock.--This needs an iron hand! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Ho, Captain! Quick to the Electran Gate; | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Bid gather all my men-at-arms thereat; | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| Call all that spur the charger, all who know | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| To wield the orbed targe or bend the bow; | 10 | ····˘····· |
| We march to war!--'Fore God, shall women dare | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Such deeds against us? 'Tis too much to bear! | 10 | ·········· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Thou mark'st me not, O King, and holdest light | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| My solemn words; yet, in thine own despite, | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| I warn thee still. Lift thou not up thy spear | 10 | ·········· |
| Against a God, but hold thy peace, and fear | 10 | ·········· |
| His wrath! He will not brook it, if thou fright | 10 | ·········· |
| His Chosen from the hills of their delight. | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Peace, thou! And if for once thou hast slipped thy chain, | 11 | ··········· |
| Give thanks!--Or shall I knot thine arms again? | 10 | ········˘/ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Better to yield him prayer and sacrifice | 10 | /˘·····/˘· |
| Than kick against the pricks, since Dionyse | 9 | ········· |
| Is God, and thou but mortal. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| That will I! | 3 | ··· |
| Yea, sacrifice of women's blood, to cry | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| His name through all Kithaeron! | 7 | ······· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Ye shall fly, | 3 | ··· |
| All, and abase your shields of bronzen rim | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| Before their wands. | 4 | ···· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| There is no way with him, | 6 | ······ |
| This stranger that so dogs us! Well or ill | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| I may entreat him, he must babble still! | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Wait, good my friend! These crooked matters may | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| Even yet be straightened. | 6 | /˘··/˘ |
| (PENTHEUS has started as though to seek his army at the gate.) | 15 | ···/˘·····/˘··· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Aye, if I obey | 5 | ···˘/ |
| Mine own slaves' will; how else? | 6 | ······ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Myself will lead | 4 | ·/·· |
| The damsels hither, without sword or steed. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| How now?--This is some plot against me! | 9 | ········· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| What | 1 | · |
| Dost fear? Only to save thee do I plot. | 10 | ··/˘······ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| It is some compact ye have made, whereby | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| To dance these hills for ever! | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Verily, | 3 | /˘˘ |
| That is my compact, plighted with my Lord! | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| PENTHEUS (turning from him). | 6 | ··/˘·· |
| Ho, armourers! Bring forth my shield and sword!-- | 10 | ·········· |
| And thou, be silent! | 5 | ···/˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| (After regarding him fixedly, speaks with resignation) | 15 | ··˘/˘·/˘˘···˘/˘ |
| Ah!--Have then thy will! | 5 | ····· |
| (He fixes his eyes upon PENTHEUS again, while the armourers bring out his armour; then speaks in a tone of command.) | 29 | ·/˘······˘/········/˘······˘/ |
| Man, thou wouldst fain behold them on the hill | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Praying! | 2 | /˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| (Who during the rest of this scene, with a few exceptions, simply speaks the thoughts that DIONYSUS puts into him, losing power over his own mind) | 34 | ·/˘········˘/˘/˘···········/˘/···· |
| That would I, though it cost me all | 8 | ········ |
| The gold of Thebes! | 4 | ···· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| So much? Thou art quick to fall | 7 | ······· |
| To such great longing. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| (Somewhat bewildered at what he has said) | 10 | //˘/˘····· |
| Aye; 'twould grieve me much | 5 | ····· |
| To see them flown with wine. | 6 | ······ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Yet cravest thou such | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| A sight as would much grieve thee? | 7 | ······· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Yes; I fain | 3 | ··· |
| Would watch, ambushed among the pines. | 9 | ··/·˘···· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| 'Twere vain | 2 | ·· |
| To hide. They soon will track thee out. | 8 | ········ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Well said! | 2 | ·· |
| 'Twere best done openly. | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Wilt thou be led | 4 | ···· |
| By me, and try the venture? | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Aye, indeed! | 3 | ·˘/ |
| Lead on. Why should we tarry? | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| First we need | 3 | ··· |
| A rich and trailing robe of fine-linen | 10 | ···/˘···/˘ |
| To gird thee. | 3 | ··· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Nay; am I a woman, then, | 7 | ····/˘· |
| And no man more? | 4 | ···· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Wouldst have them slay thee dead? | 6 | ······ |
| No man may see their mysteries. | 8 | ·····/˘˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Well said!-- | 2 | ·· |
| I marked thy subtle temper long ere now. | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| 'Tis Dionyse that prompteth me. | 7 | ····/˘· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| And how | 2 | ·· |
| Mean'st thou the further plan? | 7 | /˘··/˘· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| First take thy way | 4 | ···· |
| Within. I will array thee. | 7 | ····˘/· |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| What array? | 3 | ·˘/ |
| The woman's? Nay, I will not. | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Doth it change | 3 | ··· |
| So soon, all thy desire to see this strange | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Adoring? | 3 | ˘/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Wait! What garb wilt thou bestow | 7 | ·····˘/ |
| About me? | 3 | ··· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| First a long tress dangling low | 8 | ····/˘˘· |
| Beneath thy shoulders. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| PENTHEUS. | 2 | ·· |
| Aye, and next? | 3 | ··· |
| DIONYSUS. | 3 | ··· |
| The said | 2 | ·· |
| Robe, falling to thy feet; and on thine head | 10 | ·/˘······· |
The first 400 of 453 lines; the reader marks them all.
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.