The Bacchae of Euripides Part 6

[_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 laid On 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 pa.s.sed?

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 stood A Bull of Offering. And this King, he bit his lips, and straight Fell 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 amain For water, lest his roof-tree burn; and all toiled, all in vain.

Then deemed a-sudden I was gone; and left his fire, and sped Back to the prison portals, and his lifted sword shone red.

But there, methinks, the G.o.d 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 G.o.d smote him yet again! He overthrew All 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 wan Who dared to rise against his G.o.d in wrath, being but man.

And I uprose and left him, and in all peace took my path Forth 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 slipped His prison, whom I held but now, hard gripped In bondage.--Ha! 'Tis he!--What, sirrah, how Show'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 cl.u.s.tered 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 withal Each gate!

DIONYSUS.

What, cannot G.o.d 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 from The mountain side with news for thee, be come.