Euripides Bacchae

Question 1

ἥκω Διὸς παῖς τήνδε Θηβαίων χθόνα
Διόνυσος, ὃν τίκτει ποθ᾽ ἡ Κάδμου κόρη
Σεμέλη λοχευθεῖσ᾽ ἀστραπηφόρῳ πυρί:

Answer 1

I, son of Zeus, have come to this Theban land – Dionysus, whom once Semele, the daughter of Cadmus brought into the world, midwifed by a lightning-born fire.

Question 2

μορφὴν δ᾽ ἀμείψας ἐκ θεοῦ βροτησίαν
πάρειμι Δίρκης νάματ᾽ Ἰσμηνοῦ θ᾽ ὕδωρ.

Answer 2

And having changed from a god to a mortal form I am here at the fountains of Dirke and the water of Ismenus.

Question 3

ὁρῶ δὲ μητρὸς μνῆμα τῆς κεραυνίας
τόδ᾽ ἐγγὺς οἴκων καὶ δόμων ἐρείπια
τυφόμενα Δίου πυρὸς ἔτι ζῶσαν φλόγα,
ἀθάνατον Ἥρας μητέρ᾽ εἰς ἐμὴν ὕβριν.

Answer 3

And I see this memorial of my thunder-stricken mother here near the palace and the ruins of her dwelling, smouldering with the still living flame of Zeus-fire, the undying wanton violence of Hera against my mother.

Question 4

αἰνῶ δὲ Κάδμον, ἄβατον ὃς πέδον τόδε
τίθησι, θυγατρὸς σηκόν: ἀμπέλου δέ νιν
πέριξ ἐγὼ ‘κάλυψα βοτρυώδει χλόῃ.

Answer 4

I praise Cadmus, who made this ground hallowed, a shrine of his daughter; and I covered it all around with the cluster-bearing leaf of the vine.

Question 5

λιπὼν δὲ Λυδῶν τοὺς πολυχρύσους γύας
Φρυγῶν τε, Περσῶν θ᾽ ἡλιοβλήτους πλάκας
Βάκτριά τε τείχη τήν τε δύσχιμον χθόνα
Μήδων ἐπελθὼν Ἀραβίαν τ᾽ εὐδαίμονα
Ἀσίαν τε πᾶσαν, ἣ παρ᾽ ἁλμυρὰν ἅλα
κεῖται μιγάσιν Ἕλλησι βαρβάροις θ᾽ ὁμοῦ
πλήρεις ἔχουσα καλλιπυργώτους πόλεις,

Answer 5

Having left the gold-rich lands of the Lydians and Phrygians, the sun-stricken plains of the Persians and the Bactrian walls, I passed over the wintry land of the Medes and blessed Arabia, and all of Asia, which lies along the salt sea with its beautifully towered cities full of Hellenes and barbarians mingled together.

Question 6

ἐς τήνδε πρῶτον ἦλθον Ἑλλήνων πόλιν,
τἀκεῖ χορεύσας καὶ καταστήσας ἐμὰς
τελετάς, ἵν᾽ εἴην ἐμφανὴς δαίμων βροτοῖς.

Answer 6

And I came first into this city of Hellenes, having set those other lands to dance and established my rites there, so that I might be a deity manifest to mortals.

Question 7

πρώτας δὲ Θήβας τασδε γῆς Ἑλληνίδος
ἀνωλόλυξα, νεβρίδ᾽ ἐξάψας χροὸς
θύρσον τε δοὺς ἐς χεῖρα, κίσσινον βέλος:

Answer 7

First this Thebes of the Greek land I excited to cries, fitting a fawn skin to my body, taking a thyrsus in my hand, a weapon of ivy.

Question 8

ἐπεί μ᾽ ἀδελφαὶ μητρός, ἃς ἥκιστα χρῆν,
Διόνυσον οὐκ ἔφασκον ἐκφῦναι Διός,
Σεμέλην δὲ νυμφευθεῖσαν ἐκ θνητοῦ τινος
ἐς Ζῆν᾽ ἀναφέρειν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν λέχους,
Κάδμου σοφίσμαθ᾽, ὧν νιν οὕνεκα κτανεῖν
Ζῆν᾽ ἐξεκαυχῶνθ᾽, ὅτι γάμους ἐψεύσατο.

Answer 8

Since the sisters of my mother, the ones who least should, were claiming that I, Dionysus, was not born from Zeus, but that Semele, having been given in marriage to some mortal, then ascribed the transgression/fault of her bed to Zeus, tricks of Cadmus, on account of which they were boasting that Zeus had killed her, because she falsified the marriage.

Question 9

τοιγάρ νιν αὐτὰς ἐκ δόμων ᾤστρησ᾽ ἐγὼ
μανίαις, ὄρος δ᾽ οἰκοῦσι παράκοποι φρενῶν:

Answer 9

So then, I drove these same (sisters) in frenzy out of the house with madness, and they live in the mountains, driven from their minds/frantic of their minds

Question 10

σκευήν τ᾽ ἔχειν ἠνάγκασ᾽ ὀργίων ἐμῶν,
καὶ πᾶν τὸ θῆλυ σπέρμα Καδμείων, ὅσαι
γυναῖκες ἦσαν, ἐξέμηνα δωμάτων:

Answer 10

and I forced them to wear the attire of my rights, and all the female offspring of Thebes, as many as were women, I drove mad from (their) houses,

Question 11

ὁμοῦ δὲ Κάδμου παισὶν ἀναμεμειγμέναι
χλωραῖς ὑπ᾽ ἐλάταις ἀνορόφοις ἧνται πέτραις.

Answer 11

and they, mingled together with the daughters of Cadmus, sit on roofless rocks beneath green pines.

Question 12

δεῖ γὰρ πόλιν τήνδ᾽ ἐκμαθεῖν, κεἰ μὴ θέλει,
ἀτέλεστον οὖσαν τῶν ἐμῶν βακχευμάτων,

Answer 12

For this city must learn thoroughly, even if it does not wish, what it is to be uninitiated in my Bacchic rites,

Question 13

Σεμέλης τε μητρὸς ἀπολογήσασθαί μ᾽ ὕπερ
φανέντα θνητοῖς δαίμον᾽ ὃν τίκτει Διί.

Answer 13

And I must speak in defence of my mother, Semele, in appearing to mortals as a god whom she brought into the world by Zeus.

Question 14

Κάδμος μὲν οὖν γέρας τε καὶ τυραννίδα
Πενθεῖ δίδωσι θυγατρὸς ἐκπεφυκότι,
ὃς θεομαχεῖ τὰ κατ᾽ ἐμὲ καὶ σπονδῶν ἄπο
ὠθεῖ μ᾽, ἐν εὐχαῖς τ᾽ οὐδαμοῦ μνείαν ἔχει.

Answer 14

Cadmus therefore gave both authority and sovereignty to Pentheus, spawned of his daughter, who fights against the gods, as far as my worship is concerned, and drives me away from libations, he makes no mention of me anywhere in his prayers.

Question 15

ὧν οὕνεκ᾽ αὐτῷ θεὸς γεγὼς ἐνδείξομαι
πᾶσίν τε Θηβαίοισιν.

Answer 15

Because of these things I shall show him and all the Thebans that I was born a god.

Question 16

ἐς δ᾽ ἄλλην χθόνα,
τἀνθένδε θέμενος εὖ, μεταστήσω πόδα,
δεικνὺς ἐμαυτόν:

Answer 16

Having arranged things here well I shall move on to another land, revealing myself:

Question 17

ἢν δὲ Θηβαίων πόλις
ὀργῇ σὺν ὅπλοις ἐξ ὄρους βάκχας ἄγειν
ζητῇ, ξυνάψω μαινάσι στρατηλατῶν.

Answer 17

But if ever the city of Thebes should in anger seek to drive the Bacchae down from the mountains with arms, I shall join with the maenads and lead them into battle.

Question 18

ὧν οὕνεκ᾽ εἶδος θνητὸν ἀλλάξας ἔχω
μορφήν τ᾽ ἐμὴν μετέβαλον εἰς ἀνδρὸς φύσιν.

Answer 18

On account of which having changed, I have a mortal form, and altered my shape into the nature of a man.

Question 19

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ λιποῦσαι Τμῶλον ἔρυμα Λυδίας,
θίασος ἐμός, γυναῖκες, ἃς ἐκ βαρβάρων
ἐκόμισα παρέδρους καὶ ξυνεμπόρους ἐμοί,
αἴρεσθε τἀπιχώρι᾽ ἐν πόλει Φρυγῶν
τύμπανα, Ῥέας τε μητρὸς ἐμά θ᾽ εὑρήματα,

Answer 19

But you, women who have left Tmolus, the bulwark of Lydia, my holy band, whom I carried off from barbarians as assistants and companions to me, take up your drums, native instruments of the city of the Phrygians, the invention of Mother Rhea and myself,

Question 20

βασίλειά τ᾽ ἀμφὶ δώματ᾽ ἐλθοῦσαι τάδε
κτυπεῖτε Πενθέως, ὡς ὁρᾷ Κάδμου πόλις.

Answer 20

And having gone about this palace of Pentheus, beat them, so that Kadmos’ city may see

Question 21

ἐγὼ δὲ βάκχαις, ἐς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχὰς
ἐλθὼν ἵν᾽ εἰσί, συμμετασχήσω χορῶν.

Answer 21

I myself will go into the glens of Cithaeron, where the bacchants are, and take part with them in their dances.

Question 22

Πενθεῦ, πάρεσμεν τήνδ᾿ ἄγραν ἠγρευκότες
ἐφ᾿ ἣν ἔπεμψας, οὐδ᾿ ἄκρανθ᾿ ὡρμήσαμεν.

Answer 22

Pentheus, we are here having caught this prey upon which you sent us, and we did not set out in vain.

Question 23

ὁ θὴρ δ᾿ ὅδ᾿ ἡμῖν πρᾶος οὐδ᾿ ὑπέσπασεν
φυγῇ πόδ᾿, ἀλλ᾿ ἔδωκεν οὐκ ἄκων χέρας,
οὐκ ὠχρός, οὐδ᾿ ἤλλαξεν οἰνωπὸν γένυν,

Answer 23

This beast was docile to us, nor did it sneak its feet away but gave his hands not unwillingly, nor did he turn pale or change the wine-dark complexion of his cheek,

Question 24

γελῶν δὲ καὶ δεῖν κἀπάγειν ἐφίετο

Answer 24

but laughing he ordered us to bind him and lead him away

Question 25

ἔμενέ τε, τοὐμὸν εὐτρεπὲς ποιούμενος.

Answer 25

He was waiting, making my task an easy one.

Question 26

κἀγὼ δι᾿ αἰδοῦς εἶπον· Ὦ ξέν᾿, οὐχ ἑκὼν ἄγω σε, Πενθέως δ᾿ ὅς μ᾿ ἔπεμψ᾿ ἐπιστολαῖς.

Answer 26

And I said through shame: “stranger, I do not lead you away willingly, but by order of Pentheus, who sent me.

Question 27

ἃς δ᾿ αὖ σὺ βάκχας εἷρξας, ἃς συνήρπασας κἄδησας ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανδήμου στέγης,

Answer 27

As for the Bacchans you imprisoned, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison,

Question 28

φροῦδαί γ᾿ ἐκεῖναι λελυμέναι πρὸς ὀργάδας σκιρτῶσι Βρόμιον ἀνακαλούμεναι θεόν·

Answer 28

They are gone, having been set loose, they go skipping in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their god.

Question 29

αὐτόματα δ᾿ αὐταῖς δεσμὰ διελύθη ποδῶν κλῇδές τ᾿ ἀνῆκαν θύρετρ᾿ ἄνευ θνητῆς χερός.

Answer 29

Of their own accord, the chains were loosed from their feet and keys opened the doors without a mortal hand.

Question 30

πολλῶν δ᾿ ὅδ᾿ ἁνὴρ θαυμάτων ἥκει πλέως ἐς τάσδε Θήβας. σοὶ δὲ τἄλλα χρὴ μέλειν.

Answer 30

This man has come to Thebes, full of many wonders. You must take care of the rest.

Question 31

μέθεσθε χειρῶν τοῦδ᾿· ἐν ἄρκυσιν γὰρ ὢν οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως ὠκὺς ὥστε μ᾿ ἐκφυγεῖν.

Answer 31

Release his hands, for being in the nets he is not so swift as to escape me.

Question 32

ἀτὰρ τὸ μὲν σῶμ᾿ οὐκ ἄμορφος εἶ, ξένε, ὡς ἐς γυναῖκας, ἐφ᾿ ὅπερ ἐς Θήβας πάρει·

Answer 32

But your body is not unsightly, stranger, for women’s purposes, for which reason you are here in Thebes.

Question 33

πλόκαμός τε γάρ σου ταναὸς οὐ πάλης ὕπο, γένυν παρ᾿ αὐτὴν κεχυμένος, πόθου πλέως·

Answer 33

For your hair is long, on account of not wrestling, streaming right down your cheek, full of desire.

Question 34

λευκὴν δὲ χροιὰν ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἔχεις,

Answer 34

And you have white skin from careful preparation,

Question 35

οὐχ ἡλίου βολαῖσιν ἀλλ᾿ ὑπὸ σκιᾶς τὴν Ἀφροδίτην καλλονῇ θηρώμενος.

Answer 35

Hunting Aphrodite with your beauty, not exposed to the strokes of the sun, but beneath the shade.

Question 36

πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος.

Answer 36

First then tell me who you are in regard to your family.

Question 37

οὐκ ὄκνος οὐδείς· ῥᾴδιον δ᾿ εἰπεῖν τόδε.

Answer 37

I feel no hesitation at all; it is easy to answer this.

Question 38

τὸν ἀνθεμώδη Τμῶλον οἶσθά που κλύων.

Answer 38

I suppose you have heard of the flowery Tmolus.

Question 39

οἶδ᾿, ὃς τὸ Σάρδεων ἄστυ περιβάλλει κύκλῳ.

Answer 39

I know of it, that which surrounds the city of Sardis.

Question 40

ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς.

Answer 40

I am from there, and Lydia is my fatherland.

Question 41

πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδ᾿ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα;

Answer 41

From where do you lead these rites into Hellas?

Question 42

Διόνυσος αὐτός μ᾿ εἰσέβησ᾿, ὁ τοῦ Διός.

Answer 42

Dionysus himself initiated me, the son of Zeus

Question 43

Ζεὺς δ᾿ ἔστ᾿ ἐκεῖ τις, ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς;

Answer 43

Is there a Zeus who brings new gods into the world?

Question 44

οὔκ, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις.

Answer 44

No, but the one who married Semele here.

Question 45

πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σ᾿ ἢ κατ᾿ ὄμμ᾿ ἠνάγκασεν;

Answer 45

Was it in a dream, or when you were awake that he compelled you? (lit. Did he compel you at night, or in your sight?)

Question 46

ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα, καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια.

Answer 46

He saw me and I saw him, and he gave me sacred rites.

Question 47

τὰ δ᾿ ὄργι᾿ ἐστὶ τίν᾿ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι;

Answer 47

What form do your rites have?

Question 48

ἄρρητ᾿ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν.

Answer 48

They are not spoken for mortals uninitiated in Bacchic rites to know.

Question 49

ἔχει δ᾿ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα;

Answer 49

And what profit do they have to those who sacrifice?

Question 50

οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σ᾿, ἔστι δ᾿ ἄξι᾿ εἰδέναι.

Answer 50

It is not law(ful) for you to hear, but they are worth knowing.

Question 51

εὖ τοῦτ᾿ ἐκιβδήλευσας, ἵν᾿ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω.

Answer 51

You concocted that (answer) well, so that I desire to hear.

Question 52

ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντ᾿ ὄργι᾿ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ.

Answer 52

The rites of a god are hostile to whoever practices impiety.

Question 53

ὁ θεός, ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς, ποῖός τις ἦν;

Answer 53

Do you say that you saw clearly what the god was like?

Question 54

ὁποῖος ἤθελ᾿· οὐκ ἐγὼ ᾿τασσον τόδε.

Answer 54

Of what sort he wanted, I was not arranging this (he was as he chose, I had no say in the matter)

Question 56

τοῦτ᾿ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ γ᾿ οὐδὲν λέγων.

Answer 56

Again, you diverted this (the question) well, saying nothing at any rate.

Question 57

δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν.

Answer 57

He who speaks wisdom to a fool will be thought to have no sense.

Question 58

ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρ᾿ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα;

Answer 58

Did you come here first, bringing the god?

Question 59

πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδ᾿ ὄργια.

Answer 59

All of the barbarians celebrate these rites with dance.

Question 60

φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ.

Answer 60

For they are far more foolish than Greeks. Lit. they think much more badly than the Greeks

Question 61

τάδ᾿ εὖ γε μᾶλλον· οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι.

Answer 61

In this at any rate they are wiser, but their customs are different. Lit. in this at any rate they better (as in they think better).

Question 62

τὰ δ᾿ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθ᾿ ἡμέραν τελεῖς;

Answer 62

Do you perform the rites by night or by day?

Question 63

νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά· σεμνότητ᾿ ἔχει σκότος.

Answer 63

Mostly by night, darkness has solemnity.

Question 64

τοῦτ᾿ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν.

Answer 64

This is treacherous towards women and depraved.

Question 65

κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γ᾿ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν.

Answer 65

Even during the day someone may discover something shameful.

Question 66

δίκην σε δοῦναι δεῖ σοφισμάτων κακῶν.

Answer 66

You must pay the penalty for your evil contrivances.

Question 67

σὲ δ᾿ ἀμαθίας γε κἀσεβοῦντ᾿ ἐς τὸν θεόν.

Answer 67

And you for your ignorance and impiety toward the god.

Question 68

ὡς θρασὺς ὁ βάκχος κοὐκ ἀγύμναστος λόγων.

Answer 68

How bold the Bacchant is, and not unpracticed in speaking.

Question 69

εἴφ᾿ ὅ τι παθεῖν δεῖ· τί με τὸ δεινὸν ἐργάσῃ;

Answer 69

Tell me what I must suffer; what harm will you do to me?

Question 70

πρῶτον μὲν ἁβρὸν βόστρυχον τεμῶ σέθεν.

Answer 70

First, I will cut off your delicate hair.

Question 71

ἱερὸς ὁ πλόκαμος· τῷ θεῷ δ᾿ αὐτὸν τρέφω.

Answer 71

My hair is sacred; I am growing it for the god.

Question 72

ἔπειτα θύρσον τόνδε παράδος ἐκ χεροῖν.

Answer 72

Next hand over this thyrsus from your hands.

Question 73

αὐτός μ᾿ ἀφαιροῦ· τόνδε Διονύσου φορῶ.

Answer 73

Take it from me yourself: this (thyrsus) I carry is Dionysus’.

Question 74

εἱρκταῖσί τ᾿ ἔνδον σῶμα σὸν φυλάξομεν.

Answer 74

We shall guard your body within, in prison.

Question 75

λύσει μ᾿ ὁ δαίμων αὐτός, ὅταν ἐγὼ θέλω.

Answer 75

The god himself will release me, whenever I want.

Question 76

ὅταν γε καλέσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν βάκχαις σταθείς.

Answer 76

Whenever you call him at any rate, standing among the Bacchae.

Question 77

καὶ νῦν ἃ πάσχω πλησίον παρὼν ὁρᾷ.

Answer 77

And now what I suffer he sees, being nearby.

Question 78

καὶ ποῦ ᾿στιν; οὐ γὰρ φανερὸς ὄμμασίν γ᾿ ἐμοῖς.

Answer 78

And where is he? For he is not visible to my eyes.

Question 79

παρ᾿ ἐμοί· σὺ δ᾿ ἀσεβὴς αὐτὸς ὢν οὐκ εἰσορᾷς.

Answer 79

Next to me, but you, being impious, do not see him.

Question 80

λάζυσθε· καταφρονεῖ με καὶ Θήβας ὅδε.

Answer 80

Seize him; he insults me and Thebes.

Question 81

αὐδῶ με μὴ δεῖν σωφρονῶν οὐ σώφροσιν.

Answer 81

I warn you not to bind me, I am of sound mind, and you are not.

Question 82

ἐγὼ δὲ δεῖν γε, κυριώτερος σέθεν.

Answer 82

I (order you) to bind him, I am more powerful than you.

Question 83

οὐκ οἶσθ᾿ ὅ τι ζῇς, οὐδ᾿ ὃ δρᾷς, οὐδ᾿ ὅστις εἶ.

Answer 83

You do not know what your life is, or what you do, or who you are. Lit. you do not know what you are living

Question 84

Πενθεύς, Ἀγαυῆς παῖς, πατρὸς δ᾿ Ἐχίονος.

Answer 84

I am Pentheus, son of Agave and father Echion.

Question 85

ἐνδυστυχῆσαι τοὔνομ᾿ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ.

Answer 85

You are well suited to be miserable in your name.

Question 86

χώρει· καθείρξατ᾿ αὐτὸν ἱππικαῖς πέλας φάτναισιν, ὡς ἂν σκότιον εἰσορᾷ κνέφας.

Answer 86

Give up (lit go away, withdraw); shut him up near the horse hay racks, so he may see gloomy darkness.

Question 87

ἐκεῖ χόρευε· τάσδε δ᾿ ἃς ἄγων πάρει κακῶν συνεργοὺς ἢ διεμπολήσομεν ἢ χεῖρα δούπου τοῦδε καὶ βύρσης κτύπου παύσας ἐφ᾿ ἱστοῖς δμωίδας κεκτήσομαι.

Answer 87

Dance there; and as for these women in leading whom you are here, accomplices to your wickedness, we shall either sell/auction them or, having stopped their hands from this thumping and beating of skins, I shall keep them as slaves at the loom.

Question 88

στείχοιμ᾿ ἄν· ὅ τι γὰρ μὴ χρεὼν οὔτοι χρεὼν παθεῖν. ἀτάρ τοι τῶνδ᾿ ἄποιν᾿ ὑβρισμάτων μέτεισι Διόνυσός σ᾿, ὃν οὐκ εἶναι λέγεις·

Answer 88

I am ready to go; for I need not suffer that which is not necessary. But let me tell you, Dionysus, who you say does not exist, will pursue you for these insults.

Question 89

ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἀδικῶν κεῖνον ἐς δεσμοὺς ἄγεις.

Answer 89

For in injuring us, you put that man in chains.