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Bacchae
Dionysus
I, the son of Zeus, have come to this land of the Thebans--Dionysus, whom once Semele, Kadmos daughter, bore, delivered by a lightning-bearing flame. ... But if ever the city of Thebes should in anger seek to drive the the Bacchae down from the mountains with arms, I, the
general of the Maenads, will join battle with them. ... I myself will go to the folds of Kithairon, where the Bacchae are, to share in their dances. ...
Go, Bacchae, go, Bacchae, escorting the god Bromius, child of a god, [85] from the Phrygian mountains to the broad streets of Hellas--Bromius, Whom once, in the compulsion of birth pains, [90] the thunder of Zeus flying upon her, his mother cast from her womb, leaving life by the stroke of a thunderbolt. ...
[120] O secret chamber of the Kouretes and you holy Cretan caves, parents to Zeus, where the Korybantes with triple helmet invented for me in their caves this circle, [125] covered with stretched hide; and in their excited revelry they mingled it with
the sweet-voiced breath of Phrygian pipes and handed it over to mother Rhea, resounding with the sweet songs of the Bacchae; [130] nearby, raving Satyrs were fulfilling the rites of the mother goddess, and they joined it to the dances of the
biennial festivals, in which Dionysus rejoices. ... And among the Maenad cries his voice rings deep: 3 “Go, Bacchae, go, Bacchae, with the luxury of Tmolus that flows with gold, [155] sing of Dionysus, beneath the heavy beat of drums, celebrating in delight the god of delight with Phrygian shouts
and cries, [160] when the sweet-sounding sacred pipe sounds a sacred playful tune suited [165] to the wanderers, to the mountain, to the mountain!
Approximate Word count = 1197
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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