章节正文
PENTHEUS
[I scorn him and his vines!]
DIONYSUS
A fine taunt indeed thou hurlest here at Dionysus!
PENTHEUS (To his servants)
Bar every tower that hems us in, I order you.
DIONYSUS
What use? Cannot gods pass even over walls?
PENTHEUS
How wise thou art, except where thy wisdom is needed!
DIONYSUS
Where most 'tis needed, there am I most wise. But first listen
to yonder messenger and hear what he says; he comes from the hills
with tidings for thee; and I will await thy pleasure, nor seek to fly.
Enter MESSENGER.
Messenger.
Pentheus, ruler of this realm of Thebes! I am come from Cithaeron,
where the dazzling flakes of pure white snow ne'er cease to fall.
PENTHEUS
What urgent news dost bring me?
MESSENGER
I have seen, O king, those frantic Bacchanals, who darted in
frenzy from this land with bare white feet, and I am come to tell thee
and the city the wondrous deeds they do, deeds passing strange. But
I fain would hear, whether I am freely to tell all I saw there, or
shorten my story; for I fear thy hasty temper, sire, thy sudden bursts
of wrath and more than princely" target="_blank" title="a.王候般的；高贵的">princely rage.
PENTHEUS
Say on, for thou shalt go unpunished by me in all respects; for to
be angered with the upright is wrong. The direr thy tale about the
Bacchantes, the heavier punishment will I inflict on this fellow who
brought his secret arts amongst our women.
MESSENGER
I was just driving the herds of kine to a ridge of the hill as I
fed them, as the sun shot forth his rays and made the earth grow warm;
when lo! I see three revel-bands of women; Autonoe was chief of one,
thy mother Agave of the second, while Ino's was the third. There
they lay asleep, all tired out; some were resting on branches of the
pine, others had laid their heads in careless ease on oak-leaves piled
upon the ground, observing all modesty; not, as thou sayest, seeking
to gratify their lusts alone amid the woods, by wine and soft
flute-music maddened.
Anon in their midst thy mother uprose and cried aloud to wake them
from their sleep, when she heard the lowing of my horned kine. And
up they started to their feet, brushing from their eyes sleep's
quickening dew, a wondrous sight of grace and modesty, young and old
and maidens yet unwed. First o'er their shoulders they let stream
their hair; then all did gird their fawn-skins up, who hitherto" target="_blank" title="ad.至今，迄今">hitherto had
left the fastenings loose, girdling the dappled hides with snakes that
licked their cheeks. Others fondled in their arms gazelles or savage
whelps of wolves, and suckled them-young mothers these with babes at
home, whose breasts were still full of milk; crowns they wore of ivy
or of oak or blossoming convolvulus. And one took her thyrsus and
struck it into the earth, and forth there gushed a limpid spring;
and another plunged her wand into the lap of earth and there the god
sent up a fount of wine; and all who wished for draughts of milk had
but to scratch the soil with their finger-tips and there they had it
in abundance, while from every ivy-wreathed staff sweet rills of honey
trickled.
Hadst thou been there and seen this, thou wouldst have turned to
pray to the god, whom now thou dost disparage. Anon we herdsmen and
shepherds met to discuss their strange and wondrousdoings; then
one, who wandereth oft to town and hath a trick of speech, made
harangue in the midst, "O ye who dwell upon the hallowed
mountain-terraces! shall we chase Agave, mother of Pentheus, from
her Bacchic rites, and thereby do our prince a service?" We liked
his speech, and placed ourselves in hiddenambush among the leafy
thickets; they at the appointed time began to wave the thyrsus for
their Bacchic rites, calling on Iacchus, the Bromian god, the son of
Zeus, in united chorus, and the whole mount and the wild creatures
re-echoed their cry; all nature stirred as they rushed on. Now Agave
chanced to come springing near me, so up I leapt from out my ambush
where I lay concealed, meaning to seize her. But she cried out,
"What ho! my nimble hounds, here are men upon our track; but follow
me, ay, follow, with the thyrsus in your hand for weapon." Thereat
we fled, to escape being torn in pieces by the Bacchantes; but they,
with hands that bore no weapon of steel, attacked our cattle as they
browsed. Then wouldst thou have seen Agave mastering some sleek lowing
calf, while others rent the heifers limb from limb. Before thy eyes
there would have been hurling of ribs and hoofs this way and that; and
strips of flesh, all blood-bedabbled, dripped as they hung from the
pine-branches. Wild bulls, that glared but now with rage along their
horns, found themselves tripped up, dragged down to earth by countless
maidens' hands. The flesh upon their limbs was stripped therefrom
quicker than thou couldst have closed thy royal eye-lids. Then off
they sped, like birds that skim the air, to the plains beneath the
hills, which bear a fruitfulharvest for Thebes beside the waters of
Asopus; to Hysiae and Erythrae, hamlets 'neath Cithaeron's peak,
with fell intent, swooping on everything and scattering all
pellmell; and they would snatch children from their homes; but all
that they placed upon their shoulders, abode there firmly without
being tied, and fell not to the dusky earth, not even brass or iron;
and on their hair they carried fire and it burnt them not; but the
country-folk rushed to arms, furious at being pillaged by
Bacchanals; whereon ensued, O king, this wondrousspectacle. For
though the ironshod dart would draw no blood from them, they with
the thyrsus, which they hurled, caused many a wound and put their foes
to utter rout, women chasing men, by some god's intervention. Then
they returned to the place whence they had started, even to the
springs the god had made to spout for them; and there washed off the
blood, while serpents with their tongues were licking clean each
gout from their cheeks. Wherefore, my lord and master, receive this
deity, whoe'er he be, within the city; for, great as he is in all
else, I have likewise heard men say, 'twas he that gave the vine to
man, sorrow's antidote. Take wine away and Cypris flies, and every
other human joy is dead.
CHORUS
Though I fear to speak my mind with freedom in the presence of
my king, still must I utter this; Dionysus yields to no deity in
might.
PENTHEUS
Already, look you! the presumption of these Bacchantes is upon us,
swift as fire, a sad disgrace in the eyes of all Hellas. No time for
hesitation now! away to the Electra gate! order a muster of all my
men-at-arms, of those that mount fleet steeds, of all who brandish
light bucklers, of archers too that make the bowstring twang; for I
will march against the Bacchanals. By Heaven I this passes all, if
we are to be thus treated by women.
Exit MESSENGER.
DIONYSUS
Still obdurate, O Pentheus, after hearing my words! In spite of
all the evil treatment I am enduring from thee, still I warn thee of
the sin of bearing arms against a god, and bid thee cease; for Bromius
will not endure thy driving his votaries from the mountains where they
revel.
PENTHEUS
A truce to thy preaching to me! thou hast escaped thy bonds,
preserve thy liberty; else will I renew thy punishment.
DIONYSUS
I would rather do him sacrifice than in a fury kick against the
pricks; thou a mortal, he a god.
PENTHEUS
Sacrifice! that will I, by setting afoot a wholesale slaughter
of women 'mid Cithaeron's glens, as they deserve.
DIONYSUS
Ye will all be put to flight-a shameful thing that they with the
Bacchic thyrsus should rout your mail-clad warriors.
PENTHEUS
I find this stranger a troublesome foe to encounter; doing or
suffering he is alike irrepressible.
DIONYSUS
Friend, there is still a way to compose this bitterness.
PENTHEUS
Say how; am I to serve my own servants?
DIONYSUS
I will bring the women hither without weapons.
PENTHEUS
Ha! ha! this is some craftyscheme of thine against me.
DIONYSUS
What kind of scheme, if by my craft I purpose to save thee?
PENTHEUS
You have combined with them to form this plot, that your revels
may on for ever.
DIONYSUS
Nay, but this is the compact I made with the god; be sure of that.
PENTHEUS (Preparing to start forth)
Bring forth my arms. Not another word from thee!
DIONYSUS
Ha! wouldst thou see them seated on the hills?
PENTHEUS
Of all things, yes! I would give untold sums for that.
DIONYSUS
Why this sudden, strong desire?
PENTHEUS
'Twill be a bitter sight, if I find them drunk with wine.
DIONYSUS
And would that be a pleasant sight which will prove bitter to
thee?
PENTHEUS
Believe me, yes! beneath the fir-trees as I sit in silence.
DIONYSUS
Nay, they will track thee, though thou come secretly.
PENTHEUS
Well, I will go openly; thou wert right to say so.
DIONYSUS
Am I to be thy guide? wilt thou essay the road?
PENTHEUS
Lead on with all speed, I grudge thee all delay.
DIONYSUS
Array thee then in robes of fine linen.
PENTHEUS
Why so? Am I to enlist among women after being a man?
DIONYSUS
They may kill thee, if thou show thy manhood there.
PENTHEUS
Well said! Thou hast given me a taste of thy wit already.
DIONYSUS
Dionysus schooled me in this lore.
PENTHEUS
How am I to carry out thy wholesome advice?
DIONYSUS
Myself will enter thy palace and robe thee.
PENTHEUS
What is the robe to be? a woman's? Nay, I am ashamed.
DIONYSUS
Thy eagerness to see the Maenads goes no further.
PENTHEUS
But what dress dost say thou wilt robe me in?
DIONYSUS
Upon thy head will I make thy hair grow long.
PENTHEUS
[I scorn him and his vines!]
DIONYSUS
A fine taunt indeed thou hurlest here at Dionysus!
PENTHEUS (To his servants)
Bar every tower that hems us in, I order you.
DIONYSUS
What use? Cannot gods pass even over walls?
PENTHEUS
How wise thou art, except where thy wisdom is needed!
DIONYSUS
Where most 'tis needed, there am I most wise. But first listen
to yonder messenger and hear what he says; he comes from the hills
with tidings for thee; and I will await thy pleasure, nor seek to fly.
Enter MESSENGER.
Messenger.
Pentheus, ruler of this realm of Thebes! I am come from Cithaeron,
where the dazzling flakes of pure white snow ne'er cease to fall.
PENTHEUS
What urgent news dost bring me?
MESSENGER
I have seen, O king, those frantic Bacchanals, who darted in
frenzy from this land with bare white feet, and I am come to tell thee
and the city the wondrous deeds they do, deeds passing strange. But
I fain would hear, whether I am freely to tell all I saw there, or
shorten my story; for I fear thy hasty temper, sire, thy sudden bursts
of wrath and more than princely" target="_blank" title="a.王候般的；高贵的">princely rage.
PENTHEUS
Say on, for thou shalt go unpunished by me in all respects; for to
be angered with the upright is wrong. The direr thy tale about the
Bacchantes, the heavier punishment will I inflict on this fellow who
brought his secret arts amongst our women.
MESSENGER
I was just driving the herds of kine to a ridge of the hill as I
fed them, as the sun shot forth his rays and made the earth grow warm;
when lo! I see three revel-bands of women; Autonoe was chief of one,
thy mother Agave of the second, while Ino's was the third. There
they lay asleep, all tired out; some were resting on branches of the
pine, others had laid their heads in careless ease on oak-leaves piled
upon the ground, observing all modesty; not, as thou sayest, seeking
to gratify their lusts alone amid the woods, by wine and soft
flute-music maddened.
Anon in their midst thy mother uprose and cried aloud to wake them
from their sleep, when she heard the lowing of my horned kine. And
up they started to their feet, brushing from their eyes sleep's
quickening dew, a wondrous sight of grace and modesty, young and old
and maidens yet unwed. First o'er their shoulders they let stream
their hair; then all did gird their fawn-skins up, who hitherto" target="_blank" title="ad.至今，迄今">hitherto had
left the fastenings loose, girdling the dappled hides with snakes that
licked their cheeks. Others fondled in their arms gazelles or savage
whelps of wolves, and suckled them-young mothers these with babes at
home, whose breasts were still full of milk; crowns they wore of ivy
or of oak or blossoming convolvulus. And one took her thyrsus and
struck it into the earth, and forth there gushed a limpid spring;
and another plunged her wand into the lap of earth and there the god
sent up a fount of wine; and all who wished for draughts of milk had
but to scratch the soil with their finger-tips and there they had it
in abundance, while from every ivy-wreathed staff sweet rills of honey
trickled.
Hadst thou been there and seen this, thou wouldst have turned to
pray to the god, whom now thou dost disparage. Anon we herdsmen and
shepherds met to discuss their strange and wondrousdoings; then
one, who wandereth oft to town and hath a trick of speech, made
harangue in the midst, "O ye who dwell upon the hallowed
mountain-terraces! shall we chase Agave, mother of Pentheus, from
her Bacchic rites, and thereby do our prince a service?" We liked
his speech, and placed ourselves in hiddenambush among the leafy
thickets; they at the appointed time began to wave the thyrsus for
their Bacchic rites, calling on Iacchus, the Bromian god, the son of
Zeus, in united chorus, and the whole mount and the wild creatures
re-echoed their cry; all nature stirred as they rushed on. Now Agave
chanced to come springing near me, so up I leapt from out my ambush
where I lay concealed, meaning to seize her. But she cried out,
"What ho! my nimble hounds, here are men upon our track; but follow
me, ay, follow, with the thyrsus in your hand for weapon." Thereat
we fled, to escape being torn in pieces by the Bacchantes; but they,
with hands that bore no weapon of steel, attacked our cattle as they
browsed. Then wouldst thou have seen Agave mastering some sleek lowing
calf, while others rent the heifers limb from limb. Before thy eyes
there would have been hurling of ribs and hoofs this way and that; and
strips of flesh, all blood-bedabbled, dripped as they hung from the
pine-branches. Wild bulls, that glared but now with rage along their
horns, found themselves tripped up, dragged down to earth by countless
maidens' hands. The flesh upon their limbs was stripped therefrom
quicker than thou couldst have closed thy royal eye-lids. Then off
they sped, like birds that skim the air, to the plains beneath the
hills, which bear a fruitfulharvest for Thebes beside the waters of
Asopus; to Hysiae and Erythrae, hamlets 'neath Cithaeron's peak,
with fell intent, swooping on everything and scattering all
pellmell; and they would snatch children from their homes; but all
that they placed upon their shoulders, abode there firmly without
being tied, and fell not to the dusky earth, not even brass or iron;
and on their hair they carried fire and it burnt them not; but the
country-folk rushed to arms, furious at being pillaged by
Bacchanals; whereon ensued, O king, this wondrousspectacle. For
though the ironshod dart would draw no blood from them, they with
the thyrsus, which they hurled, caused many a wound and put their foes
to utter rout, women chasing men, by some god's intervention. Then
they returned to the place whence they had started, even to the
springs the god had made to spout for them; and there washed off the
blood, while serpents with their tongues were licking clean each
gout from their cheeks. Wherefore, my lord and master, receive this
deity, whoe'er he be, within the city; for, great as he is in all
else, I have likewise heard men say, 'twas he that gave the vine to
man, sorrow's antidote. Take wine away and Cypris flies, and every
other human joy is dead.
CHORUS
Though I fear to speak my mind with freedom in the presence of
my king, still must I utter this; Dionysus yields to no deity in
might.
PENTHEUS
Already, look you! the presumption of these Bacchantes is upon us,
swift as fire, a sad disgrace in the eyes of all Hellas. No time for
hesitation now! away to the Electra gate! order a muster of all my
men-at-arms, of those that mount fleet steeds, of all who brandish
light bucklers, of archers too that make the bowstring twang; for I
will march against the Bacchanals. By Heaven I this passes all, if
we are to be thus treated by women.
Exit MESSENGER.
DIONYSUS
Still obdurate, O Pentheus, after hearing my words! In spite of
all the evil treatment I am enduring from thee, still I warn thee of
the sin of bearing arms against a god, and bid thee cease; for Bromius
will not endure thy driving his votaries from the mountains where they
revel.
PENTHEUS
A truce to thy preaching to me! thou hast escaped thy bonds,
preserve thy liberty; else will I renew thy punishment.
DIONYSUS
I would rather do him sacrifice than in a fury kick against the
pricks; thou a mortal, he a god.
PENTHEUS
Sacrifice! that will I, by setting afoot a wholesale slaughter
of women 'mid Cithaeron's glens, as they deserve.
DIONYSUS
Ye will all be put to flight-a shameful thing that they with the
Bacchic thyrsus should rout your mail-clad warriors.
PENTHEUS
I find this stranger a troublesome foe to encounter; doing or
suffering he is alike irrepressible.
DIONYSUS
Friend, there is still a way to compose this bitterness.
PENTHEUS
Say how; am I to serve my own servants?
DIONYSUS
I will bring the women hither without weapons.
PENTHEUS
Ha! ha! this is some craftyscheme of thine against me.
DIONYSUS
What kind of scheme, if by my craft I purpose to save thee?
PENTHEUS
You have combined with them to form this plot, that your revels
may on for ever.
DIONYSUS
Nay, but this is the compact I made with the god; be sure of that.
PENTHEUS (Preparing to start forth)
Bring forth my arms. Not another word from thee!
DIONYSUS
Ha! wouldst thou see them seated on the hills?
PENTHEUS
Of all things, yes! I would give untold sums for that.
DIONYSUS
Why this sudden, strong desire?
PENTHEUS
'Twill be a bitter sight, if I find them drunk with wine.
DIONYSUS
And would that be a pleasant sight which will prove bitter to
thee?
PENTHEUS
Believe me, yes! beneath the fir-trees as I sit in silence.
DIONYSUS
Nay, they will track thee, though thou come secretly.
PENTHEUS
Well, I will go openly; thou wert right to say so.
DIONYSUS
Am I to be thy guide? wilt thou essay the road?
PENTHEUS
Lead on with all speed, I grudge thee all delay.
DIONYSUS
Array thee then in robes of fine linen.
PENTHEUS
Why so? Am I to enlist among women after being a man?
DIONYSUS
They may kill thee, if thou show thy manhood there.
PENTHEUS
Well said! Thou hast given me a taste of thy wit already.
DIONYSUS
Dionysus schooled me in this lore.
PENTHEUS
How am I to carry out thy wholesome advice?
DIONYSUS
Myself will enter thy palace and robe thee.
PENTHEUS
What is the robe to be? a woman's? Nay, I am ashamed.
DIONYSUS
Thy eagerness to see the Maenads goes no further.
PENTHEUS
But what dress dost say thou wilt robe me in?
DIONYSUS
Upon thy head will I make thy hair grow long.
PENTHEUS
- wisdom [´wizdəm]
n.智慧，聪明，才智 (初中英语单词) - messenger [´mesindʒə] n.使者；送信人 (初中英语单词)
- freely [´fri:li] ad.自由地；慷慨地 (初中英语单词)
- temper [´tempə] n.韧度 v.锻炼；调和 (初中英语单词)
- punishment [´pʌniʃmənt] n.罚，刑罚 (初中英语单词)
- careless [´keəlis] a.粗心的；草率的 (初中英语单词)
- scratch [skrætʃ] v.&n.抓，搔；抓伤 (初中英语单词)
- abundance [ə´bʌndəns] n.丰富，充裕 (初中英语单词)
- doings [´du:iŋz] n.行动；所作的事 (初中英语单词)
- thereby [´ðeəbai] ad.因此，由此 (初中英语单词)
- prince [´prins] n.王子；亲王；君主 (初中英语单词)
- hidden [´hid(ə)n] hide 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- chorus [´kɔ:rəs] n.合唱；齐声 v.合唱 (初中英语单词)
- weapon [´wepən] n.武器；斗争手段 (初中英语单词)
- couldst [kudst] can的第二人称单数 (初中英语单词)
- harvest [´hɑ:vist] n.&v.收获；收割 (初中英语单词)
- intent [in´tent] a.专心致志的 n.意图 (初中英语单词)
- snatch [snætʃ] v.&n.抢，夺取，抓住 (初中英语单词)
- firmly [´fə:mli] ad.坚固地，稳定地 (初中英语单词)
- furious [´fjuəriəs] a.狂怒的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- spectacle [´spektəkəl] n.展览；表演；景象 (初中英语单词)
- likewise [´laikwaiz] ad.同样地；也，又 (初中英语单词)
- disgrace [dis´greis] n.耻辱 vt.玷辱；贬黜 (初中英语单词)
- treatment [´tri:tmənt] n.待遇；对待；治疗 (初中英语单词)
- endure [in´djuə] vt.忍耐，忍受；坚持 (初中英语单词)
- encounter [in´kauntə] vt.&n.偶然相遇；冲突 (初中英语单词)
- compose [kəm´pəuz] v.组成；创作；作曲 (初中英语单词)
- hither [´hiðə] ad.到此处 (初中英语单词)
- scheme [ski:m] n.计划；阴谋，诡计 (初中英语单词)
- tidings [´taidiŋz] n.消息，音信 (高中英语单词)
- frantic [´fræntik] a.发狂的；急忙的 (高中英语单词)
- upright [´ʌprait] a.直立的 ad.直立地 (高中英语单词)
- inflict [in´flikt] vt.加以(打击等) (高中英语单词)
- amongst [ə´mʌŋst] prep.其中之一 =among (高中英语单词)
- gratify [´grætifai] vt.使高兴；满足 (高中英语单词)
- hitherto [,hiðə´tu:] ad.至今，迄今 (高中英语单词)
- fruitful [´fru:tfəl] a.成功的；丰富的 (高中英语单词)
- presumption [pri´zʌmpʃən] n.推测；专横；冒昧 (高中英语单词)
- hearing [´hiəriŋ] n.听力；听证会；审讯 (高中英语单词)
- bearing [´beəriŋ] n.举止；忍耐；关系 (高中英语单词)
- mortal [´mɔ:tl] a.致命的 n.凡人 (高中英语单词)
- compact [´kɔmpækt] n.契约 a.挤满的 (高中英语单词)
- openly [´əupənli] ad.公开地；直率地 (高中英语单词)
- grudge [grʌdʒ] vt.&n.吝啬；怨恨 (高中英语单词)
- enlist [in´list] vt.征募；赞助 (高中英语单词)
- manhood [´mænhud] n.人格；男子气概 (高中英语单词)
- wholesome [´həulsəm] a.有益于健康的 (高中英语单词)
- eagerness [´i:gənis] n.渴望；热忱 (高中英语单词)
- urgent [´ə:dʒənt] a.急迫的，紧急的 (英语四级单词)
- wondrous [´wʌndrəs] a.极好的 ad.惊人地 (英语四级单词)
- princely [´prinsli] a.王候般的；高贵的 (英语四级单词)
- modesty [´mɔdisti] n.谨慎；端庄；羞怯 (英语四级单词)
- ambush [´æmbuʃ] n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵 (英语四级单词)
- nimble [´nimbəl] a.敏捷的；聪明的 (英语四级单词)
- whence [wens] ad.从何处；从那里 (英语四级单词)
- wherefore [´weəfɔ:] ad.为什么；因此 (英语四级单词)
- muster [´mʌstə] n.集合 v.集合；征召 (英语四级单词)
- setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)
- wholesale [´həulseil] n.&vt.批发 a.批发的 (英语四级单词)
- shameful [´ʃeimfəl] a.可耻的；猥亵的 (英语四级单词)
- calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
- whereon [weər´ɔn] ad.在什么上面；因此 (英语六级单词)
- intervention [,intə´venʃən] n.干涉；调停；插入 (英语六级单词)
- enduring [in´djuəriŋ] a.持久的 (英语六级单词)
- preaching [´pri:tʃiŋ] n.说教 a.说教的 (英语六级单词)
- crafty [´krɑ:fti] a.狡猾的 (英语六级单词)
- untold [,ʌn´təuld] a.没有说到的；无数的 (英语六级单词)
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