With toil I searched it out and am bringing it myself.
AGAVE
Is it all fitted limb to limb in seemly wise?
CADMUS [*]
[* One line, or maybe more, is missing]
AGAVE
But what had Pentheus to do with folly of mine?
CADMUS
He was like you in refusing homage to the god, who, therefore, hath involved you all in one common ruin, you and him alike, to destroy this house and me, forasmuch as I, that had no sons, behold this youth, the fruit of thy womb, unhappy mother! foully and most shamefully slain.To thee, my child, our house looked up, to thee my daughter's son, the stay of my palace, inspiring the city with awe;none caring to flout the old king when he saw thee by, for he would get his deserts.But now shall I be cast out dishonoured from my halls, Cadmus the great, who sowed the crop of Theban seed and reaped that goodly harvest.O beloved child! dead though thou art, thou still shalt be counted by me amongst my own dear children; no more wilt thou lay thy hand upon my chin in fond embrace, my child, and calling on thy mother's sire demand, "Who wrongs thee or dishonours thee, old sire? who vexes thy heart, a thorn within thy side? Speak, that I may punish thy oppressor, father mine!"But now am I in sorrow plunged, and woe is thee, and woe thy mother and her suffering sisters too! Ah! if there be any man that scorns the gods, let him well mark this prince's death and then believe in them.
CHORUS
Cadmus, I am sorry for thy fate; for though thy daughter's child hath met but his deserts, 'tis bitter grief to thee.
AGAVE
O father, thou seest how sadly my fortune is changed.[*]
[* After this a very large lacuna occurs in the MS.]
DIONYSUS
Thou shalt be changed into a serpent; and thy wife Harmonia, Ares'
child, whom thou in thy human life didst wed, shall change her nature for a snake's, and take its form.With her shalt thou, as leader of barbarian tribes, drive thy team of steers, so saith an oracle of Zeus; and many a city shalt thou sack with an army numberless; but in the day they plunder the oracle of Loxias, shall they rue their homeward march; but thee and Harmonia will Ares rescue, and set thee to live henceforth in the land of the blessed.This do I declare, I Dionysus, son of no mortal father but of Zeus.Had ye learnt wisdom when ye would not, ye would now be happy with the son of Zeus for your ally.
AGAVE
O Dionysus! we have sinned; thy pardon we implore.
DIONYSUS
Too late have ye learnt to know me; ye knew me not at the proper time.
AGAVE
We recognize our error; but thou art too revengeful.
DIONYSUS
Yea, for I, though a god, was slighted by you.
AGAVE
Gods should not let their passion sink to man's level.
DIONYSUS
Long ago my father Zeus ordained it thus.
AGAVE
Alas! my aged sire, our doom is fixed; 'tis woful exile.
DIONYSUS
Why then delay the inevitable? Exit.
CADMUS
Daughter, to what an awful pass are we now come, thou too, poor child, and thy sisters, while I alas! in my old age must seek barbarian shores, to sojourn there; but the oracle declares that Ishall yet lead an army, half-barbarian, half-Hellene, to Hellas; and in serpent's shape shall I carry my wife Harmonia, the daughter of Ares, transformed like me to a savage snake, against the altars and tombs of Hellas at the head of my troops; nor shall I ever cease from my woes, ah me! nor ever cross the downward stream of Acheron and be at rest.
AGAVE
Father, I shall be parted from thee and exiled.
CADMUS
Alas! my child, why fling thy arms around me, as a snowy cygnet folds its wings about the frail old swan?
AGAVE
Whither can I turn, an exile from my country?
CADMUS
I know not, my daughter; small help is thy father now.
AGAVE
Farewell, my home! farewell, my native city! with sorrow I am leaving thee, an exile from my bridal bower.
CADMUS
Go, daughter, to the house of Aristaeus,[*]
[* Another large lacuna follows.]
AGAVE
Father, I mourn for thee.
CADMUS
And I for thee, my child; for thy sisters too I shed a tear.
AGAVE
Ah! terribly was king Dionysus bringing this outrage on thy house.
CADMUS
Yea, for he suffered insults dire from you, his name receiving no meed of honour in Thebes.
AGAVE
Farewell, father mine!
CADMUS
Farewell, my hapless daughter and yet thou scarce canst reach that bourn.
AGAVE
Oh! lead me, guide me to the place where I shall find my sisters, sharers in my exile to their sorrow! Oh! to reach a spot where cursed Cithaeron ne'er shall see me more nor I Cithaeron with mine eyes; where no memorial of the thyrsus is set up! Be they to other Bacchantes dear!
CHORUS
Many are the forms the heavenly will assumes, and many a thing the gods fulfil contrary to all hope; that which was expected is not brought to pass, while for the unlooked-for Heaven finds out a way.
E'en such hath been the issue here.
Exeunt OMNES.
THE END
.
