(1st Turn.) CHORUS.(129) To the glory and joy of Cadmus' daughter praise upraise ! Many-titled! Thunderer Zeus' Begotten offspring! Charged to ward O'er the mother-lap of Eleusis Where a world resorts Worshipping in Dêô's courts.(130) Bacchus' Bacchanal town, By sliding smooth Ismenïan sluices, Soil of cruel Dragon sown! (1st Counter-turn.) And the murkily glow'ring flambeaux' flash hath seen thy mien O'er the twin-topt crest of the mountain, (Votaries all of Bacchus they), Met beside the Castaly fountain. And the Nysa (132) steeps, Banks whereon the ivy heaps, (While tongues superhuman phrase Jubilation of praise) And vineyards cluster'd thick beyond counting Speed thee home to Theban ways. (2nd Turn.) She loved us more than any nation, Caught in grips of a malady rude O pass with feet of purification Or by the moaning firth of sea ! (134) (2nd Counter-turn.) Arise! Thou, who lead'st to pleasure Child of Zeus! The begotten of God! For thee the nightlong ecstasy-measure; Steward of their hearts'-desire ! Bacchus! Arise! Appear to sight! Enter a MESSENGER. Mes. Neighbours to Cadmus' and Amphion's roof, Any estate in lives of men I'll hail : For Chance may lift and Chance may dip the scale No earthly seer the Appointed can foresay. For Creon's lot, time was, I used to count Worth coveting: he throned it paramount In Thebe, ruled the land which he did save; And shewed, with flower of noble children, brave. And all foregone! For let a man forsake His joys-no more account of him I make As living he's a dead man, breathing still! Keep a proud house and costly, if you will, And keep a kingly style; if thus you live And have no joy of it, I would not give― For all but that-the shadow of a smoke ! L. of Cho. You've news? What more to afflict our royal folk? Mes. Deaths! And the guilt upon a living head. Mes. Haemon, by hands familiar overthrown. Abroad-is't tidings of her son, or chance? |