Bacchus: And you of your ignorance, being impious to the God.
Pentheus: How bold is Bacchus, and not unpracticed in speech.
Bacchus: Say what I must suffer, what ill wilt thou do me?
Pentheus: First I will cut off your delicate hair.
Bacchus: The hair is sacred, I cherish it for the God.[30]
Pentheus: Next yield up this thyrsus out of your hands.
Bacchus: Take it from me yourself, I bear it as the ensign of Bacchus.
Pentheus: And we will guard your body within in prison.
Bacchus: The God himself will release me when I wish.[31]
[30] See my note on Aesch. Choeph. 7.
[31] Cf Person Advers. p. 265. Hor. Ep. i. 16. 73 "Vir bonus et sapiens audebit dicere Pentheu, Rector Thebarum, quid me perferre patique Indignum coges? Adima bona, nempe pecus, rem, Lectos, argentum: tollas licet. In manicis et Compedibus saevo te sub custode tenebo. Ipse deus, simul atque volam, me solvet. Opinor, Hoc sentit: moriar. Mors ultima linea rerum est."
Studies
