Summary: “The Bacchantes” is a play by Euripides about the god Dionysus seeking revenge on King Pentheus. The story explores themes of madness, power, and the conflict between reason and emotion. Ultimately, it reveals the consequences of denying the divine and the chaos that follows.
Highlights
O happy he! who to his joy is initiated in heavenly mysteries and leads a holy life (View Highlight)
The faith we inherited from our fathers, old as time itself, no reasoning shall cast down; (View Highlight)
I hear that our women-folk have left their homes on pretence of Bacchic rites, and on the wooded hills rush wildly to and fro, honouring in the dance this new god Dionysus, whoe’er he is; and in the midst of each revel-rout the brimming wine-bowl stands, (View Highlight)
never boast that might alone doth sway the world, nor if thou think so, unsound as thy opinion is, credit thyself with any wisdom; (View Highlight)
Whenso a man of wisdom finds a good topic for argument, it is no difficult matter to speak well; (View Highlight)
sayest. A headstrong man, if he have influence and a capacity for speaking, makes a bad citizen because he lacks sense (View Highlight)
This god too hath prophetic power, for there is no small prophecy inspired by Bacchic frenzy; for whenever the god in his full might enters the hu- man frame, he makes his frantic votaries foretell the (View Highlight)
The end of all unbridled speech and law- less senselessness is misery; but the life of calm re- pose and the rule of reason abide unshaken and sup- port the home; f (View Highlight)
Soph- istry is not wisdom, and to indulge in thoughts be- yond man’s ken is to shorten life; and if a man on such poor terms should aim too high, he may miss the pleasures in his reach. (View Highlight)
A man of godless life is an abomination to the rites of the god. (View Highlight)
Both to rich and poor alike hath he granted the delight of wine, that makes all pain to cease; hateful to him is every one who careth not to live the life of bliss, that lasts through days and nights of joy (View Highlight)
True wisdom is to keep the heart and soul aloof from over-subtle wits. (View Highlight)
Thou hast no knowledge of the life thou art leading; thy very existence is now a mystery to thee. (View Highlight)
Happy is he who hath escaped the wave from out the sea, and reached the haven; and happy he who hath triumphed o’er his troubles; though one surpasses another in wealth and power; yet there be myriad hopes for all the myriad minds; some end in happiness for man, and others come to naught; but him, whose life from day to day is blest, I deem a happy man. (View Highlight)
Manv are the forms the heavenlv 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. (View Highlight)