SERVANT.  Pentheus, we are here; having caught this prey, for which you sent us:  nor have we gone in vain; but the beast was docile in our hands, nor did he withdraw his foot in flight, but yielded not unwillingly; nor did he [turn] pale nor change his wine-complexioned cheek, but laughing, allowed us to bind and lead him away; and remained still, making my work easy; and I for shame said, O stranger, I do not take you of my own will, but by order of Pentheus who sent me.  And the Bacchae whom you shut up, whom you carried off and bound in the chains of the public prison, they being set loose are escaped, and are dancing in the meadows, invoking Bromius as their God, and of their own accord the fetters were loosed from their feet, and the keys opened the doors without mortal hand, and full of many wonders is this man come to Thebes; but the rest must be thy care.

PEN.  Take hold of him by the hands; for being in the toils, he is not so swift as to escape me:  but in your body you are not ill-formed, O stranger, for women’s purposes, on which account you have come to Thebes.  For your hair is long, not through wrestling, scattered over your cheeks, full of desire, and you have a white skin from careful preparation; hunting after Venus by your beauty not exposed to strokes of the sun, but [kept] beneath the shade.  First then tell me who thou art in family.

BAC.  There is no boast; but this is easy to say; thou knowest by hearsay of the flowery Tmolus?

PEN.  I know, [the hill] which surrounds the city of Sardis.

BAC.  Thence am I; and Lydia is my country.

PEN.  And whence do you bring these rites into Greece?

BAC.  Bacchus persuaded us, the son of Jove.

PEN.  Is Jove then one who begets new Gods?

BAC.  No, but having married Semele here,—­

PEN.  Did he compel you by night, or in your sight [by day]?

BAC.  Seeing me who saw him; and he gave me orgies.

PEN.  And what appearance have these orgies?

BAC.  It is unlawful for the uninitiated among mortals to know.

PEN.  And have they any profit to those who sacrifice?

BAC.  It is not lawful for you to hear, but they are worth knowing.

PEN.  You have well coined this story, that I may wish to hear.

BAC.  The orgies of the God hate him who works impiety.

PEN.  For you say, forsooth, that you saw the God clearly what he was like?

BAC.  As he chose; I did not order this.

PEN.  This too you have well contrived, saying mere nonsense.

BAC.  One may seem, speaking wisely to one ignorant, not to be wise.

PEN.  And did you come hither first, bringing the God?

BAC.  Every one of the barbarians celebrates these orgies.

PEN. [Ay,] for they are much less wise than Greeks.

BAC.  In these things they are wiser, but their laws are different.