Eksodos
Kadmos
, who am bereft of my male children and see this offspring of your womb, wretched woman, most miserably and shamefully slain. He was the hope of our line—you, child, who supported the house, son of my daughter,
1305
an object of fear to the city; seeing you, no one wished to insult the old man, for you would have given a worthy punishment. But now I, great Kadmos, who sowed and reaped
1310
a most glorious crop, the Theban people, will be banished from the house without honor. Dearest of men—for though you are dead I still count you among my dearest, child—no longer will you embrace me, calling me grandfather, touching my chin with your hand, child, and
1315
saying: Who wrongs you, old man, who dishonors you? Who vexes and troubles your heart? Tell me, father, so that I can punish the one who does you wrong. But now I am miserable, while you are wretched, your mother is pitiful, and wretched too are your relatives.
1320
If anyone scorns the gods, let him look to the death of this man and acknowledge them.
1325
Chorus Leader
I grieve for you, Kadmos. Your daughter’s child has a punishment deserved indeed, but grievous to you.
Agave
Father, for you see how much my situation has changed ...
Dionysus
. . . changing your form, you will become a dragon, and your wife, Harmonia, Ares’ daughter, whom you though mortal held in marriage, will be turned into a beast, and will receive in exchange the form of a serpent. And as the oracle of Zeus says, you will drive along with your wife a chariot of heifers, ruling over barbarians.
1330
You will sack many cities with a force of countless numbers. And when they plunder the oracle of Apollo, they will have a miserable return, but Ares will protect you and Harmonia and will settle your life in the land of the blessed.
1335
That is what I, Dionysus, born not from a mortal father, but from Zeus, say. And if you had known how to be wise when you did not wish to be, you would have acquired Zeus’ son as an ally, and would now be happy.
1340
Kadmos
Dionysus, we beseech you, we have acted injustly.
Dionysus
You have learned it too late; you did not know it when you should have.
1345
Kadmos
Now we know, but you go too far against us.
Dionysus
Yes, for I, a god by birth, was insulted by you.
Kadmos
Gods should not resemble mortals in their anger.
Dionysus
My father Zeus approved this long ago.
Agave
Alas! A miserable exile has been decreed for us, old man.
1350
Dionysus
Why then do you delay what must necessarily be?
Kadmos
Child, what a terrible disaster we have all come to—unhappy you, your sisters, and unhappy me. I shall reach a foreign land
as an aged immigrant. Still it is foretold that I shall bring into Hellas a motley barbarian army. Leading their spears, I, having the fierce nature of a serpent, will bring my wife Harmonia, daughter of Ares, to the altars and tombs of Hellas.
1355
I will neither rest from my troubles in my misery, nor will I sail over the downward flowing Acheron and be at peace.
1360
Agave
O father, I will go into exile deprived of you.
Kadmos
Why do you embrace me with your hands, child,
like a swan for its exhausted gray-haired parent?
1365
Agave
For where can I turn, banished from my father-land?
Kadmos
I do not know, child; your father is a poor ally.
Agave
Farewell, house, farewell, city of my forefathers. In misfortune I leave you,
a fugitive from my chamber.
1370
Kadmos
Go now, child, to the land of Aristaeus . . .
Agave
I grieve for you, father.
