The Poetical Works of Addison; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase · Chapter 19The Story of Pentheus
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This sad event gave blind Tiresias fame, Through Greece established in a prophet's name. The unhallowed Pentheus only durst deride The cheated people, and their eyeless guide, To whom the prophet in his fury said, Shaking the hoary honours of his head; 'Twere well, presumptuous man, 'twere well for thee If thou wert eyeless too, and blind, like me: For the time comes, nay, 'tis already here, When the young god's solemnities appear; _10 Which, if thou dost not with just rites adorn, Thy impious carcase, into pieces torn, Shall strew the woods, and hang on every thorn. Then, then, remember what I now foretell, And own the blind Tiresias saw too well.' Still Pentheus scorns him, and derides his skill, But time did all the promised threats fulfil. For now through prostrate Greece young Bacchus rode, Whilst howling matrons celebrate the god. All ranks and sexes to his orgies ran, _20 To mingle in the pomps, and fill the train. When Pentheus thus his wicked rage express'd; 'What madness, Thebans, has your soul possess'd? Can hollow timbrels, can a drunken shout, And the lewd clamours of a beastly rout, Thus quell your courage? can the weak alarm Of women's yells those stubborn souls disarm, Whom nor the sword nor trumpet e'er could fright, Nor the loud din and horror of a fight? And you, our sires, who left your old abodes, _30 And fixed in foreign earth your country gods; Will you without a stroke your city yield, And poorly quit an undisputed field? But you, whose youth and vigour should inspire Heroic warmth, and kindle martial fire, Whom burnished arms and crested helmets grace, Not flowery garlands and a painted face; Remember him to whom you stand allied: The serpent for his well of waters died. He fought the strong; do you his courage show, _40 And gain a conquest o'er a feeble foe. If Thebes must fall, oh might the Fates afford A nobler doom from famine, fire, or sword! Then might the Thebans perish with renown: But now a beardless victor sacks the town; Whom nor the prancing steed, nor ponderous shield, Nor the hacked helmet, nor the dusty field, But the soft joys of luxury and ease, The purple vests, and flowery garlands, please. Stand then aside, I'll make the counterfeit _50 Renounce his godhead, and confess the cheat. Acrisius from the Grecian walls repelled This boasted power; why then should Pentheus yield? Go quickly, drag the audacious boy to me; I'll try the force of his divinity.' Thus did the audacious wretch those rites profane; His friends dissuade the audacious wretch in vain; In vain his grandsire urged him to give o'er His impious threats; the wretch but raves the more. So have I seen a river gently glide, _60 In a smooth course and inoffensive tide; But if with dams its current we restrain, It bears down all, and foams along the plain. But now his servants came besmeared with blood, Sent by their haughty prince to seize the god; The god they found not in the frantic throng But dragged a zealous votary along.