Cadmus: [B]ut your reprisals are too severe!

Dionysus: Yes, because I am a god, and you insulted me.

Cadmus: Gods should not resemble men in their anger!

Dionysus: Long ago Zeus my father approved these things.

Dionysus: Follow, and I shall go as your escort and protector, though another shall bring you back

Pentheus: Yes, my mother

Dionysus: as a sight for all.

Pentheus: It is for this that I come.

Dionysus: You will be carried here

Pentheus: That is pampering me

Dionysus: In your mother's arms.

Pentheus: And you will make me really spoiled!

Dionysus: Yes, spoiled-in a special way.

You have a glib tongue, as though in your right mind, Yet in your words there is no real sense Wretched man, how ignorant you are of what you are saying! Before you were out of your mind-but now you are raving mad.

What is wisdom? Or what fairer gift from the gods in men's eyes than to hold the hand of power over the head of one's enemies? And 'what is fair is always followed.'

Agaue: Father, since you see how my fortunes have utterly changed

[long passage missing from original text]

Dionysus: you shall be turned into a serpent, and your wife shall change into a savage form of a snake