Second Messenger
Oh house once fortunate in Hellas, [1025] house of the Sidonian old man who once sowed in the ground the earth-born harvest of the serpent Ophis, how I groan for you, though I am a slave, but still [the masters' affairs are a concern to good servants].1. Chorus Leader
What is it? Do you bring some news from the Bacchae? Messenger
[1030] Pentheus, the child of Echion, is dead. sung
Chorus Leader
Lord Bacchus, truly you appear to be a great god. Messenger
What do you mean? Why have you said this? Do you rejoice at the misfortunes of my master, woman? sung
Chorus Leader
I, a foreign woman, rejoice with foreign songs; [1035] for no longer do I cower in fear of chains. Messenger
Do you think Thebes so lacking in men? sung
Chorus Leader
Dionysus, Dionysus, not Thebes, holds my allegiance. Messenger
You may be forgiven, but still it is not good [1040] to rejoice at troubles once they have actually taken place, women. sung
Chorus Leader
Tell me, speak, what kind of a death did he die, the unjust man who did unjust things?
1 This line is most likely interpolated from Eur. Med. 54
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