Glorious Semelé's child I will summon to mind, Dionysos;
How he appeared on the brink of the sea forever unresting,
On a projecting crag, assuming the guise of a stripling
Blooming in youth; and in beauty his dark hair floated about him.
Purple the cloak he was wearing across his vigorous shoulders.
Presently hove in sight a band of Tyrrhenian pirates,
Borne in a well-rowed vessel along the wine-coloured waters.
Hither their evil destiny guided them. When they beheld him,
Unto each other they nodded; then forth they darted, and straightway
Seized him and haled him aboard their vessel, exultant in spirit,
Since they thought him a child of kings, who of Zeus are supported.
Then were they eager to bind him in fetters that could not be sundered.
Yet was he held not with bonds, for off and afar did the osiers
Fall from his hands and feet, and left him sitting and smiling
Out of his dusky eyes! But when their pilot beheld it,
Straightway uplifting his voice, he shouted aloud to his comrades:
“Madmen! Who is this god ye would seize and control with your fetters?
Mighty is he! Our well-rowed ship is unable to hold him.
Verily this is Zeus, or else it is archer Apollo,
Or, it may be, Poseidon,—for nowise perishing mortals
Does he resemble, but gods who make their home on Olympos.
Bring him, I pray you, again to the darksome shore and release him
Straightway. Lay not a finger upon him, lest in his anger
He may arouse the impetuous gusts and the furious storm-wind.”
Thus he spoke, but the captain, in words of anger, assailed him:—
“Fellow, look to the wind, and draw at the sail of the vessel,
Holding the cordage in hand: we men will care for the captive.
He shall come, as I think, to Egypt or may be to Cyprus,
Or to the Hypoboreans, or farther, and surely shall tell us
Finally who are his friends and reveal to us all his possessions,
Name us his brethren too: for a god unto us has betrayed him.”
So had he spoken and hoisted his mast and the sail of his vessel.
Fairly upon their sail was blowing a breeze and the cordage
Tightened: and presently then most wondrous chances befell them.
First of all things, wine thro the black impetuous vessel,
Fragrant and sweet to the taste, was trickling; the odour ambrosial
Rose in the air; and terror possest them all to behold it.
Presently near to the top of the sail a vine had extended,
Winding hither and hither, with many a cluster dependent.
Round and about their mast an ivy was duskily twining,
Rich in its blossoms and fair was the fruit that had risen upon it.
Every rowlock a garland wore.
And when they beheld this
Instantly then to the pilot they shouted to hurry the vessel
Near to the land; but the god appeared as a lion among them,
Terrible, high on the bow and loudly he roared; and amidships
Made he appear to their eyes a shaggy-neckt bear as a portent.
Eagerly rose she erect and high on the prow was the lion,
Eyeing them grimly askance. To the stern they darted in terror.
There at the side of the pilot, the man of wiser perception,
Dazed and affrighted they stood; and suddenly leaping upon them,
On their captain he seized. They fleeing from utter destruction,
Into the sacred water plunged, as they saw it, together,
Turning to dolphins. The god, for the pilot having compassion,
Held him back and gave him happiness, speaking as follows:—
“Have no fear, oh innocent suppliant, dear to my spirit.
Semele's offspring am I, Dionysos, the leader in revels,
Born of the daughter of Cadmos, to Zeus in wedlock united.”
Greeting, oh child of the fair-faced Semele! Never the minstrel
Who is forgetful of thee may fashion a song that is pleasing.
How he appeared on the brink of the sea forever unresting,
On a projecting crag, assuming the guise of a stripling
Blooming in youth; and in beauty his dark hair floated about him.
Purple the cloak he was wearing across his vigorous shoulders.
Presently hove in sight a band of Tyrrhenian pirates,
Borne in a well-rowed vessel along the wine-coloured waters.
Hither their evil destiny guided them. When they beheld him,
Unto each other they nodded; then forth they darted, and straightway
Seized him and haled him aboard their vessel, exultant in spirit,
Since they thought him a child of kings, who of Zeus are supported.
Then were they eager to bind him in fetters that could not be sundered.
Yet was he held not with bonds, for off and afar did the osiers
Fall from his hands and feet, and left him sitting and smiling
Out of his dusky eyes! But when their pilot beheld it,
Straightway uplifting his voice, he shouted aloud to his comrades:
“Madmen! Who is this god ye would seize and control with your fetters?
Mighty is he! Our well-rowed ship is unable to hold him.
Verily this is Zeus, or else it is archer Apollo,
Or, it may be, Poseidon,—for nowise perishing mortals
Does he resemble, but gods who make their home on Olympos.
Bring him, I pray you, again to the darksome shore and release him
Straightway. Lay not a finger upon him, lest in his anger
He may arouse the impetuous gusts and the furious storm-wind.”
Thus he spoke, but the captain, in words of anger, assailed him:—
“Fellow, look to the wind, and draw at the sail of the vessel,
Holding the cordage in hand: we men will care for the captive.
He shall come, as I think, to Egypt or may be to Cyprus,
Or to the Hypoboreans, or farther, and surely shall tell us
Finally who are his friends and reveal to us all his possessions,
Name us his brethren too: for a god unto us has betrayed him.”
So had he spoken and hoisted his mast and the sail of his vessel.
Fairly upon their sail was blowing a breeze and the cordage
Tightened: and presently then most wondrous chances befell them.
First of all things, wine thro the black impetuous vessel,
Fragrant and sweet to the taste, was trickling; the odour ambrosial
Rose in the air; and terror possest them all to behold it.
Presently near to the top of the sail a vine had extended,
Winding hither and hither, with many a cluster dependent.
Round and about their mast an ivy was duskily twining,
Rich in its blossoms and fair was the fruit that had risen upon it.
Every rowlock a garland wore.
And when they beheld this
Instantly then to the pilot they shouted to hurry the vessel
Near to the land; but the god appeared as a lion among them,
Terrible, high on the bow and loudly he roared; and amidships
Made he appear to their eyes a shaggy-neckt bear as a portent.
Eagerly rose she erect and high on the prow was the lion,
Eyeing them grimly askance. To the stern they darted in terror.
There at the side of the pilot, the man of wiser perception,
Dazed and affrighted they stood; and suddenly leaping upon them,
On their captain he seized. They fleeing from utter destruction,
Into the sacred water plunged, as they saw it, together,
Turning to dolphins. The god, for the pilot having compassion,
Held him back and gave him happiness, speaking as follows:—
“Have no fear, oh innocent suppliant, dear to my spirit.
Semele's offspring am I, Dionysos, the leader in revels,
Born of the daughter of Cadmos, to Zeus in wedlock united.”
Greeting, oh child of the fair-faced Semele! Never the minstrel
Who is forgetful of thee may fashion a song that is pleasing.