Part 10 (1/2)

Thy shape, methinks, is like to one Of Cadmus' royal maids!

PENTHEUS.

Yea; and mine eye Is bright! Yon sun s.h.i.+nes twofold in the sky, Thebes twofold and the Wall of Seven Gates. . . .

And is it a Wild Bull this, that walks and waits Before me? There are horns upon thy brow!

What art thou, man or beast? For surely now The Bull is on thee!

DIONYSUS.

He who erst was wrath, Goes with us now in gentleness. He hath Unsealed thine eyes to see what thou shouldst see.

PENTHEUS.

Say; stand I not as Ino stands, or she Who bore me?

DIONYSUS.

When I look on thee, it seems I see their very selves!--But stay; why streams That lock abroad, not where I laid it, crossed Under the coif?

PENTHEUS.

I did it, as I tossed My head in dancing, to and fro, and cried His holy music!

DIONYSUS (_tending him_).

It shall soon be tied Aright. 'Tis mine to tend thee. . . . Nay, but stand With head straight.

PENTHEUS.

In the hollow of thy hand I lay me. Deck me as thou wilt.

DIONYSUS.

Thy zone Is loosened likewise; and the folded gown Not evenly falling to the feet.

PENTHEUS.

'Tis so, By the right foot. But here, methinks, they flow In one straight line to the heel.

DIONYSUS (_while tending him_).

And if thou prove Their madness true, aye, more than true, what love And thanks hast thou for me?

PENTHEUS (_not listening to him_).

In my right hand Is it, or thus, that I should bear the wand, To be most like to them?

DIONYSUS.

Up let it swing In the right hand, timed with the right foot's spring. . . .