As with thee, With me 'tis likewise. Light am I and young, And will essay the dancing and the song.
CADMUS.
Quick, then, our chariots to the mountain road.
TEIRESIAS.
Nay; to take steeds were to mistrust the God.
CADMUS.
So be it. Mine old arm shall guide thee there.
TEIRESIAS.
The God himself shall guide! Have thou no care.
CADMUS.
And in all Thebes shall no man dance but we?
TEIRESIAS.
Aye, Thebes is blinded. Thou and I can see.
CADMUS.
'Tis weary waiting; hold my hand, friend; so.
TEIRESIAS.
Lo, there is mine. So linked let us go.
CADMUS.
Shall things of dust the Gods' dark ways despise?
TEIRESIAS.
Or prove our wit on Heaven's high mysteries? Not thou and I! That heritage sublime Our sires have left us, wisdom old as time, No word of man, how deep soe'er his thought And won of subtlest toil, may bring to naught. Aye, men will rail that I forget my years, To dance and wreathe with ivy these white hairs; What recks it? Seeing the God no line hath told To mark what man shall dance, or young or old; But craves his honours from mortality All, no man marked apart; and great shall be!
CADMUS (after looking away toward the Mountain).
Teiresias, since this light thou canst not read, I must be seer for thee. Here comes in speed Pentheus, Echion's son, whom I have raised To rule my people in my stead.--Amazed He seems. Stand close, and mark what we shall hear.
[The two stand back, partially concealed, while there enters in hot haste PENTHEUS, followed by a bodyguard. He is speaking to the SOLDIER in command.
PENTHEUS.