He calls upon his 'Thyasus of women,' fellow-pilgrims from the lands
beyond the sea, to beat their Phrygian drums in noisy ritual about the
palace of Pentheus till all Thebes shall flock to hear; he goes to join
his worshippers on Cithaeron. {70}
PARODE, OR CHORUS-ENTRY
_The Chorus enter the orchestra, Asiatic women in wild attire of
Bacchic rites, especially the motley (dappled fawnskin) always
associated with abandon: they move with wild gestures and dances
associated with Asiatic rituals._
The wild ode resumes the joyous dance that has made their whole way
from Asia one long sacred revel--
Toilless toil and labour sweet.
Blest above all men he who hallows his life in such mystic rites, and,
purified with holiest waters, goes dancing with the worshippers of
Bacchus, and of thee, mighty Mother Cybele, shaking his thyrsus, and
all his locks crowned with ivy. Bacchus's birth is sung, and how from
the flashing lightning Jove snatched him and preserved in his thigh,
until at the fated hour he gave him to light, horned and crowned with
serpents.
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