Hymn to Dionysus

I shall recall to mind how Dionysos, son of glorious Semele,
appeared by the shore of the barren sea
on a jutting headland, looking like a young man
in the first bloom of manhood. His beautiful dark hair
danced about him, and on his stout shoulders he wore
a purple cloak. Soon on a well-benched ship
pirates moved forward swiftly on the wine-dark sea;
they were led by an evil doom. When they saw him
they signaled to each other and then leapt out and quickly seized him
and put him on board their ship, glad in their hearts.
They thought he was the son of a Zeus-cherished king
and wanted to bind him with painful shackles.
But the shackles could not hold him and the bonds fell far away
from his hands and feet; and he sat there smiling
with his dark eyes. When the helmsman perceived what this meant,
he quickly called upon his shipmates and said:

"Why do you seize and bind this mighty god, you crazy men?
Our well-made ship cannot even carry him!
He is either Zeus or Apollon of the silver bow,
or Poseidon, because he looks not like a mortal man
but like a god who has his home on Olympos.
But come! Let us leave him upon the black mainland
at once! Do not lay hands on him lest he be angered
and raise violent winds and a great storm."
So he spoke, but the captain scolded him with harsh words:
"Madman! Keep your mind on the tail wind, and hold all the lines
and hoist the sail of the ship. The men will take care of
him.
 I reckon Egypt or Cyprus is his destination
or the Hyperboreans or yet some more distant land.
When we are through with him he will talk about his friends
and brothers, and all his goods, since some god has sent him our way."

This said, he hoisted mast and sail on the ship,
and the wind blew the mainsail full as they pulled the lines
tight on both sides. But soon wondrous deeds unfolded before their eyes:
first throughout the swift black ship sweet and fragrant wine
formed a gurgling stream and a divine smell
arose as all the crew watched in mute wonder.
And next on the topmost sail a vine spread about
all over, and many grapes were hanging down
in clusters. Then round the mast dark ivy twined,
luxuriant with flowers and lovely growing berries;
the thole-pins were crowned with wreaths.
When they saw this they bade the helmsman put the ship to shore.
Now the god became a fearsome, loud-roaring lion
in the bow of the ship and then amidships
a shaggy bear he caused to appear as a portent.
The bear reared with fury and the lion scowled dreadfully
on the topmost bench. The crew hastened in fear to the stern
and stood dumbfounded round the helmsman,
a man of prudent mind, as the lion swiftly lunged
upon the captain and seized him. When they saw this,
they escaped evil fate by jumping overboard into the shining sea
and turning into dolphins. But, pitying the helmsman,
the god held him back and made him most happy with these words:

"Courage! ... you are dear to my heart.
I am loud-roaring Dionysos, born of the daughter of Kadmos,
Semele, who mingled in love with Zeus."
Hail, child of Semele with the fair face! There is no way
one can forget you and still compose sweet songs.