Dionysus enters

Dionysus

Born of Aphrodite,

Cupid, the god of desire

Bears two shafts upon his back.

The first of these, golden tipped,

Fans the flames of lust.

The second shaft, tipped with lead,

Turns the heart to loathing.

Whom these arrows strike,

Must bear the burden

That the Fates have decreed.

When lust or loathing fills the heart,

Both Man and gods must surrender

Or be driven mad in turn.

When the Bacchante Nyssa

Refuses to accept

The gift of Cupid's shaft,

She falls victim to

The children of Nyx's womb.

There is no solace for her,

No Lethe's draught,

And so she seeks an ending.

Citizens of Athens,

Behold this tragedy.

Dionysus exits