One almost cannot bear to glance
at the superficiality of remarks
in print at the moment, on the
causes and consequences of Joe
Biden's non-candidacy for higher
office. But at one point, these
vacuous spins inevitably converge.
Another Presidency of a Clinton
is all but forced, as the logical
progeny of the end of choice. So
much for the vitality of that i-
deal.
Are we then by waves, directed in
republics.
Euripides
Bacchae
ibid.
But why was Pentheus there?
He went to mock the gods,
and your rituals.
But we - why were we there?
You were out of your wits.
The whole city was possessed
by Bacchus.
Among the accomplishments of
the Classics, their proof of
our existence is almost too
multifarious to measure, from
the verifying strain endured
in their translation, to the
labor incurred in their eva-
sion. Certainly above all o-
thers, the play which stipu-
lates the price of our ignor-
ing is the Bacchae of Euripi-
des. The new translation men-
tioned the other day, is as
clear as one could want - in
that extraordinary imagery,
no one could ever want --
in bringing this luminous
creation home in gorgeous
bits and pieces. It is fair
to speak of the beauty of a
thing in terms of its price
tag. This one's lies along
the crest of the trapezius,
and defies all other price.
Euripides
Bacchae
ca 405 BC
Robin Robertson
translation
Daniel Mendelsohn
preface
Ecco/Harper Collins, 2014©
