Aeschylus, Fragments 23–32: Glaucus of Potniae (end), Danaids, Eleusinioi, Epigoni and Edonians

In their fury they dragged him aloft, even as two wolves bear off a fawn by its shoulders.

And then the radiant light of the sun is setting, while I call them forth, saying ‘let them make their bridegrooms graciously disposed, as is the custom, with boys and girls.’

The holy heaven yearns to wound the earth, and yearning layeth hold on the earth to join in wedlock; the rain, fallen from the amorous heaven, impregnates the earth, and it bringeth forth for mankind the food of flocks and herds and Demeter’s gifts; and from that moist marriage-rite the woods put on their bloom. Of all these things I am the cause.

The matter pressed, rotting already was the corpse.

First, libations to Zeus and Hera for timely marriage

The second cup of mixed wine I serve out to the Heroes

Third, a libation for blessing to Zeus, the Saviour.

Practising the holy rites of Cotyto. . . . One, holding in his hands the pipe, the labour of the lathe, blows forth his fingered tune, even the sound that wakes to frenzy. Another, with brass-bound cymbals, raises a clang . . . the twang shrills; and unseen, bull-voiced mimes in answer bellow fearfully, while the timbrel’s echo, like that of subterranean thunder, rolls along inspiring a mighty terror.

Lo, the house is frenzied with the god, the roof revels, Bacchant-like.

One who wears Lydian tunics and fox-skin cloaks reaching to the feet

Who in the world is this poet-prophet, speechless . . .

Whence hails this woman-man? What’s his country? What’s his attire?

Long-legged indeed! Was he not a χλούνης?