This new translation of The Bacchae—that strange blend of Aeschylean grandeur and Euripidean finesse—is an attempt to reproduce for the American stage the play as it most probably was when new and unmutilated in 406 B.C. The achievement of this aim involves a restoration of the "great lacuna" at the climax and the discovery of several primary stage effects very likely intended by Euripides. These effects and controversial questions of the composition and stylistics are discussed in the notes and the accompanying essay.

Translated by: Donald Sutherland