Homeric Poet (trans Athana**akis) - Homeric Hymn to Dionysus lyrics

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 Tyrsenians 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 withes 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.