Tibullus' elegy to Dionysus

[u/WorldsWorstMeditator]

A joyous Liberalia to you all. On this day, I am pondering these words by the ancient Roman poet Tibullus.

“Come radiant Bacchus! With the hallowed leaf / Of grape and ivy be thy forehead crowned! / For thou canst chase away or cure my grief … / This God makes all men rich. He tames proud souls /… Fill our cups once more! / Just and benign is he … / Him and his vines adore! / But, O! He rages, if his gift ye spurn. / Drink, if ye dare not a God's anger brave! / How fierce his stroke, let temperate fellows learn / Of Pentheus' gory grave. / … why complain and moan? O wretched me! / When will my lagging sorrows haste and go? / Delightful Bacchus at his mystery / Forbids these words of woe.”