Climax.
The second messenger says he may be a slave but that doesn't stop him from feeling sorry for the people he has served. The chorus (Asian Bacchantes) ask if he has heard from the maenads on Cithaeron. The messenger says Pentheus is dead and is upset that the chorus rejoices in the news.
The messenger reveals the details of the murder, about how Pentheus was ripped apart by his mother and her sisters.
Stasimon 5 (1153-64)
The chorus rejoices in song about the death of Pentheus the transvestite.
Agave calls to the chorus to see the results of her successful hunt on Mt. Cithaeron. She asks the chorus to join her victory feast. The chorus tells her to show the prize to the people, which she does, but since Pentheus doesn't show up, she keeps asking for him. She wants to nail the "lion cub" head to the house.
Cadmus enters with servants carrying the scattered bits of Pentheus' corpse. Agave tells her father about her successful hunt and about how he can boast of the superiority of his daughters since they can not only weave but also hunt wild beasts.
Cadmus replies that his grief knows no bounds. Agave thinks he is just being a fussy old man. Cadmus questions Agave to see whether she has had her consciousness altered.
Agave shows signs that she is still deluded, but that it's clearing. Cadmus asks her a series of questions to determine how sane she is and then has her look at the head of her victim. At first Agave doesn't understand, but as the fog lifts, she recognizes her son and asks who did it. Cadmus tells her. Agave realizes Dionysus has destroyed them all. Cadmus says his male heir has been murdered and he will leave Thebes as an exile and comments that this should be a warning for all that the gods really do exist.
The chorus says Pentheus got what he deserved.
