Climax continues.
The stranger tells Cadmus that he and his wife will become serpents and lead a vast army that will sack many cities until it plunders the oracle at Loxias. Then Cadmus and his wife will be rescued and go to the isle of the blessed. He also tells Cadmus he is the son of Zeus (Dionysus) and that it was the fault of the Thebans that he did not become their ally.
Agave asks for forgiveness, but Dionysus says it's too late, he was slighted, and Zeus ordered him to behave the way he has. Agave acknowledges she is consigned to exile. Dionysus asks what she's waiting for, and then leaves. Agave then asks her father where she should go. He answers that she should go to the house of Aristaeus, who is the husband of Autonoe, one of Agave's sisters and the mother of Actaeon who fell victim to the fatal wrath of Artemis when he saw the goddess naked. Cadmus tells Agave that while he cries for his daughters, they brought it on themselves by failing to honor Dionysus. He then says goodbye.
The chorus says the gods don't always act according to human expectations.
