The Fountain of Salmacis [Audio][Multimedia Track]

From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood, Mount Ida rises like an island. Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child; Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love. As the dawn creeps up the sky The hunter caught sight of a doe. In desire for conquest, He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before. Hermaphroditus: "Where are you, my father? Give wisdom to your son" Narrator: Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun" "Then he could go no farther And as his strength began to fail He saw a shimmering lake. A shadow in the dark green depths Disturbed the strange tranquility. Salmacis: "The waters are disturbed Some creature has been stirred" Narrator: "The waters are disturbed Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred" As he rushed to quench his thirst, A fountain spring appeared before him And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist, A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring". The water tasted strangely sweet. Behind him the voice called again. He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake. Salmacis: "We shall be one We shall be joined as one" Narrator: "She wanted them as one Yet he had no desire to be one" Hermaphroditus: "Away from me cold-blooded woman Your thirst is not mine" Salmacis: "Nothing will cause us to part Hear me, O Gods" Unearthly calm descended from the sky And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged Forever to be joined as one. The creature crawled into the lake. A fading voice was heard: "And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this spring May share my fate" Salmacis: "We are the one We are the one" Narrator: "The two are now made one Demi-god and nymph are now made one" Both had given everything they had. A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last, Forever still beneath the lake.