Acis

Man into River

 

Polyphemus the Cyclops loves Galatea. But she loves the handsome youth Acis. When the monster finally comes to grips with the fact that his love will never love him back, he goes after his rival. Galatea tells the story of what happens next.

 

“Close at his heels the Cyclops comes, and hurls

A mighty fragment from a mountain rent;

A corner only of the mighty rock

Him reach'd: that corner Acis all o'erwhelm'd.

But I, what fate alone would grant, perform'd,

That Acis still his ancestorial race

Should join: his purple gore flow'd from the rock;

And soon the redness pal'd; it seem'd a stream

Disturb'd by drenching showers; and soon this stream

Was clear'd to limpid purity. The rock

Gap'd wide, and living reeds sprung up erect,

On either brink. Loud roars the pressing flood

In the rock's hollow womb, and (wond'rous sight!)

A youth, his new-form'd horns with reeds begirt,

Sudden appear'd, 'mid waist above the waves;

Who but in stature larger, and his skin

Of azure teint, might Acis well be deem'd.

Acis indeed it was, Acis transform'd

To a clear stream which still his name retains.”