Actaeon

Man into Deer

 

The hunter Actaeon accidentally stumbles upon Diana and her nymphs as they’re bathing in a stream. The goddess isn’t pleased.

 

She seiz'd the waters which she could,

And dash'd them o'er his features:—as his locks,

The vengeful drops besprinkled, thus in rage,

She cry'd,—“Now tell thou hast Diana seen

“Disrob'd;—go tell it, if thou canst,”—no more,

With threatenings storm'd, but on his sprinkled head,

The antlers of the long-liv'd stag are plac'd.

His neck is lengthen'd; with a sharpen'd point,

His upright ears are form'd; to feet his hands,—

To long and slender legs his arms are chang'd;

And round his body clings a dappled coat.

Fear in his bosom she instils: the youth,

The bold Actæon flies, and wondering feels

His bounding feet so rapid in the race.

But soon the waters shew'd his branching horns;

And,—“ah unhappy me!” he strove to cry:

His voice he found not; sighs and sobs were all;

And tears fast streaming down his alter'd face.

Still human sense remains.

 

Because his dogs don’t recognize the deer as their master, they run him down.

 

Athwart, the chase they shorten'd. Now the pack,

Join'd them their lord retaining; join'd their teeth

Their victim seizing:—now his body bleeds,

A wound continuous: deep he utters groans,

Not human, yet unlike a dying deer;

And fills the well-known mountains with his plaint.

Prone on his knees in suppliant form he bends;

And low beseeching waves his silent head,

As he would wave his hands. His witless friends,

The savage pack with joyous outcries urge;

Actæon anxious seeking: echoing loud

Eager his name as absent. At the name,

His head he turns. His absence irks them sore,

As lazy loitering, not the noble prey

Obtain'd, beholding. Joyful could he be,

At distance now,—but hapless is too near:

Glad would he see the furious dogs their fangs,

On other prey than his torn limbs infix.

On every side they crowd; their dying lord,

A well-seem'd deer, they rend; their ravenous teeth

Deep tear his members. With a thousand wounds,

(Dian's insatiate anger less despis'd)

The hapless hunter yielded forth his breath.