Battus

Man into Rock

 

Battus tries to cheat the god Mercury. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t end well for him.

 

“Thou treacherous villain, to myself

Wouldst thou betray me? wouldst thou to myself

My deeds betray?” And to a flinty stone

His perjur'd breast he chang'd, which still retains

The name of Touchstone;—on the harmless rock

His infamous demerits firmly fix'd.