Daphne

Woman into Tree

The god Apollo falls in love with the nymph Daphne, but she doesn’t love him. She tries to run away, but Apollo is a god and swiftly gains on her. In desperation, she prays to her father, the river god Peneus, to transform her into something Apollo will find less arousing.

Her prayer scarce ended, when her lovely limbs

A numbness felt; a tender rind enwraps

Her beauteous bosom; from her head shoots up

Her hair in leaves; in branches spread her arms;

Her feet but now so swift, cleave to the earth

With roots immoveable; her face at last

The summit forms; her bloom the same remains.