Glaucus

Man into Merman

 

The moral of this story appears to be “don’t eat grass.” Here in Glaucus’s words is what happened to him when he tried it.

 

“What herb—at last, I said—

Can power like this possess?—and with my hand

Pluck'd up, and with my teeth the herbage chew'd.

Scarce had my throat th' untasted juice first try'd,

When all my entrails sudden tremblings shook,

And with a love of something yet unknown

My breast was mov'd; nor could I longer keep

My place.—O earth! where I shall ne'er return—

Farewel! I cry'd,—and plung'd below the waves.

Worthy the ocean deities me deem'd

To join their social troop, and anxious pray'd

To Tethys, and old Ocean, Tethys' spouse,

To purge whate'er of mortal I retain'd.

By them lustrated, and the potent song

Nine times repeated, earthly taints to cleanse,

They bade me 'neath an hundred gushing streams

To place my bosom. No delay I seek;

The floods from numerous fountains pour'd, the main

O'erwhelm'd my head. Thus far what deeds were done

My memory helps me to relate; thus far

Alone can I remember; all the rest

Dark to my memory seems. My sense restor'd,

I found my body chang'd in every part;

Nor was my mind the same. Then first I saw

This beard of dingy green, and these long locks

Which through the seas I sweep; these shoulders huge;

Those azure arms and thighs in fish-like form

Furnish'd with fins.”