Testo The Fountain Of Salmacis

Froma dense forest of tall, dark pinewoodMount Ida rises like an islandWithin a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a childHermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their loveAs the dawn creeps up the skyThe hunter caught sight of a doeIn desire for conquestHe found himself within a glade he'd not beheld beforeHermaphroditus:"Where are you my fatherGive wisdom to your son"Narrator:"Then he could go no fartherNow lost, the boy was guided by the sun"And as his strength began to failHe saw a shimmering lakeA shadow in the dark green depthsDisturbed the strange tranquillitySalmacis:"The waters are disturbedSome creature has been stirred"Narrator:"The waters are disturbedThe naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred"As he rushed to quench his thirstA fountain spring appeared before himAnd as his heated breath rushed through the cool mistA liquid voice called"Son of gods, drink from my spring"The water tasted strangely sweetBehind him the voice called againHe turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist aloneAnd as he gazed, her eyes were filledWith the darkness of the lakeSalmacis:"We shall be oneWe shall be joined as one"Narrator:"She wanted them as oneYet he had no desire to be one"Hermaphroditus:"Away from me cold-blooded womanYour thirst is not mine"Salmacis:"Nothing will cause us to partHear me O gods"Unearthly calm descended from the skyAnd then their flesh and bones were strangely mergedForever to be joined as oneThe creature crawled into the lakeA fading voice was heard:"And I beg, yes I beg, that all who touch this spring mayshare my fate"Salmacis:"We are the oneWe are the one"Narrator:"The two are now made oneDemi-god and nymph are now made one"Both had given everything they hadA lover's dream had been fulfilled at lastForever still beneath the lake