Metamorphoses

One day, Scylla is combing a sea-nymph Galatea’s hair. Suddenly, Galatea cries that she wishes she could refuse her lovers without risking her life, as Scylla does. Scylla asks Galatea what is wrong. Galatea tells Scylla her story: Galatea is in love with Acis, the teenage son of a woodland nymph. Meanwhile, the Cyclops, a giant creature with one eye, falls in love with her and stubbornly pursues her. Galatea finds the Cyclops disgusting and barbaric, but he is so in love with her that he tries to trim his grizzly hair to look more attractive. He also ignores a visitor who prophesies that Ulysses will steal his eye and says his eye has already been stolen by Galatea.

The Cyclops climbs to a high cliff over the sea, neglecting his herd of sheep. He pulls out a pipe and begins to whistle. He sings a song about Galatea’s beauty, saying she is smoother than shells, brighter than ice, wilder than an untamed animal, and prouder than a peacock. He says that she should regret having shunned him, because he has grown huge orchards, stored huge harvests, and gathered huge flocks of sheep for her. He also stole her two bear cubs.

The Cyclops calls to Galatea in his song, asking her to emerge from the water and live with him. He boasts that he is larger than Jupiter and that his hairiness is a sign of greatness. The Cyclops scorns the gods but worships Galatea. His heartbreak is made worse because Galatea has chosen Acis—a young and arrogant boy—as her lover. The Cyclops wants to dismember Acis and scatter him around the mountains.

The Cyclops finishes his song, then lumbers away through the woods. Suddenly, he notices Galatea and Acis and gives out a roar. In her fright, Galatea dives into the sea. Acis flees, calling to Galatea for help. The Cyclops pursues Acis, tearing off a chunk of the mountain and hurling it at him, crushing him. Then Galatea transforms Acis into a river.