# Cyane Dissolves to a Fountain explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

The nymph Cyane, mourning the abduction of Proserpine, is transformed into a fountain as her sorrow turns her body entirely to water.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Cyane's physical transformation from nymph to fountain as a direct result of her grief.

### Mortality and Immortality

Cyane, once an immortal goddess, dissolves into a natural feature, blurring the line between divine permanence and mortal change.

## Character check-ins

### Cyane

The nymph who dissolves into a fountain while lamenting the loss of Proserpine.

### Proserpine

The stolen goddess whose abduction Cyane mourns.

## Key lines

> But still does Cyane the rape bemoan, And with the goddess’ wrongs laments her own: For the stolen maid, and for her injured spring, Time to her trouble no relief can bring; In her sad heart a heavy load she bears, Till the dumb sorrow turns her all to tears

Cyane continues to mourn the abduction of Proserpine, grieving both the goddess's loss and her own violation; her unending sorrow eventually transforms her entirely into tears.

_Describes the emotional catalyst for Cyane's metamorphosis._

> Her varied members to a fluid melt; A pliant softness in her bones is felt; Her wavy locks first drop away in dew, And liquid next her slender fingers grew; The body’s change soon seizes its extreme; Her legs dissolve, and feet flow off in stream; Her arms, her back, her shoulders, and her side, Her swelling breasts, in little currents glide; A silver liquor only now remains Within the channel of her purple veins

Cyane's body gradually liquefies: her hair turns to dew, her fingers become liquid, her limbs dissolve into streams, and only a silvery fluid remains in her veins.

_Detailed depiction of the physical transformation from nymph to fountain._

## Links

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