Fable of Cyparissus explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Transformation and Metamorphosis

  Cyparissus is transformed into a cypress tree as a result of his grief and prayer.

• Love and Desire

  Apollo's deep affection for Cyparissus and Cyparissus's love for his stag drive the narrative.

Characters to notice

• Apollo

  Apollo, the god of music and archery, is the deity who loved Cyparissus and transforms him into a cypress tree after his death.

• Cycnus

  Cyparissus is the youth who accidentally kills his favorite stag and is turned into a cypress tree.

Key passages

• “Amid the throng of this promiscuous wood, With pointed top, the taper cypress stood, A tree, which once a youth, and heavenly fair, Was of that deity the darling care, Whose hand adapts, with equal skill, the strings To bows with which he kills, and harps to which he sings.”

  Among the many trees in the forest, the slender cypress stood out with its pointed top. This tree was once a beautiful youth, beloved by the god who skillfully handles both the bow and the lyre.

  Introduces the cypress tree as the transformed youth Cyparissus, beloved of Apollo.

• “When Cyparissus, with his pointed dart, Unknowing, pierced him to the panting heart; But when the youth, surprised, his error found, And saw him dying of the cruel wound, Himself he would have slain through desperate grief;”

  Cyparissus accidentally struck his stag with a sharp dart, piercing its heart. When he realized what he had done and saw the stag dying, he was so overcome with grief that he wanted to kill himself.

  Describes the accidental killing of the stag and Cyparissus's immediate despair.

• “Apollo sad look'd on, and sighing, cried: 'Then, be for ever what thy prayer implied, Bemoan'd by me, in others grief excite, And still preside at every funeral rite.'”

  Apollo looked on sadly and sighed, saying, 'Then become forever what you prayed for: mourned by me, inspire grief in others, and always be present at funerals.'

  Apollo grants Cyparissus's wish to mourn forever, transforming him into a cypress tree associated with mourning.