[Hermaphrodite:] a flower containing both male and female organs; a person or animal of both sexes.
The child Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, the result of a secret love affair. For this reason he was entrusted to the nymphs of the isolated Mount Ida, who allowed him to grow up as a wild creature of the woods. After his encounter with the water-nymph Salmacis, he laid a curse upon the water. According to fable, all persons who bathed in the water became hermaphrodites.
From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood, Mount Ida rises like an island. Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child; Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love.
As the dawn creeps up the sky The hunter caught sight of a doe. In desire for conquest, He found himself within a glade he’d not beheld before.
[Hermaphroditus:] “Where are you, my father? Give wisdom to your son”
[Narrator:] “Then he could go no farther Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun”
And as his strength began to fail He saw a shimmering lake. A shadow in the dark green depths Disturbed the strange tranquility.
[Salmacis:] “The waters are disturbed Some creature has been stirred”
[Narrator:] “The waters are disturbed Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred”
As he rushed to quench his thirst, A fountain spring appeared before him And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist, A liquid voice called, “Son of gods, drink from my spring”.
The water tasted strangely sweet. Behind him the voice called again. He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake.
[Salmacis:] “We shall be one We shall be joined as one”
[Narrator:] “She wanted them as one Yet he had no desire to be one”
[Hermaphroditus:] “Away from me cold-blooded woman Your thirst is not mine”
[Salmacis:] “Nothing will cause us to part Hear me, O Gods”
Unearthly calm descended from the sky And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged Forever to be joined as one.
The creature crawled into the lake. [A fading voice was heard:] “And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this spring May share my fate”
[Salmacis:] “We are the one We are the one”
[Narrator:] “The two are now made one, Demi-god and nymph are now made one”
Both had given everything they had. A lover’s dream had been fulfilled at last, Forever still beneath the lake.