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 tranquillity



Salmacis:

"The waters are disturbed

Some creature has been stirred"



Narrator:

"The waters are disturbed

The naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred"



As he rushed to quench his thirst

A fountain spring appeared before him

And as his heated breath rushed 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