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: 

Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun" 

"Then he could go no farther 



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.