Steve Hackett - The Fountain Of Salmacis lyrics

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: / Narrator: "Where are you, my father? / "Then he could go no further Give wisdom to your son" / 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: / Narrator: "The waters are disturbed / "The waters are disturbed Some creature has been stirred" / 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: / Narrator: 'We shall be one / 'She wanted them as one We shall be joined 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 ascended 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: / Narrator: "We are the one / "The two are now made one, We are the 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.