Acis' Tragic Love

Once upon a time, long ago, on the rocky coast of Sicily lived a Cyclops named Polyphemus. Son of the sea god Poseidon, he was a monstrous creature. In the center of his giant forehead was one great eye, but that was not the worst of his traits. He was a hairy brute, and his manner was even rougher than his looks. No men and no gods chose to keep his company, and so his loneliness and fury increased.

And then one day something astonishing happened. Polyphemus caught sight of the lovely sea nymph Galatea, and the moment he saw her, he fell madly in love. His love was as passionate and huge as was his fury and beastliness. From that day on, he became consumed with seeking the love of the nymph. But Galatea's heart belonged to another, a handsome young shepherd called Acis, son of Pan. He was a sweet and humble young man, loved by his father and mother, by his flocks and by all who knew him. But no one loved him as deeply as did Galatea. And as much as Galatea loved this youth, she hated the Cyclops, Polyphemus. But Polyphemus was determined to win Galatea's love. "Galatea," the Cyclops called to the great emptiness stretching before him, "you are lovelier than any flower that blooms in this whole land. "Galatea," he cried, and every leaf fluttered in the violent wind of his breath. "My heart will burst wide open if you do not come to me!" Forever afterward Galatea mourned her love, and always she told the tale of the giant who would later be blinded. It's so tragic that rarely people talk or tells about it.

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