"...One day Hylas, an
adventurer and a voyager, put ashore at the island of Chios and, leaving his companions, went
in search of fresh water. Deep in the
forest he came upon a woodland spring
where nymphs played among the rushes and water lilies. They beckoned when they
saw the beautiful young man, and he
approached, kneeling at the spring's
edge to fill his pitcher. One of the
maidens fixed him with eyes so ardent
that Hylas paused, unable to move or
look away. Upon his arm he felt hands
that were soft but strong, and deathly
cold. Before he could peak or cry out,
he was pulled from the bank into the
weed-choked depths of the
spring.
Hylas never was seen again.
His companions searched the island for
days, shouting his name in every grove
and grotto. At last they came to the
spring, and there they were answered: As though from a great distance, Hylas
called out, reachng hopelessly toward
them from a watery world that he would
never escape."
