ree,
which grew from the blood of Agdistis whom Bacchus had slain,
conceived Attis, who afterwards became very dear to Cybele.

All that we can conclude from these accounts, and more especially
from that given by Ovid in the Fasti, is, that the worship of Cybele
being established in Phrygia, Attis was one of her priests; and
that, as he led the example of mutilating himself, all her other
priests, who were called Galli, submitted to a similar operation,
to the great surprise of the uninitiated, who were not slow in
inventing some wonderful story to account for an act so
extraordinary.

FABLE III. [X.106-142]

Cyparissus is about to kill himself for having slain, by accident,
a favourite deer; but, before he is able to execute his design,
Apollo transforms him into a Cypress.

Amid this throng was present the cypress, resembling the cone,[18] now a
tree, {but} once a youth, beloved by that God who fits the lyre with the
strings, and the bow with strings. For there was a large stag, sacred to
the Nymphs who inhabit the Carthaean fields; and, with his horns
extending afar, he himself afforded an ample shade to his own head. His
horns were shining with gold, and a necklace studded with gems,[19]
falling upon his shoulders, hung down from his smooth round neck;
a silver ball,[20] fastened with little straps, played upon his
forehead; and pendants of brass,[21] of equal size, shone on either ear
around his hollow temples. He, too, void of fear, and laying aside his
natural timorousness, used to frequent the houses, and to offer his neck
to be patted by any hands, even though unknown {to him}.

But yet, above all others, he was pleasing to thee, Cyparissus, most
beauteous of the nation of Cea.[22] Thou wast wont to lead the stag to
new pastures, and to the streams of running waters; sometimes thou didst
wreathe flowers of various colours about his horns, and at other times,
seated on his back, {like} a horseman, {first} in this direction and
{then} in that, thou didst guide his easy mouth with the purple bridle.
'Twas summer and the middle of the day, and the bending arms of the
Crab, that loves the sea-shore, were glowing with the heat of the sun;
the stag, fatigued, was reclining his body on the grassy earth, and was
enjoying the coolness from the shade of a tree. By inadvertence the boy
Cyparissus pierced him with a sharp javelin; and, when he saw him dying
from the cruel wound, he resolved