Ceyx, the husband of Alcyone, is drowned while on a voyage to consult the oracle of Apollo—The wife is apprized, in a dream, of his fate, and throws herself into the sea, when she and Ceyx are transformed into halcyons or kingfishers.
These prodigies affect the pious prince: But more perplex’d with those that happen’d since, He purposes to seek the Clarian god, Avoiding Delphi, his more famed abode. Since Phrygian robbers made unsafe the road: Yet could he not, from her he loved so well, The fatal voyage he resolved, conceal. But when she saw her lord prepared to part, A deadly cold ran shivering to her heart, Her faded cheeks are changed to boxen hue, And in her eyes the tears are ever new. She thrice essay’d to speak, her accents hung, And, faltering, died unfinish’d on her tongue, Or vanish’d into sighs: with long delay Her voice return’d, and found the wonted way.