Part II: Apollo & Eros
Eros: For all your oracles in Greece and Asia, I find it ironic that you were unable to foresee Daphne's fate.
Apollo: I see that you have come to brag about another one of your victories over me. Begone, winged fiend! Love blinds even the wisest of prophets. They cannot see what is before them if they are maddened by your spells. Man abandons the riches of the earth and the gods fall on their knees before you. I am thankful my divine sister is immune to your tricks.
Eros: Why do you say that? Do you not wish her married to a handsome hero that will pamper her? Perhaps that giant huntsman Orion whom your sister so often joins in hunt.
Apollo: I certainly do not for you will only curse their union and cause her distress. She is perfect as she is, chaste and virginal. Should you even pull your string against her I shall pull mine against you.
Eros: It is useless to think about anyway. Her heart cares only for the hunting of beasts and her holy groves.
Apollo: But why are you here? Have you not caused me enough heartache? Many have you forced upon my heart and then cruelly taken them away. I curse the day you were given your wretched bow.
Eros: You brought it upon yourself! Much power I wield over you, yet you slight me so.
Apollo: Wretched child! You think you are innocent and immune from discipline because of your youth but I foresee a day when your own charms shall bewitch you. Your golden mother's marble halls shall fall into disuse and you will eventually abandon your post. The earth will grow old and slowly wither and die. You will know loss as I know it now.
Eros: It is impossible, what you say. My mother is beloved by the people of Greece and Rome, of Syria and Cyprus, of Asia and Europe.
Apollo: I have seen it before me and I cannot lie. You cannot escape it. Finally, tears I see in your eyes.
Eros: I do not wish to hear more. I have come to apologize but you only wish to see me pained.
Apollo: Very well, I shall not continue my prophecy should I hear your apology.
Eros: It was not my intention for Daphne to cause you this much torment. I had not known that her father Peneus would take pity on her and turn her into a tree.
Apollo: I have made her my sacred tree and my priestess at Delphi shall burn her sacred leaves to receive my words. But what was your intention then?
Eros: I only wanted to teach you a lesson that I am not some youngster playing with tools of war. You plague man with illness but I shower them with love. The bow has many uses and it brings not only death but also life. If my shots were lethal like yours, then no one would fall in love and multiply. The earth would be a sad place.
Apollo: A lesson I have not learned over and over again. It seems that you do not tire of teaching it after each lover has passed.
Eros: I am sorry.
Apollo: Very well. I have learned my lesson. Though I suppose I must commend you on your aim. Many a time have you struck me and still I had not seen it coming. Oh, what is this? Why do you embrace me?
Eros: Finally you acknowledge me instead of teasing me.
Apollo: My acknowledgement is what you sought? Wherefore?
Eros: I have admired you from afar, Phoebus. So grand are your talents! Singing, dancing, strumming your lyre. I can only dream of learning a tune to please your ears. Of prophesying, too, are you talented and you compete with Hermes in the games of the gymnasium. But of placing arrows upon bows is the only thing we have in common. I had thought should I impress you with them, you would surely look upon me with favour.
Apollo: Love has admired me? For how long? I had thought myself forever afflicted to be scorned by Love and his golden arrows.
Eros: I cannot say for certain when I have liked you. All I know is that I do.
Apollo: Silly, boy. Much pain you have caused me over the years. Why, I still cannot contain the grief I hold for the loss of Hyacinthus. So young was he when that fateful discus struck his temple, blown there fiercely by jealous Zephyrus.
Eros: Do not worry, Phoebus. A discus cannot spill my blood for I have none.
Apollo: Then perhaps our love shall withstand the test of time. Or will you forsake me like all the others?
Eros: I do not know. You are the prophet, why do you not tell me?
Apollo: I have tried to tell you an earlier prophecy but you dreaded to hear it. But an earlier point I said is true as well: Love blinds even the wisest of prophets.