Cafe; a Fable

"How Coffee is so well-reputed, how it enervates with its heat and richness all the men which drink thereof, I will now tell. The cause is hidden, but its divine power is well known.

A little daughter of Hermes and the goddess of Cythera the naiads nursed within Ida's caves. In her fair face the mother and fair father could be both clearly seen. When fifteen years had passed she left her native mountains and abandoned her foster-mother, Ida, delighting to wander in unknown lands and to see strange rivers, her eagerness making light of the toil. She came even to the Arabian cities and to the Arabs, who dwell in the sandy southern climes. Here she saw a pool of water crystal clear to the very bottom. No marshy reeds grew there, no unfruitful swamp-grass, nor spiky rushes; it is clear water.

But the edges of the pool are bordered with fresh grass, and herbage ever green. A turbaned shepherd dwelt by the pool, one who loved not hunting, nor was wont to bend the bow or strive with the Arabian camels. Often his brothers would say to him "Kareem, take now they scimitar or thy bow and vary your ease with the hardships of the hunt or raid." But he takes no hunting-spear nor sword, but at times he bathes his shapely limbs in his pool and combs his hair with a boxwood comb, often looking in the mirror like water to see what best becomes him. Now, wrapped in a soft robe, he lies down to rest on the soft grass before the waters. Often he gathers garlands, and on this occasion too he chanced to be gathering flowers when he saw the maiden and longed to possess what he saw.

Not yet, however, did he approach her, though he was eager to do so, until he had calmed himself, until he had arranged all his robes and composed his countenance, and taken all pains to appear beautiful. Then did he speak: "O maiden, most worthy to be believed a goddess, if you are indeed a goddess, you must be Venus; or if you are mortal, happy are those who gave you birth, blest is your brother, fortunate indeed any sister, and thy nurse who gave thee suck. But far, oh, far happier than they is he, if there be any promised husband, if you will deem any worthy to be your spouse. If there be such, let mine be stolen joy; if not, may I be thine, thy husband, and may we be joined in wedlock.

The youth said no more, but the maiden blushed red, for she knew not what love is. But still the blush became her well. Such color have apples hanging in sunny orchards, or ripe coffee berries.When the youth begged and prayed at least for a brother's kiss, and was in the act to throw his arms around her snowy neck, she cried: "Have done, or I must flee and leave this spot--and you." He trembles at this threat and says, "I yield the place to you, fair stranger," and turning away pretended to depart. But even so often he looked back, and deep in a neighboring thicket he hid himself, crouching on bended knees. But the maiden, freely as if unwatched and alone, walks up and down the grass, dips her toes in the water and her feet. Then quickly, charmed by the warmth of the sun warmed stream, she threw aside her thin garments from her slender form.

Then did the hidden youth truly burn. His eyes shone bright as when the sun's dazzling face is reflected from the surface of a glass opposite his rays. Scarce can he endure delay, scarce bear his joy postponed, so eager to hold her in his arms, so madly incontinent. She dives into the pool and swimming with alternate strokes flashes with gleaming body through the transparent flood, as if one should encase ivory figures or white lilies in translucent glass. "She is mine," cries Kareem, and casting off all his garments dives also into the waters. He holds her fast though she strives against him, steals reluctant kisses, clings to her.

The daughter of Hermes denies her as best she may the joy he craves, but still he holds on and clings as if grown fast to her. "Strive as you may, wicked girl," he cries "still you shall not escape me. She calls aloud to the gods "Better to die than be thus violated! Save me father, or make me strong to overcome this youth. Or if I am to die, may he and all others who taste this water forever be changed who taste it. Let them rise early in the morning to come to my streams, and may they fall sluggardly asleep lest they make journey to it each day."

Even as she speaks Cafe is dissolved into the warm water. The waters which had been clear are turned a rich brown. The youth weeps alone, denied his joy. He kisses the waters, and the life-nourishing warmth commands him at once. Her parents had heard the prayer of their daughter, and changed her in the waters with their uncanny power.