One day when Apollo the god of light and truth was still young he found Cupid the god of love playing with one of his arrows.
"What are you doing with my arrow?" Apollo asked angrily. Kill a large snake with it. Don't try to steal my glory cupid go play with your bow and your arrows.
-Your arrows can kill Apollo snakes. Said the god of love -But mine can do more damage, even you can be hurt by them!
As soon as she had launched her sinister threat, Cupid flew through the skies until she reached the top of a high mountain once there she took out of her quiver two arrows, one with a blunt tip covered with lead whose effect is on whoever was touched.
Cupid had destined for her first arrow back a beautiful nymph that they hunted deep in the forest, Daphne was chased by Diana, Apollo's twin sister and goddess of the wild world. Like Diana (Artemis), Daphne loved the freedom of running through fields and jungles with her hair in disarray and with her legs exposed to the rain and sun.
Cupid tempered the string of her bow and pointed the blunt arrow at Daphne once in the air the arrow became invisible so when it pierced the heart of the nymph he was alone she felt a sharp pain but did not know the cause. With her hands covering the wound she ran in search of her father the river god.
-Father! -He exclaimed- You must make me a promise!
-What is it about?. The god who was in the river surrounded by nymphs asked.
"Promise me that I will never have to marry." yelled Daphne.
The river god confused at the frantic request of his daughter replied.
-But I want to have grandchildren.
- No father no, I do not want to marry never let me always be as free as Diana I beg you.
"However, I want you to get married," the god exclaimed.
Daphne did not yell and began hitting the water with her fists as she rocked back and forth sobbing.
-Very well. The god of the rivers uttered - do not worry like that, my daughter, I promise you that you would not have to marry.
"Never and promise me that you will help me flee from my pursuers," added the hunter.
-I will, I promise you.
After Daphne obtained this promise from her father, Cupid prepared the second arrow with the golden tip, this time destined for Apollo who was wandering the woods and at the moment when the young god found himself near Daphne he tempered the string of the bow and shot to the heart of Apollo and instantly the god fell in love with Daphne and although the maiden wore her hair wild and in disarray and dressed only coarse of animal skins Apollo thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
-Hello. She yelled at her but Daphne gave her a look of horror and, with a start, she went into the forest like a deer would have.
Apollo ran after her yelling:
-Stop, stop. But the nymph moved away with her with the speed of the wind.
-Please don't run. Apollo shouted to her - You flee like a dove chased by an eagle, I am not your enemy, do not escape from me.
Daphne kept running.
-Stop!. Apollo uttered - you know who I am. I say the God - I am not a farmer nor a shepherd I am the gentleman of Delphi a son of Jupiter that I caught a great serpent with my arrow !, but alas! I fear that Cupid's weapon has hurt me more severely.
Daphne kept running with her bare thighs in the sun and her wild hair blowing in the wind. Apollo was already tired of asking him to stop so he increased his speed, the wings of love gave the god of light and truth a speed that he had never reached before, the young woman did not give him respite until he was soon close to her.
Daphne no longer strong, she could feel Apollo's breath on her hair.
"Help me father," he shouted, addressing the god of the river. "Help me!"
He had not finished saying these words when his arms and legs began to become heavy until they became woody, his hair turned into leaves and his feet into roots that began to dig into the earth.
It had been transformed into the laurel tree and nothing had remained of them except their exquisite charm. Apollo hugged the branches of the tree as if they were Daphne's arms and kissing her wooden flesh he pressed his hands against the trunk and cried.
"I feel your heart beating under this crust," Apollo said, as tears rolled down his face. -And since you cannot be my wife, it will be my sacred tree. I will use your wood to build my harp and make my arrows and with your branches I will make a garland for my forehead. Heroes and scholars will be crowned with their leaves, and you Dafne my first love will always be young and green.