Hello James,
Marsyas was the satyr who challenged Apollo to a piping contest and lost. He was flayed alive as a result. As Arthur pointed out, his punishment was for his presumption in challenging a god rather than losing the contest or simply playing his pipe. It was the fauns and other satyrs who shed tears over his death, rather than the tree.
Best wishes, Mike
> > Hi Mike,
>
> This looks like it has been derived from a folk tale somewhere and it would
> enhance my appreciation if there was some preamble to explain where it
> originated, if that is possible with folk tradition.
>
>
>
> bw
> James
>
>
>
>
> >From: Mike Horwood <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Marsyas
> >Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 15:30:27 +0200
> >
> >Marsyas
> >
> >He had to be flayed
> >for the crime of playing on his pipe.
> >So his wrists were bound together,
> >he was drawn up and suspended
> >from a limb of the closest tree,
> >while the tree tried to see through her leaves
> >what was happening.
> >
> >"Please donīt do it. Donīt flay me
> >for piping," he begged.
> >
> >But the skin was dragged off his back
> >and loins, exposing the fibred muscles
> >to stinging air. His nipples were peeled
> >from his breast and the network
> >of pulsating veins and entrails revealed.
> >Ripped testicles bled their seed
> >down his thighs.
> >
> >When she understood what had been done to him
> >the tree mingled her tears with the blood
> >that dripped to the earth
> >beneath his limp, drained body.
> >
> >
> >
> >Mike
>
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