Metamorphoses: Book 11: Ceyx and Alcyone Summary & Analysis

Back in Trachis, Ceyx is still disturbed by his brother Daedalion’s transformation and by the transformation of the wolf that attacked Peleus’s cattle. He decides to consult an oracle at Apollo’s temple, which is only accessible by sea. When Alcyone hears that her husband is planning to leave on a long sailing trip, she starts to cry. She asks why Ceyx must leave her, and why he must travel by sea; she is afraid that he will die at sea, leaving her no body to bury. She knows that the storms on the open sea are very dangerous. She begs Ceyx to take her with him.

Ceyx is moved by Alcyone’s concern, but he is set on his journey. He tells Alcyone that it is too dangerous for her to accompany him, but he promises that he will return before two full moons. This promise comforts Alcyone slightly, and Ceyx orders his ship to be prepared. Alcyone tries to delay her husband’s departure, but he sets sail, waving to her from his ship. Alcyone waves back until the ship disappears, then she goes to her bedroom and bursts into tears.

When night is falling, the wind picks up and the sea gets choppy. Ceyx commands his crew to secure the ship against the storm, but the storm increases in intensity, and soon Ceyx has no idea what to do. Waves crash over the ship, drenching the shouting sailors. The ship rises high on tidal waves, then crashes low into the depths of the waves.

The ship’s planks start to break, and the rain drenches the sails. The ship floods as the waves batter against its broken sides. The sailors run around in confusion, losing their morale. They cry, pray to the heavens, and call out the names of their families. Ceyx thinks of Alcyone and wishes he’d never left her.

Suddenly, a tremendous wave crashes down on the ship and sends it to the bottom of the ocean. Many of the sailors drown, while some manage to swim to the surface. Ceyx clings to a floating plank and prays to the gods to no avail. He then prays that the waves carry his body to Alcyone so she can bury him. At last, he is submerged by a wave and doesn’t resurface.

Back in Trachis, Alcyone has no idea that Ceyx has died. She counts the nights until her husband’s return, sewing new clothes for him. Every day, Alcyone goes to Juno’s altar and prays that her husband will return to her and not to another woman. Juno plans to grant her wish but is tired of receiving prayers for a dead person. Juno goes to Iris, the messenger goddess, and tells her to visit the god of Sleep and ask him to make Alcyone dream of Ceyx’s death.

Iris goes to the cave where Sleep lives. The cave is silent except for a babbling stream. Deep inside, Sleep rests on a bed of soft cushions. When Iris approaches him, he can barely open his drowsy eyes. Iris gives Sleep Juno’s message, asking him to appear in Alcyone’s dream disguised as Ceyx’s ghost. Sleep looks around at the various dream gods and chooses Morpheus—the one who can disguise himself as people—to carry out the task, then goes back to sleep.

That night, Morpheus floats to Trachis and stands at the foot of Alcyone’s bed, disguised as Ceyx’s ghost. He whispers into Alcyone’s ear, crying and telling her of his death. He tells her not to consider this dream a mere rumor, but to put on her mourning clothes and perform the funeral rituals. Alcyone sobs in her sleep and reaches out to the ghost but touches only air. She begs the ghost of Ceyx to take her with him.

Alcyone wakes up and runs into the next room to look for Ceyx. When she doesn’t find him, she sobs and tears at her hair. She believes the ghost in her dream and tells her servants that Ceyx is dead. She turns to look at where the ghost had stood and speaks to Ceyx, telling him she wishes he’d brought her with him so they could have died together. She plans to die herself and unite their names on the gravestone.

The next morning, Alcyone goes to the seashore. She reminisces about the last time she saw Ceyx when he sailed away. As she gazes out to sea, she notices an object bobbing towards her. As it comes closer, she realizes that the body is Ceyx’s and leaps towards it. As she leaps, she changes into a bird. She flies to Ceyx, letting out a sad song, and kisses him with her beak. The gods then transform Ceyx into a bird, too. Even as birds, they remain devoted to each other.