Daphne was a lovely fairy maiden. One day, while playing in the woods, she caught Apollo, the sun-god, staring at her with intense admiration. Frightened by his gaze, she fled. Apollo, his passion ignited by her beauty, pursued her eagerly, calling for her to stop.
The swift maiden ran through rough fields and pathless woods, but Apollo drew ever nearer. As he ran, he begged her to slow down, fearing she might fall and injure herself. Daphne paid no heed and glanced back only once. Exhausted and breathless, she cried out to her father, a river god, for help.
Her prayer was instantly answered. She found herself rooted to the ground as soft bark grew over her skin, transforming her into a laurel tree. Apollo sighed and embraced the trunk, which seemed to shrink from his touch. To honor his undying love, he declared the laurel his sacred tree and decreed it the prize of honor for immortal poets and poetry. Thus, the greatest poets aspire to become poet laureates.