Procne

After five autumns, Progne asks Tereus to let her see her sister or to bring Philomela to her. Her father gives Philomela into Tereus's care, and the king carries her across the sea. He assaults and confines her, then cuts out her tongue when she threatens to expose him. Progne waits at home, mourning a sister Tereus falsely says is dead.

Philomela sends the truth through a woven cloth. Progne reads it and keeps her anger in check long enough to plan. At the Bacchic rites she reaches the house where Philomela is imprisoned, removes the ritual disguise and unveils her sister. Philomela cannot raise her eyes; with her hand she swears the assault was against her will. Progne answers that tears will not be enough.

Their revenge falls on Itys, Progne's son. She kills him with Philomela's help, prepares his flesh for a feast and serves it to Tereus. After he has eaten, Progne tells him what is inside him; Philomela throws Itys's head at his father. Tereus follows the sisters with his sword. They take wings and fly apart, one turning towards the woods and another beneath the roofs of houses. Tereus becomes a crested, long-billed bird named as the lapwing. Pandion dies before his time from the affliction. The poem closes on flight and loss, not reconciliation.