Metamorphoses: Book 14: Pomona and Vertumnus Summary & Analysis

During the reign of one of the kings, Pomona—the goddess of fruits—was a prominent dryad in the region. She was skillful at gardening. Instead of hunting or fishing, she spent all day pruning and watering fruit trees in her orchard. She had no reverence for Venus, and therefore no desire for love or passion. She was afraid of any peasant, satyr, or god that might try to assault her.

A god named Vertumnus falls in love with Pomona, but she rejects him. He visits her orchard in different disguises so he can be close to her. One day, disguised as an old woman, he draws Pomona’s attention to a grapevine climbing up a tree. He says that Pomona needs a mate the way the grapevine needs the tree. If she only realized this, she would have tons of suitors. Vertumnus says that he knows a man (meaning himself) who would not pursue lots of women but would devote himself to her alone. He says that this suitor is young and handsome and shares Pomona’s interests. He warns Pomona that Venus is vindictive towards women who reject lovers.