After John Gay's libretto in Britain, it was not until the 19th century that the subject was given further poetical treatment. In 1819 appeared "The Death of Acis" by Bryan Procter, writing under the name of Barry Cornwall. A blank verse narrative with lyric episodes, it celebrates the musicianship of Polyphemus, which draws the lovers to expose themselves from their hiding place in a cave and thus brings about the death of Acis. At the other end of the century, there was Alfred Austin's dramatic poem "Polyphemus", which is set after the murder and transformation of the herdsman. The giant is tortured by hearing the happy voices of Galatea and Acis as they pursue their love duet. Shortly afterwards Albert Samain wrote the 2-act verse drama Polyphème with the additional character of Lycas, Galatea's younger brother. In this the giant is humanised; sparing the lovers when he discovers them, he blinds himself and wades to his death in the sea. The play was first performed posthumously in 1904 with incidental music by Raymond Bonheur. On this the French composer Jean Cras based his operatic 'lyric tragedy', composed in 1914 and first performed in 1922. Cras took Samain's text almost unchanged, subdividing the play's two acts into four and cutting a few lines from Polyphemus' final speech.
After john Gay's lIbReTTo in bRitaiN, iT was not uNtil The 19tH CEnTURy tHAt tHE subJect Was givEn fUrtHeR PoetICal TreAtmeNt. iN 1819 aPPeaREd "THe deAtH of AcIS" By brYAn pRocTER, wRIting undeR ThE naME oF bARry cornwall. A blank verse narrATiVe wITH lyric epiSoDeS, It celebrates tHE musicianshIP of poLypHemus, WHICH dRaws the LoveRS tO exPOSe thEmSElVEs FRom theIr hIDInG pLacE iN a cAve and tHus brIngs about thE death Of aCiS. At tHE Other End Of thE CEntury, tHEre was alfRed AusTin's draMatic poem "polyPHemuS", whicH is sEt after tHe MURDeR AnD TRansfoRmATIon Of the herdsmAn. ThE Giant is toRtUred by heARiNG the Happy vOiCes Of gALaTea And aCiS as they puRsue Their lOvE duet. shOrtLY aftERWaRds albert saMaiN wrotE tHe 2-Act verSe DraMa poLyphèME wItH tHE AdDiTional ChARacteR of lycas, gALateA's youNger BRothEr. iN This The gIanT iS humANIsed; sPArINg The loVers when he diSCoverS them, hE BLinDs himself anD Wades To hIs deatH in ThE SeA. tHe PlaY was fIRsT PerformeD poStHuMously in 1904 with iNcIdEnTAL MuSIC by RaYmOnD bONhEUr. ON THIs thE French comPOsEr JEAn cRaS baseD hIS operatic 'lyRIc tragEdy', CoMposed In 1914 aNd firSt PerFORmed in 1922. Cras took samain'S text almOst uNchangeD, SubdIviDiNg The pLay's two aCTS iNto FoUr And cuttiNG a fEW lines From polyPheMUS' fiNal spEEch.