This is one of the saddest stories in Ovid's Metamorphoses- Orpheus and Eurydice were newly married when she was bitten by a snake and fell down dead. He followed her to hell to plead to the underworld gods for her life to be restored, and in using all the power of his extraordinary musical ability he was able to convince them to free her.
The only condition was, that he lead her away never looking back until he had left Hades. Just as they reached the light, Orpheus was frightened that his love had fallen behind and desparate to see her he turned, and she was lost forever.
This is my version of the drawing by Edward Burne-Jones titled "The Garden Poisoned"
Beautiful drawing! This story has, of course, been treated by so many poets as well as artists. My favorite adaptation is Rilke's. He takes the side of Eurydice, who he sees as "so full with her vast death," in contrast to Orpheus' impatience, worldliness. As for his bride: "She was already root."
ReplyDeleteI've got to read that poem! Thank you!
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