Classic Myths by Mary Catherine Judd
page 50 of 143 (34%)
page 50 of 143 (34%)
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soft.
When men heard this voice all anger ceased, and their thoughts were thoughts of peace. Even wild animals were tamed. Orpheus went into the woods one day and took nothing but his harp with him. No quiver of arrows was on his back, nor hunting spear at his side. He sang and sang till the birds flew down on the ground about him, and seemed to think that a creature with such a voice must be merely another kind of bird. [Illustration: ORPHEUS. Showing his broken harp] A wild cat came creeping slyly between the trees, trying to catch the little feathered listeners. Orpheus took his lute and played upon it, and the wild cat became as tame as the birds. They all followed Orpheus farther into the forest. Soon, from behind a rock, a tiger sprang to attack the wild cat. The birds and the wild cat called to Orpheus. When he saw the trouble he took his harp again, and while he sang the tiger came trembling and purring to his feet and the birds, the wild cat, and the tiger followed Orpheus still farther into the forest. He sat down by a tree to rest and the bees came and showed him where their honey was hidden in the tree. He fed his friends, and then he and the tiger led the way to a river where there was the purest water. |
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