resonant strings of devotion by which all life is allured echoed the crests of the tracian ocean to the forests where they were procured carried through the oaken woods and by eurydice was admired she came to him in her supple grace and was all that he desired no sooner than their love was bound and their vows were solemnly spoken the young bride struck by a serpent and orpheus heart was broken burdened by grief he appealed with song to the gods who rule the dark and silent world he struck his lyre and they were charmed to stillness as the passion in his strings unfurled ixion s wheel was motionless as the underworld was met with tears the debt of life was paid too soon let me have her the rest of my years you may have her but you must not look upon her until you ve passed through this realm they journeyed back through the worlds at first light orpheus rejoiced he turned back to catch his love in the moment she was destroyed for the rest of his life in the absence of light every shadow held a phantom his songs were played with mournful wishes and a hope the fates might grant them