Now the gates of the lower regions were guarded by a three-headed dog named Cerberus, but even this fierce beast was subdued by the entrancing music of Orpheus, who "Through the unsubstantial realm Populous with phantom ghosts of buried men, Undaunted passed to where Persephone Sits by the monarch of that cheerless folk Of shadows throned--and struck his lyre, and sang." Pouring forth the mournful tale of his lost love, he appealed to the gods to give him back Eurydice. So eloquent was his plea that all who listened were "moved to weeping." Then for the first time the iron cheeks of the Furies were wet with tears, and "Of the nether realm Nor King nor Queen had heart to say him nay." Eurydice was brought forth and restored to her husband, but a single condition was laid upon Orpheus in leading her out. Until they had regained the earth he was not to look backward, or the boon would be forfeited. The Latin poet Ovid tells how the two fared forth together from the underworld, and how Orpheus failed in the conditions of the agreement. "Through the silent realm Upward against the steep and fronting hill Dark with obscurest gloom, the way he led: And now the upper air was all but won, When fearful lest the toil o'ertask her strength And yearning to behold the form he loved, An instant back he looked,--and back the shade That instant fled.... ...One last And sad 'Farewell,' scarce audible, she sighed, And vanished to the ghosts that late she left."[32] [32] From the Metamorphoses, Book x, in Henry King's translation, from which also the other quotations are drawn. [Illustration: D. Anderson, Photo. John Andrew & Son, Sc. ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE _Albani Villa, Rome_] Our bas-relief represents a scene of parting between Orpheus and Eurydice, and we may take it, as we please, to refer to their first or to their last farewell. It seems, however, to apply more appropriately to the first departure of Eurydice to the unknown land. She lays her hand fondly upon her husband's shoulder, and he touches it gently as if to detain her. The figure on the other side is the messenger god Hermes, whose mission is to conduct departing spirits to the other world.[33] He has come for Eurydice, and he takes her by the hand to draw her away. For a moment husband and wife gaze into each other's eyes with love and sorrow, while the messenger waits with exquisite courtesy. [33] See page 61. Though the Greeks had many tales of sorrow in their poetry and mythology, they did not often illustrate them in their art. The subjects of their sculpture are nearly always happy ones. Even here, you see, grief is made so beautiful and dignified that we forget to feel sad about the parting. We think most of the love and devotion between Orpheus and Eurydice.