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Have you signed up to our Learning English newsletter Hello, I'm Mariam.
Today I'm going to tell you a story about Orpheus and Eurydice, Greek lovers who were tragically lost to each other because of a terrible mistake.
Orpheus was the son of Apollo, Greek god of the sun.
Orpheus had a wonderful gift.
Whenever he played the lyre, any animal or bird nearby would stop and listen, spellbound.
All day long Orpheus would play, enchanting all the creatures around him, including the woodland nymphs in the tree above.
One day Orpheus was playing when he glanced upwards.
There in the branches was a beautiful woodland nymph with dazzling long hair looking down at him with dark, dreamy eyes.
Orpheus was in love.
Before long, Eurydice, the nymph, was in love too.
The pair became inseparable and soon they were married.
They were blissfully happy, but their happiness didn't last long.
It came to an abrupt and cruel end one summer's day.
It was unbearably hot, so Eurydice went to the river to cool down.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a swarm of bees came and attacked her.
She clambered out of the water to escape, but the bees followed.
Orpheus, help! she screamed, but Orpheus was a long way off, playing his lyre.
Eurydice ran quickly.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her foot and she fell.
A deadly snake had bitten her.
It didn't take long for the poison to take its fatal effect.
When Orpheus finally arrived, the snake had long gone, and Eurydice was lifeless.
Orpheus was heartbroken.
As long as I live, he swore, I'll never play music again.
But he was wrong.
So Orpheus, a remarkable musician, could no longer bear to play his lyre.
Then his father, Apollo, god of the sun, told him, Orpheus, go to the underworld.
Ask Hades, who is ruler there, to let Eurydice return to earth.
But how will I persuade him? said Orpheus.
No one returns from the underworld.
Your music will speak for you, said Apollo, who knew the mission would be a long shot.
Orpheus's journey was treacherous.
He hypnotised Charon the ferryman with his playing to get across the River Styx, which separated Earth and the underworld.
Then he had to charm Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld.
At long last he arrived in the dark underworld and found Hades on his throne with Eurydice at his side.
Why should Eurydice be allowed back to Earth? asked Hades.
But Orpheus just played his liar again, and Hades' gloomy face softened.
Go, Orpheus.
Take Eurydice.
Orpheus stepped forward, but Hades stopped him.
Just one condition.
Eurydice must follow you.
You must not look back until you have both reached Earth's light.
So long as you don't look, Eurydice will return.
Orpheus set off with Eurydice following.
He longed to turn round, but remembered Hades' words.
As he stepped into earth's light, panic came over him.
What if Hades was lying?
He quickly turned his head.
Eurydice was on the point of stepping into the land of the living.
Orpheus, what have you done? she cried.
She reached out her hand but quickly faded back into the underworld, gone forever.
Oh, what a sad ending.
But I suppose Orpheus didn't do what he was told.
I'm sure there's a message in there somewhere.
Well, that's all for now.
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