e tells us that Diomedes, and Neoptolemus,
the son of Achilles, brought Philoctetes to Troy, after having
explained to him the oracular response which the head of Orpheus had
given to him from the bottom of a cave at Lesbos.

The harp of Orpheus was preserved in the same temple; and so many
wonders were reported of it, that Neanthus, the son of the tyrant
Pytharus, purchased it of the priests of Apollo, believing that its
sound would be sufficient to put rocks and trees in motion; but,
according to Lucian, he succeeded so ill, that on his trying the
harp, the dogs of the neighbouring villages fell upon him and tore
him to pieces.

The transformation of the women of Thrace into trees, for the murder
of Orpheus, is probably an allegory intended to show that these
furious and ill-conditioned females did not escape punishment for
their misdeeds; and that they were driven by society to pass the
rest of their lives in woods and caverns.

FABLE II. [XI.85-145]

Bacchus, having punished the Thracian women for the murder of
Orpheus, leaves Thrace. His tutor, Silenus, having become
intoxicated, loses his companions, and is brought by some Phrygian
peasants to Midas. He sends him to Bacchus, on which the God, in
acknowledgment of his kindness, promises him whatever favour he may
desire. Midas asks to be able to turn everything that he touches
into gold. This power is granted; but, soon convinced of his folly,
Midas begs the God to deprive him of it, on which he is ordered to
bathe in the river Pactolus. He obeys the God, and communicates the
power which he possesses to the stream; from which time that river
has golden sands.

And this is not enough for Bacchus. He resolves to forsake the country
itself, and, with a superior train, he repairs to the vineyards of his
own Tymolus, and Pactolus; although it was not golden at that time, nor
to be coveted for its precious sands. The usual throng, {both} Satyrs
and Bacchanals, surround him, but Silenus is away. The Phrygian rustics
took him, as he was staggering with age and wine, and, bound with
garlands, they led him to {their} king, Midas, to whom, together with
the Cecropian Eumolpus,[8] the Thracian Orpheus had intrusted the
{mysterious} orgies {of Bacchus}. Soon as he recognized this associate
and companion of these rites, he hospitably kept a festival on the
coming of this guest, for twice five days, and {as many} nights