Procris

Procris and Cephalus had been happy in the first years of their marriage. A rumour changed what she believed about him. He hunted alone and called for a refreshing breeze, using words that sounded to a listener like the name of a woman. The listener carried the story to Procris. She fainted when she heard it, then struggled between fear and hope that she had been deceived. She wanted to see for herself. The next morning she followed Cephalus into the woods and hid where the leaves could cover her.

Cephalus hunted until he was tired, then called again for the breeze. Leaves rustled nearby. He thought an animal was concealed there and threw the javelin he carried. The weapon struck Procris in the breast. Hearing her voice, he ran to her and found her dying, with the javelin in her wound. He tried to bind the injury with his clothing. Procris drew the weapon out and begged him not to let the nymph Aura take her place in their marriage. Cephalus understood that the name he had called belonged to the breeze, not another woman. Procris died in his arms.