Softening in example sentence
"I love a jolly woodsman at heart," said the Prior, softening his tone; "come, ye must not deal too hard with me--I can well of woodcraft, and can wind a horn clear and lustily, and hollo till every oak rings again--Come, ye must not deal too hard with me.""Give him a horn," said the Outlaw; "we will prove the skill he boasts of."