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Proserpina； we will drive on。〃
On went the chariot； and King Pluto seemed greatly pleased to find
himself once more in his own kingdom。 He drew Proserpina's attention to
the rich veins of gold that were to be seen among the rocks； and pointed to
several places where one stroke of a pickaxe would loosen a bushel of
diamonds。 All along the road； indeed； there were sparkling gems； which
would have been of inestimable value above ground； but which here were
reckoned of the meaner sort and hardly worth a beggar's stooping for。
Not far from the gateway； they came to a bridge； which seemed to be
built of iron。 Pluto stopped the chariot； and bade Proserpina look at the
stream which was gliding so lazily beneath it。 Never in her life had she
beheld so torpid； so black； so muddy…looking a stream； its waters reflected
no images of anything that was on the banks； and it moved as sluggishly
as if it had quite forgotten which way it ought to flow； and had rather
stagnate than flow either one way or the other。
〃This is the River Lethe；〃 observed King Pluto。 〃Is it not a very
pleasant stream？〃
〃I think it a very dismal one；〃 answered Proserpina。
〃It suits my taste； however；〃 answered Pluto； who was apt to be sullen
when anybody disagreed with him。 〃At all events； its water has one
excellent quality； for a single draught of it makes people forget every care
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and sorrow that has hitherto tormented them。 Only sip a little of it； my
dear Proserpina； and you will instantly cease to grieve for your mother；
and will have nothing in your memory that can prevent your being
perfectly happy in my palace。 I will send for some； in a golden goblet； the
moment we arrive。〃
〃O； no； no； no！〃 cried Proserpina； weeping afresh。 〃I had a thousand
times rather be miserable with remembering my mother； than be happy in
forgetting her。 That dear； dear mother！ I never； never will forget her。〃
〃We shall see；〃 said King Pluto。 〃You do not know what fine times we
will have in my palace。 Here we are just at the portal。 These pillars are
solid gold； I assure you。〃
He alighted from the chariot； and taking Proserpina in his arms； carried
her up a lofty flight of steps into the great hall of the palace。 It was
splendidly illuminated by means of large precious stones； of various hues；
which seemed to burn like so many lamps； and glowed with a hundred…
fold radiance all through the vast apartment。 And yet there was a kind of
gloom in the midst of this enchanted light； nor was there a single object in
the hall that was really agreeable to behold； except the little Proserpina
herself； a lovely child； with one earthly flower which she had not let fall
from her hand。 It is my opinion that even King Pluto had never been
happy in his palace； and that this was the true reason why he had stolen
away Proserpina； in order that he might have something to love； instead of
cheating his heart any longer with this tiresome magnificence。 And；
though he pretended to dislike the sunshine of the upper world； yet the
effect of the child's presence； bedimmed as she was by her tears； was as if
a faint and watery sunbeam had somehow or other found its way into the
enchanted hall。
Pluto now summoned his domestics； and bade them lose no time in
preparing a most sumptuous banquet； and above all things； not to fail of
setting a golden beaker of the water of Lethe by Proserpina's plate。
〃I will neither drink that nor anything else；〃 said Proserpina。 〃Nor will
I taste a morsel of food； even if you keep me forever in your palace。〃
〃I should be sorry for that；〃 replied King Pluto； patting her cheek； for
he really wished to be kind； if he had only known how。 〃You are a spoiled
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child； I perceive； my little Proserpina； but when you see the nice things
which my cook will make for you； your appetite will quickly come again。〃
Then； sending for the head cook； he gave strict orders that all sorts of
delicacies； such as young people are usually fond of； should be set before
Proserpina。 He had a secret motive in this； for； you are to understand； it is
a fixed law； that when persons are carried off to the land of magic； if they
once taste any food there； they can never get back to their friends。 Now； if
King Pluto had been cunning enough to offer Proserpina some fruit； or
bread and milk （which was the simple fare to which the child had always
been accustomed）； it is very probable that she would soon have been
tempted to eat it。 But he left the matter entirely to his cook； who； like all
other cooks； considered nothing fit to eat unless it were rich pastry； or
highly…seasoned meat； or spiced sweet cakesthings which Proserpina's
mother had never given her； and the smell of which quite took away her
appetite； instead of sharpening it。
But my story must now clamber out of King Pluto's dominions； and
see what Mother Ceres had been about； since she was bereft of her
daughter。 We had a glimpse of her； as you remember； half hidden among
the waving grain； while the four black steeds were swiftly whirling along
the chariot； in which her beloved Proserpina was so unwillingly borne
away。 You recollect； too； the loud scream which Proserpina gave； just
when the chariot was out of sight。
Of all the child's outcries； this last shriek was the only one that reached
the ears of Mother Ceres。 She had mistaken the rumbling of the chariot
wheels for a peal of thunder； and imagined that a shower was coming up；
and that it would assist her in making the corn grow。 But； at the sound of
Proserpina's shriek； she started； and looked about in every direction； not
knowing whence it came； but feeling almost certain that it was her
daughter's voice。 It seemed so unaccountable； however； that the girl should
have strayed over so many lands and seas （which she herself could not
have traversed without the aid of her winged dragons）； that the good Ceres
tried to believe that it must be the child of some other parent； and not her
own darling Proserpina； who had uttered this lamentable cry。 Nevertheless；
it troubled her with a vast many tender fears； such as are ready to bestir
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themselves in every mother's heart； when she finds it necessary to go away
from her dear children without leaving them under the care of some
maiden aunt； or other such faithful guardian。 So she quickly left the field
in which she had been so busy； and； as her work was not half done； the
grain looked； next day； as if it needed both sun and rain； and as if it were
blighted in the ear； and had something the matter with its roots。
The pair of dragons must have had very nimble wings； for； in less than
an hour； Mother Ceres had alighted at the door of her home； and found it
empty。 Knowing； however； that the child was fond of sporting on the sea…
shore； she hastened thither as fast as she could； and there beheld the wet
faces of the poor sea nymphs peeping over a wave。 All this while； the good
creatures had been waiting on the bank of sponge； and once； every half
minute or so； had popped up their four heads above water； to see if their
playmate were yet coming back。 When they saw Mother Ceres； they sat
down on the crest of the surf wave； and let it toss them ashore at her feet。
〃Where is Proserpina？〃 cried Ceres。 〃Where is my child？ Tell me； you
naughty sea nymphs； have you enticed her under the sea？〃
〃O； no； good Mother Ceres；〃 said the innocent sea nymphs； tossing
back their green ringlets； and looking her in the face。 〃We never should
dream of such a thing。 Proserpina has been at play with us； it is true； but
she left us a long while ago； meaning only to run a little way upon the dry
land； and gather some flowers for a wreath。 This was earl