按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
But Ceres shook her head； and hastened away； along with Hecate。
Phoebus （who； as I have told you； was an exquisite poet） forthwith began
to make an ode about the poor mother's grief； and； if we were to judge of
his sensibility by this beautiful production； he must have been endowed
with a very tender heart。 But when a poet gets into the habit of using his
heartstrings to make chords for his lyre； he may thrum upon them as much
as he will； without any great pain to himself。 Accordingly； though Phoebus
sang a very sad song； he was as merry all the while as were the sunbeams
amid which he dwelt。
Poor Mother Ceres had now found out what had become of her
daughter； but was not a whit happier than before。 Her case； on the contrary；
looked more desperate than ever。 As long as Proserpina was above ground；
there might have been hopes of regaining her。 But now that the poor child
was shut up within the iron gates of the king of the mines； at the threshold
of which lay the three…headed Cerberus； there seemed no possibility of her
ever making her escape。 The dismal Hecate； who loved to take the darkest
view of things； told Ceres that she had better come with her to the cavern；
and spend the rest of her life in being miserable。 Ceres answered； that
Hecate was welcome to go back thither herself； but that； for her part； she
would wander about the earth in quest of the entrance to King Pluto's
dominions。 And Hecate took her at her word； and hurried back to her
beloved cave； frightening a great many little children with a glimpse of her
dog's face as she went。
Poor Mother Ceres！ It is melancholy to think of her； pursuing her
toilsome way； all alone； and holding up that never…dying torch； the flame
of which seemed an emblem of the grief and hope that burned together in
her heart。
So much did she suffer； that； though her aspect had been quite youthful
when her troubles began； she grew to look like an elderly person in a very
brief time。 She cared not how she was dressed； nor had she ever thought of
119
… Page 120…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
flinging away the wreath of withered poppies； which she put on the very
morning of Proserpina's disappearance。 She roamed about in so wild a
way； and with her hair so disheveled； that people took her for some
distracted creature； and never dreamed that this was Mother Ceres； who
had the oversight of every seed which the husbandman planted。 Nowadays；
however； she gave herself no trouble about seed time nor harvest； but left
the farmers to take care of their own affairs； and the crops to fade or
flourish； as the case might be。 There was nothing； now； in which Ceres
seemed to feel an interest； unless when she saw children at play； or
gathering flowers along the wayside。 Then； indeed； she would stand and
gaze at them with tears in her eyes。 The children； too； appeared to have a
sympathy with her grief； and would cluster themselves in a little group
about her knees； and look up wistfully in her face； and Ceres； after giving
them a kiss all round； would lead them to their homes； and advise their
mothers never to let them stray out of sight。
〃For if they do；〃 said she； 〃it may happen to you； as it has to me； that
the iron…hearted King Pluto will take a liking to your darlings； and snatch
them up in his chariot； and carry them away。〃
One day； during her pilgrimage in quest of the entrance to Pluto's
kingdom； she came to the palace of King Cereus； who reigned at Eleusis。
Ascending a lofty flight of steps； she entered the portal； and found the
royal household in very great alarm about the queen's baby。 The infant； it
seems； was sickly （being troubled with its teeth； I suppose）； and would
take no food； and was all the time moaning with pain。 The queenher
name was Metanirawas desirous of funding a nurse； and when she
beheld a woman of matronly aspect coming up the palace steps； she
thought； in her own mind； that here was the very person whom she needed。
So Queen Metanira ran to the door； with the poor wailing baby in her arms；
and besought Ceres to take charge of it； or； at least； to tell her what would
do it good。
〃Will you trust the child entirely to me？〃 asked Ceres。
〃Yes； and gladly； too；〃 answered the queen； 〃if you will devote all your
time to him。 For I can see that you have been a mother。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Ceres。 〃I once had a child of my own。 Well； I will
120
… Page 121…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
be the nurse of this poor； sickly boy。 But beware； I warn you； that you do
not interfere with any kind of treatment which I may judge proper for him。
If you do so； the poor infant must suffer for his mother's folly。〃
Then she kissed the child； and it seemed to do him good； for he smiled
and nestled closely into her bosom。
So Mother Ceres set her torch in a corner （where it kept burning all the
while）； and took up her abode in the palace of King Cereus； as nurse to the
little Prince Demophoon。 She treated him as if he were her own child； and
allowed neither the king nor the queen to say whether he should be bathed
in warm or cold water； or what he should eat； or how often he should take
the air； or when he should be put to bed。 You would hardly believe me； if I
were to tell how quickly the baby prince got rid of his ailments； and grew
fat； and rosy； and strong； and how he had two rows of ivory teeth in less
time than any other little fellow； before or since。 Instead of the palest； and
wretchedest； and puniest imp in the world （as his own mother confessed
him to be； when Ceres first took him in charge）； he was now a strapping
baby； crowing； laughing； kicking up his heels； and rolling from one end of
the room to the other。 All the good women of the neighborhood crowded
to the palace； and held up their hands； in unutterable amazement； at the
beauty and wholesomeness of this darling little prince。 Their wonder was
the greater； because he was never seen to taste any food； not even so much
as a cup of milk。
〃Pray； nurse；〃 the queen kept saying； 〃how is it that you make the child
thrive so？〃
〃I was a mother once；〃 Ceres always replied； 〃and having nursed my
own child； I know what other children need。〃
But Queen Metanira； as was very natural； had a great curiosity to
know precisely what the nurse did to her child。 One night； therefore； she
hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were
accustomed to sleep。 There was a fire in the chimney； and it had now
crumbled into great coals and embers； which lay glowing on the hearth；
with a blaze flickering up now and then； and flinging a warm and ruddy
light upon the walls。 Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap；
and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead。 She
121
… Page 122…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
undressed the little prince； and bathed him all over with some fragrant
liquid out of a vase。 The next thing she did was to rake back the red
embers； and make a hollow place among them； just where the backlog had
been。 At last； while the baby was crowing； and clapping its fat little hands；
and laughing in the nurse's face （just as you may have seen your little
brother or sister do before going into its warm bath）； Ceres suddenly laid
him； all naked as he was； in the hollow among the red…hot embers。 She
then raked the ashes over him； and turned quietly away。
You may imagine； if you can； how Queen Metanira shrieked； thinking
nothing less than that her dear child would be burned to a cinder。 She burst
forth from her hiding…place； and running to the hearth； raked open the fire；
and snatched up poor little Prince Demophoon out of his bed of live coals；
one of which he was gripping in each of his fists。 He immediately set up a
grievous cry； as babies are apt to do； when rudely startled out of a sound
sleep。 To the queen's astonishment and joy； she could perceive no token o