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sleep。 To the queen's astonishment and joy； she could perceive no token of
the child's being injured by the hot fire in which he had lain。 She now
turned to Mother Ceres； and asked her to explain the mystery。
〃Foolish woman；〃 answered Ceres； 〃did you not promise to intrust this
poor infant entirely to me？ You little know the mischief you have done
him。 Had you left him to my care； he would have grown up like a child of
celestial birth； endowed with superhuman strength and intelligence； and
would have lived forever。 Do you imagine that earthly children are to
become immortal without being tempered to it in the fiercest heat of the
fire？ But you have ruined your own son。 For though he will be a strong
man and a hero in his day； yet； on account of your folly； he will grow old；
and finally die； like the sons of other women。 The weak tenderness of his
mother has cost the poor boy an immortality。 Farewell。〃
Saying these words； she kissed the little Prince Demophoon； and
sighed to think what he had lost； and took her departure without heeding
Queen Metanira； who entreated her to remain； and cover up the child
among the hot embers as often as she pleased。 Poor baby！ He never slept
so warmly again。
While she dwelt in the king's palace； Mother Ceres had been so
continually occupied with taking care of the young prince； that her heart
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was a little lightened of its grief for Proserpina。 But now； having nothing
else to busy herself about； she became just as wretched as before。 At
length； in her despair； she came to the dreadful resolution that not a stalk
of grain； nor a blade of grass； not a potato； nor a turnip； nor any other
vegetable that was good for man or beast to eat； should be suffered to
grow until her daughter were restored。 She even forbade the flowers to
bloom； lest somebody's heart should be cheered by their beauty。
Now； as not so much as a head of asparagus ever presumed to poke
itself out of the ground； without the especial permission of Ceres； you may
conceive what a terrible calamity had here fallen upon the earth。 The
husbandmen plowed and planted as usual； but there lay the rich black
furrows； all as barren as a desert of sand。 The pastures looked as brown in
the sweet month of June as ever they did in chill November。 The rich
man's broad acres and the cottager's small garden patch were equally
blighted。 Every little girl's flower bed showed nothing but dry stalks。 The
old people shook their white heads； and said that the earth had grown aged
like themselves； and was no longer capable of wearing the warm smile of
summer on its face。 It was really piteous to see the poor； starving cattle
and sheep； how they followed behind Ceres； lowing and bleating； as if
their instinct taught them to expect help from her； and everybody that was
acquainted with her power besought her to have mercy on the human race；
and； at all events； to let the grass grow。 But Mother Ceres； though
naturally of an affectionate disposition； was now inexorable。
〃Never；〃 said she。 〃If the earth is ever again to see any verdure； it must
first grow along the path which my daughter will tread in coming back to
me。〃
Finally； as there seemed to be no other remedy； our old friend
Quicksilver was sent post…haste to King Pluto； in hopes that he might be
persuaded to undo the mischief he had done； and to set everything right
again； by giving up Proserpina。 Quicksilver accordingly made the best of
his way to the great gate； took a flying leap right over the three…headed
mastiff； and stood at the door of the palace in an inconceivably short time。
The servants knew him both by his face and garb； for his short cloak； and
his winged cap and shoes； and his snaky staff had often been seen
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thereabouts in times gone by。 He requested to be shown immediately into
the king's presence； and Pluto； who heard his voice from the top of the
stairs； and who loved to recreate himself with Quicksilver's merry talk；
called out to him to come up。 And while they settle their business together；
we must inquire what Proserpina had been doing ever since we saw her
last。
The child had declared； as you may remember； that she would not taste
a mouthful of food as long as she should be compelled to remain in King
Pluto's palace。 How she contrived to maintain her resolution； and at the
same time to keep herself tolerably plump and rosy； is more than I can
explain； but some young ladies； I am given to understand； possess the
faculty of living on air； and Proserpina seems to have possessed it too。 At
any rate； it was now six months since she left the outside of the earth； and
not a morsel； so far as the attendants were able to testify； had yet passed
between her teeth。 This was the more creditable to Proserpina； inasmuch
as King Pluto had caused her to be tempted day by day； with all manner of
sweetmeats； and richly…preserved fruits； and delicacies of every sort； such
as young people are generally most fond of。 But her good mother had
often told her of the hurtfulness of these things； and for that reason alone；
if there had been no other； she would have resolutely refused to taste them。
All this time； being of a cheerful and active disposition； the little
damsel was not quite so unhappy as you may have supposed。 The
immense palace had a thousand rooms； and was full of beautiful and
wonderful objects。 There was a never…ceasing gloom； it is true； which half
hid itself among the innumerable pillars； gliding before the child as she
wandered among them； and treading stealthily behind her in the echo of
her footsteps。 Neither was all the dazzle of the precious stones； which
flamed with their own light； worth one gleam of natural sunshine； nor
could the most brilliant of the many…colored gems； which Proserpina had
for playthings； vie with the simple beauty of the flowers she used to gather。
But still； whenever the girl went among those gilded halls and chambers； it
seemed as if she carried nature and sunshine along with her； and as if she
scattered dewy blossoms on her right hand and on her left。 After
Proserpina came； the palace was no longer the same abode of stately
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artifice and dismal magnificence that it had before been。 The inhabitants
all felt this； and King Pluto more than any of them。
〃My own little Proserpina；〃 he used to say。 〃I wish you could like me a
little better。 We gloomy and cloudy…natured persons have often as warm
hearts； at bottom； as those of a more cheerful character。 If you would only
stay with me of your own accord； it would make me happier than the
possession of a hundred such palaces as this。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Proserpina； 〃you should have tried to make me like you
before carrying me off。 And the best thing you can now do is； to let me go
again。 Then I might remember you sometimes； and think that you were as
kind as you knew how to be。 Perhaps； too； one day or other； I might come
back； and pay you a visit。〃
〃No； no；〃 answered Pluto； with his gloomy smile； 〃I will not trust you
for that。 You are too fond of living in the broad daylight； and gathering
flowers。 What an idle and childish taste that is！ Are not these gems； which
I have ordered to be dug for you； and which are richer than any in my
crownare they not prettier than a violet？〃
〃Not half so pretty；〃 said Proserpina； snatching the gems from Pluto's
hand； and flinging them to the other end of the hall。 〃O my sweet violets；
shall I never see you again？〃
And then she burst into tears。 But young people's tears have very lit