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single fruit grew on that tree； a bright pomegranate fruit。 Persephone stood
up in the chariot and plucked the fruit from the tree。 Then did Aidoneus
prevail upon her to divide the fruit； and； having divided it； Persephone ate
seven of the pomegranate seeds。
It was Hermes who took the whip and the reins of the chariot。 He
drove on； and neither the sea nor the water…courses； nor the glens nor the
mountain peaks stayed the deathless horses of Aidoneus； and soon the
chariot was brought near to where Demeter awaited the coming of her
daughter。
And when； from a hilltop； Demeter saw the chariot approaching； she
flew like a wild bird to clasp her child。 Persephone； when she saw her
mother's dear eyes； sprang out of the chariot and fell upon her neck and
embraced her。 Long and long Demeter held her dear child in her arms；
gazing； gazing upon her。 Suddenly her mind misgave her。 With a great fear
at her heart she cried out： 〃Dearest； has any food passed your lips in all the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
time you have been in the Underworld？〃
She had not tasted food in all the time she was there； Persephone said。
And then； suddenly； she remembered the pomegranate that Aidoneus had
asked her to divide。 When she told that she had eaten seven seeds from it
Demeter wept； and her tears fell upon Persephone's face。
〃Ah； my dearest；〃 she cried； 〃if you had not eaten the pomegranate
seeds you could have stayed with me； and always we should have been
together。 But now that you have eaten food in it； the Underworld has a
claim upon you。 You may not stay always with me here。 Again you will
have to go back and dwell in the dark places under the earth and sit upon
Aidoneus's throne。 But not always you will be there。 When the flowers
bloom upon the earth you shall come up from the realm of darkness； and
in great joy we shall go through the world together； Demeter and
Persephone。〃
And so it has been since Persephone came back to her mother after
having eaten of the pomegranate seeds。 For two seasons of the year she
stays with Demeter； and for one season she stays in the Underworld with
her dark lord。 While she is with her mother there is springtime upon the
earth。 Demeter blesses the furrows； her heart being glad because her
daughter is with her once more。 The furrows become heavy with grain；
and soon the whole wide earth has grain and fruit； leaves and flowers。
When the furrows are reaped； when the grain has been gathered； when the
dark season comes； Persephone goes from her mother； and going down
into the dark places； she sits beside her mighty lord Aidoneus and upon his
throne。 Not sorrowful is she there； she sits with head unbowed； for she
knows herself to be a mighty queen。 She has joy； too； knowing of the
seasons when she may walk with Demeter； her mother； on the wide places
of the earth； through fields of flowers and fruit and ripening grain。
Such was the story that Orpheus toldOrpheus who knew the histories
of the gods。
A day came when the heroes； on their way back from a journey they
had made with the Lemnian maidens； called out to Heracles upon the Argo。
Then Heracles； standing on the prow of the ship； shouted angrily to them。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Terrible did he seem to the Lemnian maidens； and they ran off； drawing
the heroes with them。 Heracles shouted to his comrades again； saying that
if they did not come aboard the Argo and make ready for the voyage to
Colchis； he would go ashore and carry them to the ship； and force them
again to take the oars in their hands。
Not all of what Heracles said did the Argonauts hear。
That evening the men were silent in Hypsipyle's hall； and it was
Atalanta； the maiden； who told the evening's story。
Atalanta's Race
There are two Atalantas； she said； she herself； the Huntress； and
another who is noted for her speed of foot and her delight in the racethe
daughter of Schceneus； King of Boeotia； Atalanta of the Swift Foot。
So proud was she of her swiftness that she made a vow to the gods that
none would be her husband except the youth who won past her in the race。
Youth after youth came and raced against her； but Atalanta； who grew
fleeter and fleeter of foot； left each one of them far behind her。 The youths
who came to the race were so many and the clamor they made after defeat
was so great； that her father made a law that； as he thought； would lessen
their number。 The law that he made was that the youth who came to race
against Atalanta and who lost the race should lose his life into the bargain。
After that the youths who had care for their lives stayed away from
Boeotia。
Once there came a youth from a far part of Greece into the country
that Atalanta's father ruled over。 Hippomenes was his name。 He did not
know of the race； but having come into the city and seeing the crowd of
people； he went with them to the course。 He looked upon the youths who
were girded for the race； and he heard the folk say amongst themselves；
〃Poor youths； as mighty and as highspirited as they look； by sunset the life
will be out of each of them； for Atalanta will run past them as she ran past
the others。〃 Then Hippomenes spoke to the folk in wonder； and they told
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
him of Atalanta's race and of what would befall the youths who were
defeated in it。 〃Unlucky youths；〃 cried Hippomenes； 〃how foolish they are
to try to win a bride at the price of their lives。〃
Then； with pity in his heart； he watched the youths prepare for the race。
Atalanta had not yet taken her place； and he was fearful of looking upon
her。 〃She is a witch；〃 he said to himself； 〃she must be a witch to draw so
many youths to their deaths； and she； no doubt； will show in her face and
figure the witch's spirit。〃
But even as he said this； Hippomenes saw Atalanta。 She stood with the
youths before they crouched for the first dart in the race。 He saw that she
was a girl of a light and a lovely form。 Then they crouched for the race；
then the trumpets rang out； and the youths and the maiden darted like
swallows over the sand of the course。
On came Atalanta； far； far ahead of the youths who had started with
her。 Over her bare shoulders her hair streamed； blown backward by the
wind that met her flight。 Her fair neck shone； and her little feet were like
flying doves。 It seemed to Hippomenes as he watched her that there was
fire in her lovely body。 On and on she went as swift as the arrow that the
Scythian shoots from his bow。 And as he watched the race he was not
sorry that the youths were being left behind。 Rather would he have been
enraged if one came near overtaking her； for now his heart was set upon
winning her for his bride； and he cursed himself for not having entered the
race。
She passed the last goal mark and she was given the victor's wreath of
flowers。 Hippomenes stood and watched her and he did not see the youths
who had started with herthey had thrown themselves on the ground in
their despair。
Then wild； as though he were one of the doomed youths； Hippomenes
made his way through the throng and came before the black…bearded King
of Boeotia。 The king's brows were knit； for even then he was pronouncing
doom upon the youths who had been left behind in the race。 He looked
upon Hippomenes； another youth who would make the trial； and the frown
became heavier upon his face。
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But Hippomenes saw only Atalanta。 She came beside her father； the
wreath was upon her head of gold； and her eyes were wide and tender。 She
turned her face to him； and then she knew by the wildness that was in his
look that h