The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Infernal Marriage, by Benjamin Disraeli

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Title: The Infernal Marriage

Author: Benjamin Disraeli

Release Date: December 3, 2006 [EBook #20003]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INFERNAL MARRIAGE ***

Produced by David Widger

THE INFERNAL MARRIAGE

By Benjamin Disraeli

_Proserpine was the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres. Pluto, the god
of Hell, became enamoured of her. His addresses were favoured by her
father, but opposed by Ceres. Under these circumstances, he surprised
her on the plains of Enna, and carried her off in his chariot._

THE INFERNAL MARRIAGE

PART I.

_A Sublime Elopement_

IT WAS clearly a runaway match--never indeed was such a sublime
elopement. The four horses were coal-black, with blood-red manes and
tails; and they were shod with rubies. They were harnessed to a basaltic
car by a single rein of flame. Waving his double-pronged trident in the
air, the god struck the blue breast of Cyane, and the waters instantly
parted. In rushed the wild chariot, the pale and insensible Proserpine
clinging to the breast of her grim lover.

Through the depths of the hitherto unfathomed lake the infernal steeds
held their breathless course. The car jolted against its bed. 'Save me!'
exclaimed the future Queen of Hades, and she clung with renewed energy
to the bosom of the dark bridegroom. The earth opened; they entered the
kingdom of the gnomes. Here Pluto was popular. The lurid populace gave
him a loud shout. The chariot whirled along through shadowy cities and
by dim highways, swarming with a busy race of shades.

'Ye flowery meads of Enna!' exclaimed the terrified Proserpine, 'shall I
never view you again? What an execrable climate!'

'Here, however, in-door nature is charming,' responded Pluto. 'Tis a
great nation of manufacturers. You are better, I hope, my Proserpine.
The passage of the water is never very agreeable, especially to ladies.'

'And which is our next stage?' inquired Proserpine.

'The centre of Earth,' replied Pluto. 'Travelling is so much improved
that at this rate we shall reach Hades befo