ed!'

'Soul of my existence, don't make me mad. I love you, I adore you; I
have no hope, no wish, no thought but you. I swear it; I swear it by
my sceptre and my throne. Speak, speak to your Pluto: tell him all your
wish, all your desire. What would you have me do?'

'Shoot that horrid beast.'

'Ah! me!'

'What, you will not? I thought how it would be. I am Proserpine, your
beloved, adored Proserpine. You have no wish, no hope, no thought but
for me! I have only to speak, and what I desire will be instantly done!
And I do speak, I tell you my wish, I express to you my desire, and I
am instantly refused! And what have I requested? Is it such a mighty
favour? Is it anything unreasonable? Is there, indeed, in my entreaty
anything so vastly out of the way? The death of a dog, a disgusting
animal, which has already shaken my nerves to pieces; and if ever (here
she hid her face in his breast), if ever that event should occur which
both must desire, my Pluto, I am sure the very sight of that horrible
beast will--I dare not say what it will do.'

Pluto looked puzzled.

'Indeed, my Proserpine, it is not in my power to grant your request; for
Cerberus is immortal, like ourselves.'

'Me! miserable!'

'Some arrangement, however, may be made to keep him out of your sight
and hearing. I can banish him.'

'Can you, indeed? Oh! banish him, my Pluto! pray banish him! I never
shall be happy until Cerberus is banished.'

'I will do anything you desire; but I confess to you I have some
misgivings. He is an invaluable watch-dog; and I fear, without his
superintendence, the guardians of the gate will scarcely do their duty.'

'Oh! yes: I am sure they will, my Pluto! I will ask them to, I will ask
them myself, I will request them, as a particular and personal favour to
myself, to be very careful indeed. And if they do their duty, and I am
sure they will, they shall be styled, as a reward, "Proserpine's Own
Guards."'

'A reward, indeed!' said the enamoured monarch, as, with a sigh, he
signed the order for the banishment of Cerberus in the form of his
promotion to the office of Master of the royal and imperial bloodhounds.

The burning waves of Phlegethon assumed a lighter hue. It was morning.
It was the morning after the arrival of Pluto and his unexpected bride.
In one of the principal rooms of the palace three beautiful females,
clothed in cerulean robes spangled with stars, and their heads adorned
with golden crowns, were a