rassy glades, nor cliffs, could stay
the rush of the deathless horses; nay, far above them they cleft the deep
air in their course. Before the fragrant temple he drove them, and
checked them where dwelt Demeter of the goodly garland, who, when she
beheld them, rushed forth like a Maenad down a dark mountain woodland.
{205}

[But Persephone on the other side rejoiced to see her mother dear, and
leaped to meet her; but the mother said, "Child, in Hades hast thou eaten
any food? for if thou hast not] then with me and thy father the son of
Cronos, who has dark clouds for his tabernacle, shalt thou ever dwell
honoured among all the Immortals. But if thou hast tasted food, thou
must return again, and beneath the hollows of the earth must dwell in
Hades a third portion of the year; yet two parts of the year thou shalt
abide with me and the other Immortals. When the earth blossoms with all
manner of fragrant flowers, then from beneath the murky gloom shalt thou
come again, a mighty marvel to Gods and to mortal men. Now tell me by
what wile the strong host of many guests deceived thee? . . . "

Then fair Persephone answered her august mother: "Behold, I shall tell
thee all the truth without fail. I leaped up for joy when boon Hermes,
the swift messenger, came from my father Cronides and the other heavenly
Gods, with the message that I was to return out of Erebus, that so thou
mightest behold me, and cease thine anger and dread wrath against the
Immortals. Thereon Hades himself compelled me to taste of a sweet
pomegranate seed against my will. And now I will tell thee how, through
the crafty device of Cronides my father, he ravished me, and bore me away
beneath the hollows of the earth. All that thou askest I will tell thee.
We were all playing in the lovely meadows, Leucippe and Phaino, and
Electra, and Ianthe, and Melite, and Iache, and Rhodeia, and Callirhoe,
and Melobosis, and Tuche, and flower-faced Ocyroe, and Chraesis, and
Ianeira, and Acaste, and Admete, and Rhodope, and Plouto, and winsome
Calypso, and Styx, and Urania, and beautiful Galaxaure. We were playing
there, and plucking beautiful blossoms with our hands; crocuses mingled,
and iris, and hyacinth, and roses, and lilies, a marvel to behold, and
narcissus, that the wide earth bare, a wile for my undoing. Gladly was I
gathering them when the earth gaped beneath, and therefrom leaped the
mighty Prince, the host of many guests, and he bare me against my will