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TANGLEWOOD TALES
Proserpina。
It was not merely of human beings that she asked tidings of her
daughter。 In the woods and by the streams； she met creatures of another
nature； who used； in those old times； to haunt the pleasant and solitary
places； and were very sociable with persons who understood their
language and customs； as Mother Ceres did。 Sometimes； for instance； she
tapped with her finger against the knotted trunk of a majestic oak； and
immediately its rude bark would cleave asunder； and forth would step a
beautiful maiden； who was the hamadryad of the oak； dwelling inside of it；
and sharing its long life； and rejoicing when its green leaves sported with
the breeze。 But not one of these leafy damsels had seen Proserpina。 Then；
going a little farther； Ceres would； perhaps； come to a fountain； gushing
out of a pebbly hollow in the earth； and would dabble with her hand in the
water。 Behold； up through its sandy and pebbly bed； along with the
fountain's gush； a young woman with dripping hair would arise； and stand
gazing at Mother Ceres； half out of the water； and undulating up and down
with its ever… restless motion。 But when the mother asked whether her
poor lost child had stopped to drink out of the fountain； the naiad； with
weeping eyes （for these water…nymphs had tears to spare for everybody's
grief； would answer 〃No！〃 in a murmuring voice； which was just like the
murmur of the stream。
Often； likewise； she encountered fauns； who looked like sunburnt
country people； except that they had hairy ears； and little horns upon their
foreheads； and the hinder legs of goats； on which they gamboled merrily
about the woods and fields。 They were a frolicsome kind of creature but
grew as sad as their cheerful dispositions would allow； when Ceres
inquired for her daughter； and they had no good news to tell。 But
sometimes she same suddenly upon a rude gang of satyrs； who had faces
like monkeys； and horses' tails behind them； and who were generally
dancing in a very boisterous manner； with shouts of noisy laughter。 When
she stopped to question them； they would only laugh the louder； and make
new merriment out of the lone woman's distress。 How unkind of those
ugly satyrs！ And once； while crossing a solitary sheep pasture； she saw a
personage named Pan； seated at the foot of a tall rock； and making music
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TANGLEWOOD TALES
on a shepherd's flute。 He； too； had horns； and hairy ears； and goats' feet；
but； being acquainted with Mother Ceres； he answered her question as
civilly as he knew how； and invited her to taste some milk and honey out
of a wooden bowl。 But neither could Pan tell her what had become of
Proserpina； any better than the rest of these wild people。
And thus Mother Ceres went wandering about for nine long days and
nights； finding no trace of Proserpina； unless it were now and then a
withered flower； and these she picked up and put in her bosom； because
she fancied that they might have fallen from her poor child's hand。 All day
she traveled onward through the hot sun； and； at night again； the flame of
the torch would redden and gleam along the pathway； and she continued
her search by its light； without ever sitting down to rest。
On the tenth day； she chanced to espy the mouth of a cavern within
which （though it was bright noon everywhere else） there would have been
only a dusky twilight； but it so happened that a torch was burning there。 It
flickered； and struggled with the duskiness； but could not half light up the
gloomy cavern with all its melancholy glimmer。 Ceres was resolved to
leave no spot without a search； so she peeped into the entrance of the cave；
and lighted it up a little more； by holding her own torch before her。 In so
doing； she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a woman； sitting on the
brown leaves of the last autumn； a great heap of which had been swept
into the cave by the wind。 This woman （if woman it were） was by no
means so beautiful as many of her sex； for her head； they tell me； was
shaped very much like a dog's； and； by way of ornament； she wore a
wreath of snakes around it。 But Mother Ceres； the moment she saw her；
knew that this was an odd kind of a person； who put all her enjoyment in
being miserable； and never would have a word to say to other people；
unless they were as melancholy and wretched as she herself delighted to
be。
〃I am wretched enough now；〃 thought poor Ceres； 〃to talk with this
melancholy Hecate； were she ten times sadder than ever she was yet。〃 So
she stepped into the cave； and sat down on the withered leaves by the dog…
headed woman's side。 In all the world； since her daughter's loss； she had
found no other companion。
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〃O Hecate；〃 said she； 〃if ever you lose a daughter； you will know what
sorrow is。 Tell me； for pity's sake； have you seen my poor child Proserpina
pass by the mouth of your cavern？〃
〃No；〃 answered Hecate； in a cracked voice； and sighing betwixt every
word or two； 〃no； Mother Ceres； I have seen nothing of your daughter。 But
my ears； you must know； are made in such a way； that all cries of distress
and affright all over the world are pretty sure to find their way to them；
and nine days ago； as I sat in my cave； making myself very miserable； I
heard the voice of a young girl； shrieking as if in great distress。 Something
terrible has happened to the child； you may rest assured。 As well as I could
judge； a dragon； or some other cruel monster； was carrying her away。〃
〃You kill me by saying so；〃 cried Ceres； almost ready to faint。 〃Where
was the sound； and which way did it seem to go？〃
〃It passed very swiftly along；〃 said Hecate； 〃and； at the same time；
there was a heavy rumbling of wheels towards the eastward。 I can tell you
nothing more； except that； in my honest opinion； you will never see your
daughter again。 The best advice I can give you is； to take up your abode in
this cavern； where we will be the two most wretched women in the world。〃
〃Not yet； dark Hecate；〃 replied Ceres。 〃But do you fir