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and death。〃
The seeming old age that was upon her had fallen from Demeter；
beauty and stature were hers； and from her robe there came a heavenly
fragrance。 There came such light from her body that the chamber shone。
Metaneira remained trembling and speechless； unmindful even to take up
the child that had been laid upon the ground。
It was then that his sisters heard Demophoon wail； one ran from her
chamber and took the child in her arms； another kindled again the fire
upon the hearth； and the others made ready to bathe and care for the infant。
All night they cared for him； holding him in their arms and at their breasts；
but the child would not be comforted； becauses the nurses who handled
him now were less skillful than was the goddess…nurse。
And as for Demeter； she left the house of Celeus and went upon her
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
way； lonely in her heart； and unappeased。 And in the world that she
wandered through； the plow went in vain through the ground； the furrow
was sown without any avail； and the race of men saw themselves near
perishing for lack of bread。
But again Demeter came near the Well of the Maiden。 She thought of
the daughters of Celeus as they came toward the well that day； the bronze
pitchers in their hands； and with kind looks for the strangershe thought
of them as she sat by the well again。 And then she thought of little
Demophoon； the child she had held at her breast。 No stir of living was in
the land near their home； and only weeds grew in their fields。 As she sat
there and looked around her there came into Demeter's heart a pity for the
people in whose house she had dwelt。
She rose up and she went to the house of Celeus。 She found him beside
his house measuring out a little grain。 The goddess went to him and she
told him that because of the love she bore his household she would bless
his fields so that the seed he had sown in them would come to growth。
Celeus rejoiced； and he called all the people together； and they raised a
temple to Demeter。 She went through the fields and blessed them； and the
seed that they had sown began to grow。 And the goddess for a while dwelt
amongst that people； in her temple at Eleusis。
IV
But still she kept away from the assemblies of the gods。 Zeus sent a
messenger to her； Iris with the golden wings； bidding her to Olympus。
Demeter would not join the Olympians。 Then； one after the other； the gods
and goddesses of Olympus came to her； none were able to make her cease
from grieving for Persephone； or to go again into the company of the
immortal gods。
And so it came about that Zeus was compelled to send a messenger
down to the Underworld to bring Persephone back to the mother who
grieved so much for the loss of her。 Hermes was the messenger whom
Zeus sent。 Through the darkened places of the earth Hermes went； and he
came to that dark throne where the lord Aidoneus sat； with Persephone
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
beside him。 Then Hermes spoke to the lord of the Underworld； saying that
Zeus commanded that Persephone should come forth from the Underworld
that her mother might look upon her。
Then Persephone； hearing the words of Zeus that might not be
gainsaid； uttered the only cry that had left her lips since she had sent out
that cry that had reached her mother's heart。 And Aidoneus； hearing the
command of Zeus that might not be denied； bowed his dark； majestic
head。
She might go to the Upperworld and rest herself in the arms of her
mother； he said。 And then he cried out： 〃Ah； Persephone； strive to feel
kindliness in your heart toward me who carried you off by violence and
against your will。 I can give to you one of the great kingdoms that the
Olympians rule over。 And I； who am brother to Zeus； am no unfitting
husband for you； Demeter's child。〃
So Aidoneus； the dark lord of the Underworld said； and he made ready
the iron chariot with its deathless horses that Persephone might go up from
his kingdom。
Beside the single tree in his domain Aidoneus stayed the chariot。 A
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 alway