tanglewood tales-第24章

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s　young　fellow；　and　will　only　smile　in　your　face。　And　besides；　there　is　such　a　glare　of　the　sun　about　him；　that　he　will　quite　blind　my　poor　eyes；　which　I　have　almost　wept　away　already。〃

〃You　have　promised　to　be　my　companion；〃　answered　Ceres。　〃Come；　let　us　make　haste；　or　the　sunshine　will　be　gone；　and　Phoebus　along　with　it。〃

Accordingly；　they　went　along　in　quest　of　Phoebus；　both　of　them　sighing　grievously；　and　Hecate；　to　say　the　truth；　making　a　great　deal　worse　lamentation　than　Ceres；　for　all　the　pleasure　she　had；　you　know；　lay　in　being　miserable；　and　therefore　she　made　the　most　of　it。　By　and　by；　after　a　pretty　long　journey；　they　arrived　at　the　sunniest　spot　in　the　whole　world。　There　they　beheld　a　beautiful　young　man；　with　long；　curling　ringlets；　which　seemed　to　be　made　of　golden　sunbeams；　his　garments　were　like　light　summer　clouds；　and　the　expression　of　his　face　was　so　exceedingly　vivid；　that　Hecate　held　her　hands　before　her　eyes；　muttering　that　he　ought　to　wear　a　black　veil。　Phoebus　（for　this　was　the　very　person　whom　they　were　seeking）　had　a　lyre　in　his　hands；　and　was　making　its　chords　tremble　with　sweet　music；　at　the　same　time　singing　a　most　exquisite　song；　which　he　had　recently　composed。　For；　beside　a　great　many　other　accomplishments；　this　young　man　was　renowned　for　his　admirable　poetry。

As　Ceres　and　her　dismal　companion　approached　him；　Phoebus　smiled　on　them　so　cheerfully　that　Hecate's　wreath　of　snakes　gave　a　spiteful　hiss；　and　Hecate　heartily　wished　herself　back　in　her　cave。　But　as　for　Ceres；　she　was　too　earnest　in　her　grief　either　to　know　or　care　whether　Phoebus　smiled　or　frowned。

〃Phoebus！〃　exclaimed　she；　〃I　am　in　great　trouble；　and　have　come　to　you　for　assistance。　Can　you　tell　me　what　has　become　of　my　dear　child　Proserpina？〃

〃Proserpina！　Proserpina；　did　you　call　her　name？〃　answered　Phoebus；　endeavoring　to　recollect；　for　there　was　such　a　continual　flow　of　pleasant　ideas　in　his　mind；　that　he　was　apt　to　forget　what　had　happened　no　longer　ago　than　yesterday。　〃Ah；　yes；　I　remember　her　now。　A　very　lovely　child；　indeed。　I　am　happy　to　tell　you；　my　dear　madam；　that　I　did　see　the　little　Proserpina　not　many　days　ago。　You　may　make　yourself　perfectly　easy　about　her。　She　is　safe；　and　in　excellent　hands。〃

〃O；　where　is　my　dear　child？〃　cried　Ceres；　clasping　her　hands；　and　flinging　herself　at　his　feet。

〃Why；〃　said　Phoebusand　as　he　spoke　he　kept　touching　his　lyre　so　as　to　make　a　thread　of　music　run　in　and　out　among　his　words〃as　the　little　damsel　was　gathering　flowers　（and　she　has　really　a　very　exquisite　taste　for　flowers）；　she　was　suddenly　snatched　up　by　King　Pluto；　and　carried　off　to　his　dominions。　I　have　never　been　in　that　part　of　the　universe；　but　the　royal　palace；　I　am　told；　is　built　in　a　very　noble　style　of　architecture；　and　of　the　most　splendid　and　costly　materials。　Gold；　diamonds；　pearls；　and　all　manner　of　precious　stones　will　be　your　daughter's　ordinary　playthings。　I　recommend　to　you；　my　dear　lady；　to　give　yourself　no　uneasiness。　Proserpina's　sense　of　beauty　will　be　duly　gratified；　and　even　in　spite　of　the　lack　of　sunshine；　she　will　lead　a　very　enviable　life。〃

〃Hush！　Say　not　such　a　word！〃　answered　Ceres；　indignantly。　〃What　is　there　to　gratify　her　heart？　What　are　all　the　splendors　you　speak　of　without　affection？　I　must　have　her　back　again。　Will　you　go　with　me　you　go　with　me；　Phoebus；　to　demand　my　daughter　of　this　wicked　Pluto？〃

〃Pray　excuse　me；〃　replied　Phoebus；　with　an　elegant　obeisance。　〃I　certainly　wish　you　success；　and　regret　that　my　own　affairs　are　so　immediately　pressing　that　I　cannot　have　the　pleasure　of　attending　you。　Besides；　I　am　not　upon　the　best　of　terms　with　King　Pluto。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　his　three…headed　mastiff　would　never　let　me　pass　the　gateway；　for　I　should　be　compelled　to　take　a　sheaf　of　sunbeams　along　with　me；　and　those；　you　know；　are　forbidden　things　in　Pluto's　kingdom。〃

〃Ah；　Phoebus；〃　said　Ceres；　with　bitter　meaning　in　her　words；　〃you　have　a　harp　instead　of　a　heart。　Farewell。〃

〃Will　not　you　stay　a　moment；〃　asked　Phoebus；　〃　nd　hear　me　turn　the　pretty　and　touching　story　of　Proserpina　into　extemporary　verses？〃

But　Ceres　shook　her　head；　and　hastened　away；　along　with　Hecate。　Phoebus　（who；　as　I　have　told　you；　was　an　exquisite　poet）　forthwith　began　to　make　an　ode　about　the　poor　mother's　grief；　and；　if　we　were　to　judge　of　his　sensibility　by　this　beautiful　production；　he　must　have　been　endowed　with　a　very　tender　heart。　But　when　a　poet　gets　into　the　habit　of　using　his　heartstrings　to　make　chords　for　his　lyre；　he　may　thrum　upon　them　as　much　as　he　will；　without　any　great　pain　to　himself。　Accordingly；　though　Phoebus　sang　a　very　sad　song；　he　was　as　merry　all　the　while　as　were　the　sunbeams　amid　which　he　dwelt。

Poor　Mother　Ceres　had　now　found　out　what　had　become　of　her　daughter；　but　was　not　a　whit　happier　than　before。　Her　case；　on　the　contrary；　looked　more　desperate　than　ever。　As　long　as　Proserpina　was　above　ground；　there　might　have　been　hopes　of　regaining　her。　But　now　that　the　poor　child　was　shut　up　within　the　iron　gates　of　the　king　of　the　mines；　at　the　threshold　of　which　lay　the　three…headed　Cerberus；　there　seemed　no　possibility　of　her　ever　making　her　escape。　The　dismal　Hecate；　who　loved　to　take　the　darkest　view　of　things；　told　Ceres　that　she　had　better　come　with　her　to　the　cavern；　and　spend　the　rest　of　her　life　in　being　miserable。　Ceres　answered；　that　Hecate　was　welcome　to　go　back　thither　herself；　but　that；　for　her　part；　she　would　wander　about　the　earth　in　quest　of　the　entrance　to　King　Pluto's　dominions。　And　Hecate　took　her　at　her　word；　and　hurried　back　to　her　beloved　cave；　frightening　a　great　many　little　children　with　a　glimpse　of　her　dog's　face　as　she　went。

Poor　Mother　Ceres！　It　is　melancholy　to　think　of　her；　pursuing　her　toilsome　way；　all　alone；　and　holding　up　that　never…dying　torch；　the　flame　of　which　seemed　an　emblem　of　the　grief　and　hope　that　burned　together　in　her　heart。

So　much　did　she　suffer；　that；　though　her　aspect　had　been　quite　youthful　when　her　troubles　began；　she　grew　to　look　like　an　elderly　person　in　a　very　brief　time。　She　cared　not　how　she　was　dressed；　nor　had　she　ever　thought　of　flinging　away　the　wreath　of　withered　poppies；　which　she　put　on　the　very　morning　of　Proserpina's　disappearance。　She　roamed　about　in　so　wild　a　way；　and　with　her　hair　so　disheveled；　that　people　took　her　for　some　distracted　creature；　and　never　dreamed　that　this　was　Mother　Ceres；　who　had　the　oversight　of　every　seed　which　the　husbandman　planted。　Nowadays；　however；　she　gave　herself　no　trouble　about　seed　time　nor　harvest；　but　left　the　farmers　to　take　care　of　their　own　affairs；　and　the　crops　to　fade　or　flourish；　as　the　case　might　be。　There　was　nothing；　now；　in　which　Ceres　seemed　to　feel　an　interest；　unless　when　she　saw　children　at　play；　or　gathering　flowers　along　the　wayside。　Then；　indeed；　she　would　stand　and　gaze　at　them　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　The　children；　too；　appeared　to　have　a　sympathy　with　her　grief；　and　would　cluster　themselves　in　a　little　group　about　her　knees；　and　look　up　wistfully　in　her　face；　and　Ceres；　after　giving　them　a　kiss　all　round；　would　lead　them　to　their　homes；　and　advise　their　mothers　never　to　let　them　stray　out　of　sight。

〃For　if　they　do；〃　said　she；　〃it　may　happen　to　you；　as　it　has　to　me；　that　the　iron…hearted　King　Pluto　will　take　a　liking　to　your　darlings；　and　snatch　them　up　in　his　chariot；　and　carry　them　away。〃

One　day；　during　her　pilgrimage　in　quest　of　the　entrance　to　Pluto's　kingdom；　she　came　to　the　palace　of　King　Cereus；　who　reigned　at　Eleusis。　Ascending　a　lofty　flight　of　steps；　she　entered　the　portal；　and　found　the　royal　household　in　very　great　alarm　about　the　queen's　baby。　The　infant；　it　seems；　was　sickly　（being　troubled　with　its　teeth；　I　suppose）；　and　would　take　no　food；　and　was　all　the　time　moaning　with　pain。　The　queenher　name　was　Metanirawas　desirous　of　funding　a　nurse；　and　when　she　beheld　a　woman　of　matronly　aspect　coming　up　the　palace　steps；　she　thought；　in　her　own　mind；　that　here　was　the　very　person　whom　she　needed。　So　Queen　Metanira　ran　to　the　door；　with　the　poor　wailing　baby　in　her　arms；　and　besought　Ceres　to　take　charge　of　it；　or；　at　least；　to　tell　her　what　would　do　it　good。

〃Will　you　trust　the　child　entirely　to　me？〃　asked　Ceres。

〃Yes；　and　gladly；　too；〃　answered　the　queen；　〃if　you　will　devote　all　your　time　to　him。　For　I　can　see　that　you　have　been　a　mother。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Ceres。　〃I　once　had　a　child　of　my　own。　Well；　I　will　be　the　nurse　of　this　poor；　sickly　boy。　But　beware；　I　warn　you；　that　you　do　not　interfere　with　any　kind　of　treatment　which　I　may　judge　proper　for　him。　If　you　do　so；　the　poor　infant　must　suffer　for　his　mother's　folly。〃

Then　she　kissed　the　child；　and　it　seemed　to　do　him　good；　for　he　smiled　and　nestled　closely　into　her　bosom。

So　Mother　Ceres　set　her　torch　in　a　corner　（where　it　kept　burning　all　the　while）；　and　took　up　her　abode　in　the　palace　of　King　Cereus；　as　nurse　to　the　little　Prince　Demophoon。　She　treated　him　as　if　he　were　her　own　child；　and　allowed　neither　the　king　nor　the　queen　to　say　whether　he　should　be　bathed　in　warm　or　cold　water；　or　what　he　should　eat；　or　how　often　he　should　take　the　air；　or　when　he　should　be　put　to　bed。　You　would　hardly　believe　me；　if　I　were　to　tell　how　quickly　the　baby　prince　got　rid　of　his　ailments；　and　grew　fat；　and　rosy；　and　strong；　and　how　he　had　two　rows　of　ivory　teeth　in　less　time　than　any　other　little　fellow；　before　or　since。　Instead　of　the　palest；　and　wretchedest；　and　puniest　imp　in　the　world　（as　his　own　mother　confessed　him　to　be；　when　Ceres　first　took　him　in　charge）；　he　was　now　a　strapping　baby；　crowing；　laughing；　kicking　up　his　heels；　and　rolling　from　one　end　of　the　room　to　the　other。　All　the　good　women　of　the　neighborhood　crowded　to　the　palace；　and　held　up　their　hands；　in　unutterable　amazement；　at　the　beauty　and　wholesomeness　of　this　darling　little　prince。　Their　wonder　was　the　greater；　because　he　was　never　seen　to　taste　any　food；　not　even　so　much　as　a　cup　of　milk。

〃Pray；　nurse；〃　the　queen　kept　saying；　〃how　is　it　that　you　make　the　child　thrive　so？〃

〃I　was　a　mother　once；〃　Ceres　always　replied；　〃and　having　nursed　my　own　child；　I　know　what　other　children　need。〃

But　Queen　Metanira；　as　was　very　natural；　had　a　great　curiosity　to　know　precisely　what　the　nurse　did　to　her　child。　One　night；　therefore；　she　hid　herself　in　the　chamber　where　Ceres　and　the　little　prince　were　accustomed　to　sleep。　There　was　a　fire　in　the　chimney；　and　it　had　now　crumbled　into　great　coals　and　embers；　which　lay　glowing　on　the　hearth；　with　a　blaze　flickering　up　now　and　then；　and　flinging　a　warm　and　ruddy　light　upon　the　walls。　Ceres　sat　before　the　hearth　with　the　child　in　her　lap；　and　the　firelight　making　her　shadow　dance　upon　the　ceiling　overhead。　She　undressed　the　little　prince；　and　bathed　him　all　over　with　some　fragrant　liquid　out　of　a　vase。　The　next　thing　she　did　was　to　rake　back　the　red　embers；　and　make　a　hollow　place　among　them；　just　where　the　backlog　had　been。　At　last；　while　the　baby　was　crowing；　and　clapping　its　fat　little　hands；　and　laughing　in　the　nurse's　face　（just　as　you　may　have　seen　your　little　brother　or　sister　do　before　going　into　its　warm　bath）；　Ceres　suddenly　laid　him；　all　naked　as　he　was；　in　the　hollow　among　the　red…hot　embers。　She　then　raked　the　ashes　over　him；　and　turned　quietly　away。

You　may　imagine