[Syracusan medallion by Euainetos. Obv. Head of Persephone. Rev.
Victorious Chariot: lang183.jpg]
Of fair-tressed Demeter, Demeter holy Goddess, I begin to sing: of her
and her slim-ankled daughter whom Hades snatched away, the gift of wide-
beholding Zeus, but Demeter knew it not, she that bears the Seasons, the
giver of goodly crops. For her daughter was playing with the
deep-bosomed maidens of Oceanus, and was gathering flowers--roses, and
crocuses, and fair violets in the soft meadow, and lilies, and hyacinths,
and the narcissus which the earth brought forth as a snare to the fair-
faced maiden, by the counsel of Zeus and to pleasure the Lord with many
guests. Wondrously bloomed the flower, a marvel for all to see, whether
deathless gods or deathly men. From its root grew forth a hundred
blossoms, and with its fragrant odour the wide heaven above and the whole
earth laughed, and the salt wave of the sea. Then the maiden marvelled,
and stretched forth both her hands to seize the fair plaything, but the
wide-wayed earth gaped in the Nysian plain, and up rushed the Prince, the
host of many guests, the many-named son of Cronos, with his immortal
horses. Maugre her will he seized her, and drave her off weeping in his
golden chariot, but she shrilled aloud, calling on Father Cronides, the
highest of gods and the best.
But no immortal god or deathly man heard the voice of her, . . . save the
daughter of Persaeus, Hecate of the shining head-tire, as she was
thinking delicate thoughts, who heard the cry from her cave [and Prince
Helios, the glorious son of Hyperion], the maiden calling on Father
Cronides. But he far off sat apart from the gods in his temple haunted
by prayers, receiving goodly victims from mortal men. By the design of
Zeus did the brother of Zeus lead the maiden away, the lord of many, the
host of many guests, with his deathless horses; right sore against her
will, even he of many names the son of Cronos. Now, so long as the
Goddess beheld the earth, and the starry heaven, and the tide of the
teeming sea, and the rays of the sun, and still hoped to behold her
mother dear, and the tribes of the eternal gods; even so long, despite
her sorrow, hope warmed her high heart; then rang the mountain peaks, and
the depths of the sea to her immortal voice, and her lady mother heard
her. Then sharp pain caught at her heart, and with her hands she tore
the wimple about her ambrosial hair, and cast a dark veil about her
shoulders, and then sped she like a bird over land and sea in her great
yearning; but to her there was none that would tell the truth, none,
either of Gods, or deathly men, nor even a bird came nigh her, a
soothsaying messenger. Thereafter for nine days did Lady Deo roam the
earth, with torches burning in her hands, nor ever in her sorrow tasted
she of ambrosia and sweet nectar, nor laved her body in the baths. But
when at last the tenth morn came to her with the light, Hecate met her, a
torch in her hands, and spake a word of tidings, and said:
"Lady Demeter, thou that bringest the Seasons, thou giver of glad gifts,
which of the heavenly gods or deathly men hath ravished away Persephone,
and brought thee sorrow: for I heard a voice but I saw not who the
ravisher might be? All this I say to thee for sooth."
So spake Hecate, and the daughter of fair-tressed Rheie answered her not,
but swiftly rushed on with her, bearing torches burning in her hands. So
came they to Helios that watches both for gods and men, and stood before
his car, and the lady Goddess questioned him:
"Helios, be pitiful on me that am a goddess, if ever by word or deed I
gladdened thy heart. My daughter, whom I bore, a sweet plant and fair to
see; it was her shrill voice I heard through the air unharvested, even as
of one violently entreated, but I saw her not with my eyes. But do thou
that lookest down with thy rays from the holy air upon all the land and
sea, do thou tell me truly concerning my dear child, if thou didst behold
her; who it is that hath gone off and ravished her away from me against
her will, who is it of gods or mortal men?"
So spake she, and Hyperionides answered her:
"Daughter of fair-tressed Rheia, Queen Demeter, thou shalt know it; for
greatly do I pity and revere thee in thy sorrow for thy slim-ankled
child. There is none other guilty of the Immortals but Zeus himself that
gathereth the clouds, who gave thy daughter to Hades, his own brother, to
be called his lovely wife; and Hades has ravished her away in his
chariot, loudly shrilling, beneath the dusky gloom. But, Goddess, do
thou cease from thy long lamenting. It behoves not thee thus vainly to
cherish anger unassuaged. No unseemly lord for thy daughter among the
Immortals is Aidoneus, the lord of many, thine own brother and of one
seed with thee, and for his honour he won, since when was made the
threefold division, to be lord among those with whom he dwells."
So spake he, and called upon his horses, and at his call they swiftly
bore the fleet chariot on like long-winged birds. But grief more dread
and bitter fell upon her, and wroth thereafter was she with Cronion that
hath dark clouds for his dwelling. She held apart from the gathering of
the Gods and from tall Olympus, and disfiguring her form for many days
she went among the cities and rich fields of men. Now no man knew her
that looked on her, nor no deep-bosomed woman, till she came to the
dwelling of Celeus, who then was Prince of fragrant Eleusis. There sat
she at the wayside in sorrow of heart, by the Maiden Well whence the
townsfolk were wont to draw water. In the shade she sat; above her grew
a thick olive-tree; and in fashion she was like an ancient crone who
knows no more of child-bearing and the gifts of Aphrodite, the lover of
garlands. Such she was as are the nurses of the children of
doom-pronouncing kings. Such are the housekeepers in their echoing
halls.
Now the daughters of Celeus beheld her as they came to fetch the fair-
flowing water, to carry thereof in bronze vessels to their father's home.
Four were they, like unto goddesses, all in the bloom of youth,
Callidice, and Cleisidice, and winsome Demo, and Callithoe the eldest of
them all, nor did they know her, for the Gods are hard to be known by
mortals, but they stood near her and spake winged words:
"Who art thou and whence, old woman, of ancient folk, and why wert thou
wandering apart from the town, nor dost draw nigh to the houses where are
women of thine own age, in the shadowy halls, even such as thou, and
younger women, too, who may kindly entreat thee in word and deed?"
So spake they, and the lady Goddess answered:
"Dear children, whoever ye be, of womankind I bid you hail, and I will
tell you my story. Seemly it is to answer your questions truly. Deo is
my name that my lady mother gave me; but now, look you, from Crete am I
come hither over the wide ridges of the sea, by no will of my own, nay,
by violence have sea-rovers brought me hither under duress, who
thereafter touched with their swift ship at Thoricos where the women and
they themselves embarked on land. Then were they busy about supper
beside the hawsers of the ship, but my heart heeded not delight of
supper; no, stealthily setting forth through the dark land I fled from
these overweening masters, that they might not sell me whom they had
never bought and gain my price. Thus hither have I come in my wandering,
nor know I at all what land is this, nor who they be that dwell therein.
But to you may all they that hold mansions in Olympus give husbands and
lords, and such children to bear as parents desire; but me do ye maidens
pity in your kindness, till I come to the house of woman or of man, that
there I may work zealously for them in such tasks as fit a woman of my
years. I could carry in mine arms a new-born babe, and nurse it well,
and keep the house, and strew my master's bed within the well-builded
chambers, and teach the maids their tasks."
So spake the Goddess, and straightway answered her the maid unwed,
Callidice, the fairest of the daughters of Celeus:
"Mother, what things soever the Gods do give must men, though sorrowing,
endure, for the Gods are far stronger than we; but this will I tell thee
clearly and soothly, namely, what men they are who here have most honour,
and who lead the people, and by their counsels and just dooms do
safeguard the bulwarks of the city. Such are wise Triptolemus, Diocles,
Polyxenus, and noble Eumolpus, and Dolichus, and our lordly father. All
their wives keep their houses, and not one of them would at first sight
contemn thee and thrust thee from their halls, but gladly they will
receive thee: for thine aspect is divine. So, if thou wilt, abide here,
that we may go to the house of my father, and tell out all this tale to
my mother, the deep-bosomed Metaneira, if perchance she will bid thee
come to our house and not seek the homes of others. A dear son born in
her later years is nurtured in the well-builded hall, a child of many
prayers and a welcome. If thou wouldst nurse him till he comes to the
measure of youth, then whatsoever woman saw thee should envy thee; such
gifts of fosterage would my mother give thee."
So spake she and the Goddess nodded assent. So rejoicing they filled
their shining pitchers with water and bore them away. Swiftly they came
to the high hall of their father, and quickly they told their mother what
they had heard and seen, and speedily she bade them run and call the
strange woman, offering goodly hire. Then as deer or calves in the
season of Spring leap along the meadow, when they have had their fill of
pasture, so lightly they kilted up the folds of their lovely kirtles, and
ran along the hollow chariot-way, while their hair danced on their
shoulders, in colour like the crocus flower. They found the glorious
Goddess at the wayside, even where they had left her, and anon they led
her to their father's house. But she paced behind in heaviness of heart,
her head veiled, and the dark robe floating about her slender feet
divine. Speedily they came to the house of Celeus, the fosterling of
Zeus, and they went through the corridor where their lady mother was
sitting by the doorpost of the well-wrought hall, with her child in her
lap, a young blossom, and the girls ran up to her, but the Goddess stood
on the threshold, her head touching the roof-beam, and she filled the
doorway with the light divine. Then wonder, and awe, and pale fear
seized the mother, and she gave place from her high seat, and bade the
Goddess be seated. But Demeter the bearer of the Seasons, the Giver of
goodly gifts, would not sit down upon the shining high seat. Nay, in
silence she waited, casting down her lovely eyes, till the wise Iambe set
for her a well-made stool, and cast over it a glistering fleece. {194}
Then sat she down and held the veil before her face; long in sorrow and
silence sat she so, and spake to no man nor made any sign, but smileless
she sat, nor tasted meat nor drink, wasting with long desire for her deep-
bosomed daughter.
So abode she till wise Iambe with jests and many mockeries beguiled the
lady, the holy one, to smile and laugh and hold a happier heart, and
pleased her moods even thereafter. Then Metaneira filled a cup of sweet
wine and offered it to her, but she refused it, saying, that it was not
permitted for her to drink red wine; but she bade them mix meal and water
with the tender herb of mint, and give it to her to drink. Then
Metaneira made a potion and gave it to the Goddess as she bade, and Lady
Deo took it and made libation, and to them fair-girdled Metaneira said:
"Hail, lady, for methinks thou art not of mean parentage, but goodly
born, for grace and honour shine in thine eyes as in the eyes of doom-
dealing kings. But the gifts of the Gods, even in sorrow, we men of
necessity endure, for the yoke is laid upon our necks; yet now that thou
art come hither, such things as I have shall be thine. Rear me this
child that the Gods have given in my later years and beyond my hope; and
he is to me a child of many prayers. If thou rear him, and he come to
the measure of youth, verily each woman that sees thee will envy thee,
such shall be my gifts of fosterage."
Then answered her again Demeter of the fair garland:
"And mayst thou too, lady, fare well, and the Gods give thee all things
good. Gladly will I receive thy child that thou biddest me nurse. Never,
methinks, by the folly of his nurse shall charm or sorcery harm him; for
I know an antidote stronger than the wild wood herb, and a goodly salve I
know for the venomed spells."
So spake she, and with her immortal hands she placed the child on her
fragrant breast, and the mother was glad at heart. So in the halls she
nursed the goodly son of wise Celeus, even Demophoon, whom deep-breasted
Metaneira bare, and he grew like a god, upon no mortal food, nor on no
mother's milk. For Demeter anointed him with ambrosia as though he had
been a son of a God, breathing sweetness over him, and keeping him in her
bosom. So wrought she by day, but at night she was wont to hide him in
the force of fire like a brand, his dear parents knowing it not. {196}
Nay, to them it was great marvel how flourished he and grew like the Gods
to look upon. And, verily, she would have made him exempt from eld and
death for ever, had not fair-girdled Metaneira, in her witlessness, spied
on her in the night from her fragrant chamber. Then wailed she, and
smote both her thighs, in terror for her child, and in anguish of heart,
and lamenting she spake winged words: "My child Demophoon, the stranger
is concealing thee in the heart of the fire; bitter sorrow for me and
lamentation."
So spake she, wailing, and the lady Goddess heard her. Then in wrath did
the fair-garlanded Demeter snatch out of the fire with her immortal hands
and cast upon the ground that woman's dear son, whom beyond all hope she
had borne in the halls. Dread was the wrath of Demeter, and anon she
spake to fair-girdled Metaneira. "Oh redeless and uncounselled race of
men, that know not beforehand the fate of coming good or coming evil.
For, lo, thou hast wrought upon thyself a bane incurable, by thine own
witlessness; for by the oath of the Gods, the relentless water of Styx, I
would have made thy dear child deathless and exempt from age for ever,
and would have given him glory imperishable. But now in nowise may he
escape the Fates and death, yet glory imperishable will ever be his,
since he has lain on my knees and slept within my arms; [but as the years
go round, and in his day, the sons of the Eleusinians will ever wage war
and dreadful strife one upon the other.] Now I am the honoured Demeter,
the greatest good and gain of the Immortals to deathly men. But, come
now, let all the people build me a great temple and an altar thereby,
below the town, and the steep wall, above Callichorus on the jutting
rock. But the rites I myself will prescribe, that in time to come ye may
pay them duly and appease my power."
Therewith the Goddess changed her shape and height, and cast off old age,
and beauty breathed about her, and the sweet scent was breathed from her
fragrant robes, and afar shone the light from the deathless body of the
Goddess, the yellow hair flowing about her shoulders, so that the goodly
house was filled with the splendour as of levin fire, and forth from the
halls went she.
But anon the knees of the woman were loosened, and for long time she was
speechless, nay, nor did she even mind of the child, her best beloved, to
lift him from the floor. But the sisters of the child heard his pitiful
cry, and leapt from their fair-strewn beds; one of them, lifting the
child in her hands, laid it in her bosom; and another lit fire, and the
third ran with smooth feet to take her mother forth from the fragrant
chamber. Then gathered they about the child, and bathed and clad him
lovingly, yet his mood was not softened, for meaner nurses now and
handmaids held him.
They the long night through were adoring the renowned Goddess, trembling
with fear, but at the dawning they told truly to mighty Celeus all that
the Goddess had commanded; even Demeter of the goodly garland. Thereon
he called into the market-place the many people, and bade them make a
rich temple, and an altar to fair-tressed Demeter, upon the jutting rock.
Then anon they heard and obeyed his voice, and as he bade they builded.
And the child increased in strength by the Goddess's will.
Now when they had done their work, and rested from their labours, each
man started for his home, but yellow-haired Demeter, sitting there apart
from all the blessed Gods, abode, wasting away with desire for her deep-
bosomed daughter. Then the most dread and terrible of years did the
Goddess bring for mortals upon the fruitful earth, nor did the earth send
up the seed, for Demeter of the goodly garland concealed it. Many
crooked ploughs did the oxen drag through the furrows in vain, and much
white barley fell fruitless upon the land. Now would the whole race of
mortal men have perished utterly from the stress of famine, and the Gods
that hold mansions in Olympus would have lost the share and renown of
gift and sacrifice, if Zeus had not conceived a counsel within his heart.
First he roused Iris of the golden wings to speed forth and call the fair-
tressed Demeter, the lovesome in beauty. So spake Zeus, and Iris obeyed
Zeus, the son of Cronos, who hath dark clouds for his tabernacle, and
swiftly she sped adown the space between heaven and earth. Then came she
to the citadel of fragrant Eleusis, and in the temple she found Demeter
clothed in dark raiment, and speaking winged words addressed her:
"Demeter, Father Zeus, whose counsels are imperishable, bids thee back
unto the tribes of the eternal Gods. Come thou, then, lest the word of
Zeus be of no avail." So spake she in her prayer, but the Goddess
yielded not. Thereafter the Father sent forth all the blessed Gods, all
of the Immortals, and coming one by one they bade Demeter return, and
gave her many splendid gifts, and all honours that she might choose among
the immortal Gods. But none availed to persuade by turning her mind and
her angry heart, so stubbornly she refused their sayings. For she deemed
no more for ever to enter fragrant Olympus, and no more to allow the
earth to bear her fruit, until her eyes should behold her fair-faced
daughter.
But when far-seeing Zeus, the lord of the thunder-peal, had heard the
thing, he sent to Erebus the slayer of Argos, the God of the golden wand,
to win over Hades with soft words, and persuade him to bring up holy
Persephone into the light, and among the Gods, from forth the murky
gloom, that so her mother might behold her, and that her anger might
relent. And Hermes disobeyed not, but straightway and speedily went
forth beneath the hollow places of the earth, leaving the home of
Olympus. That King he found within his dwelling, sitting on a couch with
his chaste bedfellow, who sorely grieved for desire of her mother, that
still was cherishing a fell design against the ill deeds of the Gods.
Then the strong slayer of Argos drew near and spoke: "Hades of the dark
locks, thou Prince of men out-worn, Father Zeus bade me bring the dread
Persephone forth from Erebus among the Gods, that her mother may behold
her, and relent from her anger and terrible wrath against the Immortals,
for now she contrives a mighty deed, to destroy the feeble tribes of
earth-born men by withholding the seed under the earth. Thereby the
honours of the Gods are minished, and fierce is her wrath, nor mingles
she with the Gods, but sits apart within the fragrant temple in the steep
citadel of Eleusis."
So spake he, and smiling were the brows of Aidoneus, Prince of the dead,
nor did he disobey the commands of King Zeus, as speedily he bade the
wise Persephone: "Go, Persephone, to thy dark-mantled mother, go with a
gentle spirit in thy breast, nor be thou beyond all other folk
disconsolate. Verily I shall be no unseemly lord of thine among the
Immortals, I that am the brother of Father Zeus, and whilst thou art here
shalt thou be mistress over all that lives and moves, but among the
Immortals shalt thou have the greatest renown. Upon them that wrong thee
shall vengeance be unceasing, upon them that solicit not thy power with
sacrifice, and pious deeds, and every acceptable gift."
So spake he, and wise Persephone was glad; and joyously and swiftly she
arose, but the God himself, stealthily looking around her, gave her sweet
pomegranate seed to eat, and this he did that she might not abide for
ever beside revered Demeter of the dark mantle. {204} Then openly did
Aidoneus, the Prince of all, get ready the steeds beneath the golden
chariot, and she climbed up into the golden chariot, and beside her the
strong Slayer of Argos took reins and whip in hand, and drove forth from
the halls, and gladly sped the horses twain. Speedily they devoured the
long way; nor sea, nor rivers, nor grassy 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
despite my grief beneath the earth, in his golden chariot; and shrilly
did I cry. This all is true that I tell thee."
So the livelong day in oneness of heart did they cheer each other with
love, and their minds ceased from sorrow, and great gladness did either
win from other. Then came to them Hekate of the fair wimple, and often
did she kiss the holy daughter of Demeter, and from that day was her
queenly comrade and handmaiden; but to them for a messenger did
far-seeing Zeus of the loud thunder-peal send fair-tressed Rhea to bring
dark-mantled Demeter among the Gods, with pledge of what honour she might
choose among the Immortals. He vowed that her daughter, for the third
part of the revolving year, should dwell beneath the murky gloom, but for
the other two parts she should abide with her mother and the other gods.
Thus he spake, and the Goddess disobeyed not the commands of Zeus.
Swiftly she sped down from the peaks of Olympus, and came to fertile
Rarion; fertile of old, but now no longer fruitful; for fallow and
leafless it lay, and hidden was the white barley grain by the device of
fair-ankled Demeter. None the less with the growing of the Spring the
land was to teem with tall ears of corn, and the rich furrows were to be
heavy with corn, and the corn to be bound in sheaves. There first did
she land from the unharvested ether, and gladly the Goddesses looked on
each other, and rejoiced in heart, and thus first did Rhea of the fair
wimple speak to Demeter:
"Hither, child; for he calleth thee, far-seeing Zeus, the lord of the
deep thunder, to come among the Gods, and has promised thee such honours
as thou wilt, and hath decreed that thy child, for the third of the
rolling year, shall dwell beneath the murky gloom, but the other two
parts with her mother and the rest of the Immortals. So doth he promise
that it shall be and thereto nods his head; but come, my child, obey, and
be not too unrelenting against the Son of Cronos, the lord of the dark
cloud. And anon do thou increase the grain that bringeth life to men."
So spake she, and Demeter of the fair garland obeyed. Speedily she sent
up the grain from the rich glebe, and the wide earth was heavy with
leaves and flowers: and she hastened, and showed the thing to the kings,
the dealers of doom; to Triptolemus and Diocles the charioteer, and
mighty Eumolpus, and Celeus the leader of the people; she showed them the
manner of her rites, and taught them her goodly mysteries, holy mysteries
which none may violate, or search into, or noise abroad, for the great
curse from the Gods restrains the voice. Happy is he among deathly men
who hath beheld these things! and he that is uninitiate, and hath no lot
in them, hath never equal lot in death beneath the murky gloom.
Now when the Goddess had given instruction in all her rites, they went to
Olympus, to the gathering of the other Gods. There the Goddesses dwell
beside Zeus the lord of the thunder, holy and revered are they. Right
happy is he among mortal men whom they dearly love; speedily do they send
as a guest to his lofty hall Plutus, who giveth wealth to mortal men. But
come thou that holdest the land of fragrant Eleusis, and sea-girt Paros,
and rocky Antron, come, Lady Deo! Queen and giver of goodly gifts, and
bringer of the Seasons; come thou and thy daughter, beautiful Persephone,
and of your grace grant me goodly substance in requital of my song; but I
will mind me of thee, and of other minstrelsy.