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chasm that he had made。
As Persephone stooped to pluck the wonder flower； Aidoneus； in his
chariot of iron； dashed up through the chasm； and grasping the maiden by
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
the waist； set her beside him。 Only Cyane； the nymph； tried to save
Persephone； and it was then that she caught the girdle in her hands。
The maiden cried out； first because her flowers had been spilled； and
then because she was being reft away。 She cried out to her mother； and her
cry went over high mountains and sounded up from the sea。 The daughters
of Ocean； affrighted； fled and sank down into the depths of the sea。
In his great chariot of iron that was drawn by black steeds Aidoneus
rushed down through the chasm he had made。 Into the Underworld he
went； and he dashed across the River Styx； and he brought his chariot up
beside his throne。 And on his dark throne he seated Persephone； the
fainting daughter of Demeter。
III
No more did the Goddess Demeter give grain to men； no more did she
bless their fields： weeds grew where grain had been growing； and men
feared that in a while they would famish for lack of bread。
She wandered through the world； her thought all upon her child；
Persephone； who had been taken from her。 Once she sat by a well by a
wayside； thinking upon the child that she might not come to and who
might not come to her。
She saw four maidens come near； their grace and their youth reminded
her of her child。 They stepped lightly along； carrying bronze pitchers in
their hands； for they were coming to the Well of the Maiden beside which
Demeter sat。
The maidens thought when they looked upon her that the goddess was
some ancient woman who had a sorrow in her heart。 Seeing that she was
so noble and so sorrowful…looking； the maidens； as they drew the clear
water into their pitchers； spoke kindly to her。
〃Why do you stay away from the town； old mother？〃 one of the
maidens said。 〃Why do you not come to the houses？ We think that you
look as if you were shelterless and alone； and we should like to tell you
that there are many houses in the town where you would be welcomed。〃
Demeter's heart went out to the maidens； because they looked so
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
young and fair and simple and spoke out of such kind hearts。 She said to
them： 〃Where can I go； dear children？ My people are far away； and there
are none in all the world who would care to be near me。〃
Said one of the maidens： 〃There are princes in the land who would
welcome you in their houses if you would consent to nurse one of their
young children。 But why do I speak of other princes beside Celeus； our
father？ In his house you would indeed have a welcome。 But lately a baby
has been born to our mother； Metaneira； and she would greatly rejoice to
have one as wise as you mind little Demophoon。〃
All the time that she watched them and listened to their voices
Demeter felt that the grace and youth of the maidens made them like
Persephone。 She thought that it would ease her heart to be in the house
where these maidens were； and she was not loath to have them go and ask
of their mother to have her come to nurse the infant child。
Swiftly they ran back to their home； their hair streaming behind them
like crocus flowers； kind and lovely girls whose names are well
rememberedCallidice and Cleisidice； Demo and Callithoe。 They went to
their mother and they told her of the stranger…woman whose name was
Doso。 She would make a wise and a kind nurse for little Demophoon； they
said。 Their mother； Metaneira； rose up from the couch she was sitting on to
welcome the stranger。 But when she saw her at the doorway； awe came
over her； so majestic she seemed。
Metaneira would have her seat herself on the couch but the goddess
took the lowliest stool； saying in greeting： 〃May the gods give you all
good； lady。〃
〃Sorrow has set you wandering from your good home；〃 said Metaneira
to the goddess； 〃but now that you have come to this place you shall have
all that this house can bestow if you will rear up to youth the infant
Demophoon； child of many hopes and prayers。〃
The child was put into the arms of Demeter； she clasped him to her
breast； and little Demophoon looked up into her face and smiled。 Then
Demeter's heart went out to the child and to all who were in the household。
He grew in strength and beauty in her charge。 And little Demophoon
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was not nourished as other children are nourished； but even as the gods in
their childhood were nourished。 Demeter fed him on ambrosia； breathing
on him with her divine breath the while。 And at night she laid him on the
hearth； amongst the embers； with the fire all around him。 This she did that
she might make him immortal； and like to the gods。
But one night Metaneira looked out from the chamber where she lay；
and she saw the nurse take little Demopho 鰊 and lay him in a place on
the hearth with the burning brands all around him。 Then Metaneira started
up； and she sprang to the hearth； and she snatched the child from beside
the burning brands。 〃Demopho 鰊； my son；〃 she cried； 〃what would this
strangerwoman do to you； bringing bitter grief to me that ever I let her
take you in her arms？〃
Then said Demeter： 〃Foolish indeed are you mortals； and not able to
foresee what is to come to you of good or of evil；〃
〃Foolish indeed are you； Metaneira； for in your heedlessness you have
cut off this child from an immortality like to the immortality of the gods
themselves。 For he had lain in my bosom and had become dear to me and I
would have bestowed upon him the greatest gift that the Divine Ones can
bestow； for I would have made him deathless and unaging。 All this； now；
has gone by。 Honor he shall have indeed； but Demophoon will know age
and death。〃
The seeming old age that was upon her had fallen f