THE FINDING OF PROSERPINE 131 



Ceres was very angry. 



She said that neither grain nor fruit should 

 grow on the earth until Pluto gave back her 

 daughter. 



Then all the earth became brown and bare. 



The cattle died ; the birds hid themselves. 



Men ploughed and sowed, but only thistles 

 and brambles grew. 



At last the people begged mighty Jupiter to 

 help them. 



He heard them, and sent his messenger, Mer- 

 cury, to Hades to bring Proserpine back. 



Now all this time Proserpine had eaten none 

 of the dainties cooked for her in the palace of 

 King Pluto. 



The king was afraid that the little girl would 

 starve. 



So he sent a messenger to earth to bring 

 down some fresh fruit. 



But nothing was growing on the earth at 

 this time, and all they could find was a poor 

 withered pomegranate. 



Proserpine was very fond of this fruit, and 

 when she saw it, she put her little teeth in it 

 and took one bite. 



Alas ! she swallowed six seeds. 



