32 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



Avord, and the thought filled them with fear. If 

 there should be no food for men, save flesh and 

 fish, they would soon be as wild as they were in 

 the old, old time, and would care naught for the 

 gods. 



" It is hard to have to give up to her whims," 

 said great Zeus ; " but the best that we can do is 

 to fetch Persephone back to her." 



And so he bade Hermes, him who had the 

 winged feet, to go down to the halls of Aidoneus 

 and bring the lost maid back. 



Aidoneus was glad to see Hermes, but he 

 frowned when he learned why he had come. 



" Do you not know the law ? " he asked. 



"What law?" 



" There is a law which none of the gods — no, 

 not yourself, nor even Zeus — can break. I will 

 read it to you." And he took a black book from 

 the shelf on the wall, and, when he had found 

 the place, read these words: 



" That one, he it god or man, maid or child, 

 who tastes food while in the realms of Aidoneus, 

 shall not go out therefrom so long as the world 

 stands." 



Then Hermes asked Persephone if food had 

 passed her lips since the day that Aidoneus had 



