STORIES FROM OVID. I. CERES AND PROSERPINE. How Pluto raught Queen Ceres' daughter thence, ARGUMENT. PROSERPINE is carried off by Pluto. Her mother Ceres wanders about the world in search of her, and at last detects her ravisher. Jupiter gives leave for her return if she have not tasted food in the nether world; but she is found to have swallowed three pomegranate seeds, so is allowed to be above ground only half the year.—(FASTI, IV. 419.) The story is told in the Metamorphoses" (see STORIES FROM OVID in Hexameter Verse, IX.), and by Claudian, "De Raptu Proserpinae." 66 While Ceres and the other goddesses are feasting with Arethusa, Proser pine, with her maidens, is gathering flowers. TERRA tribus scopulis vastum procurrit in aequor 112 Grata domus Cereri : multas ea possidet urbes, Filia consuetis, ut erat, comitata puellis Valle sub umbrosa locus est, aspergine multa Tot fuerant illic, quot habet natura, colores, Quam simul aspexit, "Comites, accedite!" dixit Illa papavereas subsecât ungue comas: B 106 3 115 111 112 119 ¿ 111 108 1124 Has, hyacinthe, tenes, illas, amarante, moraris: Pars thyma, pars rorem, pars meliloton amant. Plurima lecta rosa est, sunt et sine nomine flores ; Ipsa crocos tenues liliaque alba legit. She strays away from her companions, and is seen and carried off by Pluto. Her comrades seek her in vain. 30 Carpendi studio paulatim longius itur, Et dominam casu nulla secuta comes: Hanc videt et visam patruus velociter aufert, Regnaque caeruleis in sua portat equis. Illa quidem clamabat "Io, carissima mater, Auferor!" ipsa suos abscideratque sinus. Panditur interea Diti via; namque diurnum Lumen inassueti vix patiuntur equi. At chorus aequalis, cumulatae flore ministrae, Et feriunt maestae pectora nuda manus. 111 107 1196 Her mother, beside herself with grief, searches all Sicily through, but in vain. 40 50 [nam; 119& 145 Attonita est plangore Ceres,...modo venerat Hen- Si non turbassent signa reperta sues. 127 112 p. 164, V Quacunque ingreditur, miseris loca cuncta querelis 119 & |