ught it advisable that they should remain as they now were； and thus give warning of their cruel dispositions； instead of going about under the guise of men； and pretending to human sympathies； while their hearts had the blood… thirstiness of wild beasts。 So he let them howl as much as they liked； but never troubled his head about them。 And； when everything was settled according to his pleasure； he sent to summon the remainder of his comrades； whom he had left at the sea…shore。 These being arrived； with the prudent Eurylochus at their head； they all made themselves comfortable in Circe's enchanted palace； until quite rested and refreshed from the toils and hardships of their voyage。
THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS。
Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina； and seldom let her go alone into the fields。 But； just at the time when my story begins； the good lady was very busy； because she had the care of the wheat； and the Indian corn； and the rye and barley and； in short； of the crops of every kind； all over the earth； and as the season had thus far been uncommonly backward； it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more speedily than usual。 So she put on her turban； made of poppies （a kind of flower which she was always noted for wearing）； and got into her car drawn by a pair of winged dragons； and was just ready to set off。
〃Dear mother；〃 said Proserpina； 〃I shall be very lonely while you are away。 May I not run down to the shore； and ask some of the sea nymphs to come up out of the waves and play with me？〃
〃Yes； child；〃 answered Mother Ceres。 〃The sea nymphs are good creatures； and will never lead you into any harm。 But you must take care not to stray away from them； nor go wandering about the fields by yourself。 Young girls； without their mothers to take care of them； are very apt to get into mischief。〃
The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown…up woman； and； by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight； she was already on the shore； calling to the sea nymphs to come and play with her。 They knew Proserpina's voice； and were not long in showing their glistening faces and sea…green hair above the water； at the bottom of which was their home。 They brought along with them a great many beautiful shells； and sitting down on the moist sand； where the surf wave broke over them； they busied themselves in making a necklace； which they hung round Proserpina's neck。 By way of showing her gratitude； the child besought them to go with her a little way into the fields； so that they might gather abundance of flowers； with which she would make each of her kind playmates a wreath。
〃O no； dear Proserpina；〃 cried the sea nymphs； 〃we dare not go with you upon the dry land。 We are apt to grow faint； unless at every breath we can snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean。 And don't you see how careful we are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two； so as to keep ourselves comfortably moist？ If it were not for that； we should look like bunches of uprooted seaweed dried in the sun。
〃It is a great pity；〃 said Proserpina。 〃But do you wait for me here； and I will run and gather my apron full of flowers； and be back again before the surf wave has broken ten times over you。 I long to make you some wreaths that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells。〃
〃We will wait； then；〃 answered the sea nymphs。 〃But while you are gone； we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water。 The air to…day is a little too dry for our comfort。 But we will pop up our heads every few minutes to see if you are coming。〃
The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where； only the day before； she had seen a great many flowers。 These； however； were now a little past their bloom； and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest blossoms； she strayed farther into the fields； and found some that made her scream with delight。 Never had she met with such exquisite flowers beforeviolets so large and fragrantroses with so rich and delicate a blushsuch superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinksand many others； some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors。 Two or three times； moreover； she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes； as if on purpose to tempt her a few steps farther。 Proserpina's apron was soon filled； and brimming over with delightful blossoms。 She was on the point of turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs； and sit with them on the moist sands； all twining wreaths together。 But； a little farther on； what should she behold？ It was a large shrub； completely covered with the most magnificent flowers in the world。
〃The darlings！〃 cried Proserpina； and then she thought to herself； 〃I was looking at that spot only a moment ago。 How strange it is that I did not see the flowers！〃
The nearer she approached the shrub； the more attractive it looked； until she came quite close to it； and then； although its beauty was richer than words can tell； she hardly knew whether to like it or not。 It bore above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues； and each different from the others； but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves； which showed them to be sister blossoms。 But there was a deep； glossy luster on the leaves of the shrub； and on the petals of the flowers； that made Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous。 To tell you the truth； foolish as it may seem； she was half inclined to turn round and run away。
〃What a silly child I am！〃 thought she； taking courage。 〃It is really the most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth。 I will pull it up by the roots； and carry it home； and plant it in my mother's garden。〃
Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand； Proserpina seized the large shrub with the other； and pulled； and pulled； but was hardly able to loosen the soil about its roots。 What a deep…rooted plant it was！ Again the girl pulled with all her might； and observed that the earth began to stir and crack to some distance around the stem。 She gave another pull； but relaxed her hold； fancying that there was a rumbling sound right beneath her feet。 Did the roots extend down into some enchanted cavern？ Then laughing at herself for so childish a notion； she made another effort： up came the shrub； and Proserpina staggered back； holding the stem triumphantly in her hand； and gazing at the deep hole which its roots had left in the soil。
Much to her astonishment； this hole kept spreading wider and wider； and growing deeper and deeper； until it really seemed to have no bottom； and all the while； there came a rumbling noise out of its depths； louder and louder； and nearer and nearer； and sounding like the tramp of horses' hoofs and the rattling of wheels。 Too much frightened to run away； she stood straining her eyes into this wonderful cavity； and soon saw a team of four sable horses； snorting smoke out of their nostrils； and tearing their way out of the earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling at their heels。 They leaped out of the bottomless hole； chariot and all； and there they were； tossing their black manes； flourishing their black tails； and curvetting with every one of their hoofs off the ground at once； close by the spot where Proserpina stood。 In the chariot sat the figure of a man； richly dressed； with a crown on his head； all flaming with diamonds。 He was of a noble aspect； and rather handsome； but looked sullen and discontented； and he kept rubbing his eyes and shading them with his hand； as if he did not live enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its light。
As soon as this personage saw the affrighted Proserpina； he beckoned her to come a little nearer。
〃Do not be afraid；〃 said he； with as cheerful a smile as he knew how to put on。 〃Come！ Will you not like to ride a little way with me； in my beautiful chariot？〃
But Proserpina was so alarmed； that she wished for nothing but to get out of his reach。 And no wonder。 The stranger did not look remarkably good…natured； in spite of his smile； and as for his voice； its tones were deep and stern； and sounded as much like the rumbling of an earthquake underground than anything else。 As is always the case with children in trouble； Proserpina's first thought was to call for her mother。
〃Mother； Mother Ceres！〃 cried she； all in a tremble。 〃Come quickly and save me。〃
But her voice was too faint for her mother to hear。 Indeed； it is most probable that Ceres was then a thousand miles off； making the corn grow in some far distant country。 Nor could it have availed her poor daughter； even had she been within hearing； for no sooner did Proserpina begin to cry out； than the stranger leaped to the ground； caught the child in his arms； and again mounted the chariot； shook the reins； and shouted to the four black horses to set off。 They immediately broke into so swift a gallop； that it seemed rather like flying through the air than running along the earth。 In a moment； Proserpina lost sight of the pleasant vale of Enna； in which she had always dwelt。 Another instant； and even the summit of Mount Aetna had become so blue in the distance； that she could scarcely distinguish it from the smoke that gushed out of its crater。 But still the poor child screamed； and scattered her apron full of flowers along the way； and left a long cry trailing behind the chariot； and many mothers； to whose ears it came； ran quickly to see if any mischief had befallen their children。 But Mother Ceres was a great way off； and could not hear the cry。
As they rode on； the stranger did his best to soothe her。
〃Why should you be so frightened； my pretty child？〃 said he； trying to soften his rough voice。 〃I promise not to do you any harm。 What！ you have been gathering flowers？ Wait till we come to my palace； and I will give you a garden full of prettier flowers than those； all made of pearls； and diamonds； and rubies。 Can you guess who I am？ They call my name Pluto； and I am the king of diamonds and all other precious stones。 Every atom of the gold and silver that lies under the earth belongs to me； to say nothing of the copper and iron； and of the coal mines； which supply me with abundance of f