all　that　lives　and　moves　and　shall　have　the　greatest　rights　among　the　deathless　gods：　those　who　defraud　you　and　do　not　appease　your　power　with　offerings；　reverently　performing　rites　and　paying　fit　gifts；　shall　be　punished　for　evermore。'
  （ll。　370…383）　When　he　said　this；　wise　Persephone　was　filled　with　joy　and　hastily　sprang　up　for　gladness。　　But　he　on　his　part　secretly　gave　her　sweet　pomegranate　seed　to　eat；　taking　care　for　himself　that　she　might　not　remain　continually　with　grave；　dark…　robed　Demeter。　　Then　Aidoneus　the　Ruler　of　Many　openly　got　ready　his　deathless　horses　beneath　the　golden　chariot。　　And　she　mounted　on　the　chariot；　and　the　strong　Slayer　of　Argos　took　reins　and　whip　in　his　dear　hands　and　drove　forth　from　the　hall；　the　horses　speeding　readily。　　Swiftly　they　traversed　their　long　course；　and　neither　the　sea　nor　river…waters　nor　grassy　glens　nor　mountain…　peaks　checked　the　career　of　the　immortal　horses；　but　they　clave　the　deep　air　above　them　as　they　went。　　And　Hermes　brought　them　to　the　place　where　rich…crowned　Demeter　was　staying　and　checked　them　before　her　fragrant　temple。
  （ll。　384…404）　And　when　Demeter　saw　them；　she　rushed　forth　as　does　a　Maenad　down　some　thick…wooded　mountain；　while　Persephone　on　the　other　side；　when　she　saw　her　mother's　sweet　eyes；　left　the　chariot　and　horses；　and　leaped　down　to　run　to　her；　and　falling　upon　her　neck；　embraced　her。　　But　while　Demeter　was　still　holding　her　dear　child　in　her　arms；　her　heart　suddenly　misgave　her　for　some　snare；　so　that　she　feared　greatly　and　ceased　fondling　her　daughter　and　asked　of　her　at　once：　　‘My　child；　tell　me；　surely　you　have　not　tasted　any　food　while　you　were　below？　　Speak　out　and　hide　nothing；　but　let　us　both　know。　　For　if　you　have　not；　you　shall　come　back　from　loathly　Hades　and　live　with　me　and　your　father；　the　dark…clouded　Son　of　Cronos　and　be　honoured　by　all　the　deathless　gods；　but　if　you　have　tasted　food；　you　must　go　back　again　beneath　the　secret　places　of　the　earth；　there　to　dwell　a　third　part　of　the　seasons　every　year：　yet　for　the　two　parts　you　shall　be　with　me　and　the　other　deathless　gods。　　But　when　the　earth　shall　bloom　with　the　fragrant　flowers　of　spring　in　every　kind；　then　from　the　realm　of　darkness　and　gloom　thou　shalt　come　up　once　more　to　be　a　wonder　for　gods　and　mortal　men。　　And　now　tell　me　how　he　rapt　you　away　to　the　realm　of　darkness　and　gloom；　and　by　what　trick　did　the　strong　Host　of　Many　beguile　you？'
  （ll。　405…433）　Then　beautiful　Persephone　answered　her　thus：　'Mother；　I　will　tell　you　all　without　error。　　When　luck…bringing　Hermes　came；　swift　messenger　from　my　father　the　Son　of　Cronos　and　the　other　Sons　of　Heaven；　bidding　me　come　back　from　Erebus　that　you　might　see　me　with　your　eyes　and　so　cease　from　your　anger　and　fearful　wrath　against　the　gods；　I　sprang　up　at　once　for　joy；　but　he　secretly　put　in　my　mouth　sweet　food；　a　pomegranate　seed；　and　forced　me　to　taste　against　my　will。　　Also　I　will　tell　how　he　rapt　me　away　by　the　deep　plan　of　my　father　the　Son　of　Cronos　and　carried　me　off　beneath　the　depths　of　the　earth；　and　will　relate　the　whole　matter　as　you　ask。　　All　we　were　playing　in　a　lovely　meadow；　Leucippe　（9）　and　Phaeno　and　Electra　and　Ianthe；　Melita　also　and　Iache　with　Rhodea　and　Callirhoe　and　Melobosis　and　Tyche　and　Ocyrhoe；　fair　as　a　flower；　Chryseis；　Ianeira；　Acaste　and　Admete　and　Rhodope　and　Pluto　and　charming　Calypso；　Styx　too　was　there　and　Urania　and　lovely　Galaxaura　with　Pallas　who　rouses　battles　and　Artemis　delighting　in　arrows：　we　were　playing　and　gathering　sweet　flowers　in　our　hands；　soft　crocuses　mingled　with　irises　and　hyacinths；　and　rose…blooms　and　lilies；　marvellous　to　see；　and　the　narcissus　which　the　wide　earth　caused　to　grow　yellow　as　a　crocus。　　That　I　plucked　in　my　joy；　but　the　earth　parted　beneath；　and　there　the　strong　lord；　the　Host　of　Many；　sprang　forth　and　in　his　golden　chariot　he　bore　me　away；　all　unwilling；　beneath　the　earth：　then　I　cried　with　a　shrill　cry。　　All　this　is　true；　sore　though　it　grieves　me　to　tell　the　tale。'
  （ll。　434…437）　So　did　they　turn；　with　hearts　at　one；　greatly　cheer　each　the　other's　soul　and　spirit　with　many　an　embrace：　their　heart　had　relief　from　their　griefs　while　each　took　and　gave　back　joyousness。
  （ll。　438…440）　Then　bright…coiffed　Hecate　came　near　to　them；　and　often　did　she　embrace　the　daughter　of　holy　Demeter：　and　from　that　time　the　lady　Hecate　was　minister　and　companion　to　Persephone。
  （ll。　441…459）　And　all…seeing　Zeus　sent　a　messenger　to　them；　rich…　haired　Rhea；　to　bring　dark…cloaked　Demeter　to　join　the　families　of　the　gods：　and　he　promised　to　give　her　what　right　she　should　choose　among　the　deathless　gods　and　agreed　that　her　daughter　should　go　down　for　the　third　part　of　the　circling　year　to　darkness　and　gloom；　but　for　the　two　parts　should　live　with　her　mother　and　the　other　deathless　gods。　　Thus　he　commanded。　　And　the　goddess　did　not　disobey　the　message　of　Zeus；　swiftly　she　rushed　down　from　the　peaks　of　Olympus　and　came　to　the　plain　of　Rharus；　rich；　fertile　corn…land　once；　but　then　in　nowise　fruitful；　for　it　lay　idle　and　utterly　leafless；　because　the　white　grains　was　hidden　by　design　of　trim…ankled　Demeter。　　But　afterwards；　as　springtime　waxed；　it　was　soon　to　be　waving　with　long　ears　of　corn；　and　its　rich　furrows　to　be　loaded　with　grain　upon　the　ground；　while　others　would　already　be　bound　in　sheaves。　　There　first　she　landed　from　the　fruitless　upper　air：　and　glad　were　the　goddesses　to　see　each　other　and　cheered　in　heart。　　Then　bright…　coiffed　Rhea　said　to　Demeter：
  （ll。　460…469）　‘Come；　my　daughter；　for　far…seeing　Zeus　the　loud…　thunderer　calls　you　to　join　the　families　of　the　gods；　and　has　promised　to　give　you　what　rights　you　please　among　the　deathless　gods；　and　has　agreed　that　for　a　third　part　of　the　circling　year　your　daughter　shall　go　down　to　darkness　and　gloom；　but　for　the　two　parts　shall　be　with　you　and　the　other　deathless　gods：　so　has　he　declared　it　shall　be　and　has　bowed　his　head　in　token。　　But　come；　my　child；　obey；　and　be　not　too　angry　unrelentingly　with　the　dark…clouded　Son　of　Cronos；　but　rather　increase　forthwith　for　men　the　fruit　that　gives　them　life。'
  （ll。　470…482）　So　spake　Rhea。　　And　rich…crowned　Demeter　did　not　refuse　but　straightway　made　fruit　to　spring　up　from　the　rich　lands；　so　that　the　whole　wide　earth　was　laden　with　leaves　and　flowers。　　Then　she　went；　and　to　the　kings　who　deal　justice；　Triptolemus　and　Diocles；　the　horse…driver；　and　to　doughty　Eumolpus　and　Celeus；　leader　of　the　people；　she　showed　the　conduct　of　her　rites　and　taught　them　all　her　mysteries；　to　Triptolemus　and　Polyxeinus　and　Diocles　also；　　awful　mysteries　which　no　one　may　in　any　way　transgress　or　pry　into　or　utter；　for　deep　awe　of　the　gods　checks　the　voice。　　Happy　is　he　among　men　upon　earth　who　has　seen　these　mysteries；　but　he　who　is　uninitiate　and　who　has　no　part　in　them；　never　has　lot　of　like　good　things　once　he　is　dead；　down　in　the　darkness　and　gloom。
  （ll。　483…489）　But　when　the　bright　goddess　had　taught　them　all；　they　went　to　Olympus　to　the　gathering　of　the　other　gods。　　And
  there　they　dwell　beside　Zeus　who　delights　in　thunder；　awful　and　reverend　goddesses。　　Right　blessed　is　he　among　men　on　earth　whom　they　freely　love：　soon　they　do　send　Plutus　as　guest　to　his　great　house；　Plutus　who　gives　wealth　to　mortal　men。
  （ll。　490…495）　And　now；　queen　of　the　land　of　sweet　Eleusis　and　sea…girt　Paros　and　rocky　Antron；　lady；　giver　of　good　gifts；　bringer　of　seasons；　queen　Deo；　be　gracious；　you　and　your　daughter　all　beauteous　Persephone；　and　for　my　song　grant　me　heart…cheering　substance。　　And　now　I　will　remember　you　and　another　song　also。
  III。　TO　APOLLO　（546　lines）
  TO　DELIAN　APOLLO
  （ll。　1…18）　I　will　remember　and　not　be　unmindful　of　Apollo　who　shoots　afar。　　As　he　goes　through　the　house　of　Zeus；　the　gods　tremble　before　him　and　all　spring　up　from　their　seats　when　he　draws　near；　as　he　bends　his　bright　bow。　　But　Leto　alone　stays　by　the　side　of　Zeus　who　delights　in　thunder；　and　then　she　unstrings　his　bow；　and　closes　his　quiver；　and　takes　his　archery　from　his　strong　shoulders　in　her　hands　and　hangs　them　on　a　golden　peg　against　a　pillar　of　his　father's　house。　　Then　she　leads　him　to　a　seat　and　makes　him　sit：　and　the　Father　gives　him　nectar　in　a　golden　cup　welcoming　his　dear　son；　while　the　other　gods　make　him　sit　down　there；　and　queenly　Leto　rejoices　because　she　bare　a　mighty　son　and　an　archer。　　Rejoice；　blessed　Leto；　for　you　bare　glorious　children；　the　lord　Apollo　and　Artemis　who　delights　in　arrows；　her　in　Ortygia；　and　him　in　rocky　Delos；　as　you　rested　against　the　great　mass　of　the　Cynthian　hill　hard　by　a　palm…tree　by　the　streams　of　Inopus。
  （ll。　19…29）　How；　then；　shall　I　sing　of　you　who　in　all　ways　are　a　worthy　theme　of　song？　　For　everywhere；　O　Phoebus；　the　whole　range　of　song　is　fallen　to　you；　both　over　the　mainland　that　rears　heifers　and　over　the　isles。　　All　mountain…peaks　and　high　headlands　of　lofty　hills　and　rivers　flowing　out　to　the　deep　and　beaches　sloping　seawards　and　havens　of　the　sea　are　your　delight。　　Shall　I　sing　how　at　the　first　Leto　bare　you　to　be　the　joy　of　men；　as　she　rested　against　Mount　Cynthus　in　that　rocky　isle；　in　sea…　girt　Delos　　while　on　either　hand　a　dark　wave　rolled　on　landwards　driven　by　shrill　winds　　whence　arising　you　rule　over　all　mortal　men？
  （ll。　30…50）　Among　those　who　are　in