Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/455

248—284. the strange woman is concealing thee in a great fire, but to me she causes groans and grievous sorrows." Thus she spoke, weeping, and the divine one of goddesses heard her. But fair-crowned Ceres, enraged with her, put from her to the ground with her immortal hands the dear son, whom, unhoped-for, she had brought forth in the palace, having taken him out of the fire, being very wrathful in mind, and at the same time she addressed well-girt Metaneira:

"Ignorant and unwise men, who neither foresee the destiny of coming good nor evil! And thou, too, by thy folly hast erred most greatly. For let the pledge of the gods bear witness, the water of the Styx that yields no forgiveness, I would have made thy dear son immortal and free from age for all days, and would have afforded him unperishing honour. But now it is not possible for him to escape death and the Fates; but unperishing honour shall always be his, because he has sat upon my knees, and slept in mine arms. But when he is of age, in revolving years, the sons of the Eleusinians will ever throughout all days stir up battle and grievous conflict among each other. But I am honoured Ceres, who is the greatest benefit and joy to immortals and mortals. But come, let all the people build for me a great temple, and under it an altar, below the city and the lofty wall, above Callichorus, upon the jutting hill. But I myself will teach my orgies, so that hereafter, performing them holily, ye may appease my mind."

Thus having spoken, the goddess changed her magnitude and mien, having put off old age, and beauty was breathed around her, and a pleasant odour was scattered from her scented robes, and far gleamed the light from the immortal flesh of the goddess, and her yellow curls flourished on her shoulders, and the close dwelling was filled with the sheen, as of lightning. And she went out from the palace. But straightway the knees [of Metaneira] were relaxed, and for a long time she became speechless, nor did she at all bethink her of her darling son, to take him up from the ground. But his sisters heard his piteous voice, and they leaped up from their well-spread couches. One then, taking up the boy in