to me? You little know the mischief you have
done him. Had you left him to my care, he
would have grown up like a child of celestial
birth, endowed, with superhuman strength and
intelligence, and would have lived forever. Do
you imagine that earthly children are to become
immortal without being tempered to it in the
fiercest heat of the fire? But you have ruined
your own son. For though he will be a strong
man and a hero in his day, yet, on account of
your folly, he will grow old, and finally die, like
the sons of other women. The weak tender-
ness of his mother has cost the poor boy an
immortality. Farewell."

Saying these words, she kissed the little Prince
Demophoon, and sighed to think what he had
lost, and took her departure without heeding
Queen Metanira, who entreated her to remain,
and cover up the child among the hot embers as
often as she pleased. Poor baby! He never
slept so warmly again.

While she dwelt in the king's palace, Mother
Ceres had been so continually occupied with
taking care of the young prince, that her heart
was a little lightened of its grief for Proserpina.

[[255]]

p254 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p255w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p256

v?