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Goddess! how I pity thee!
    Ino.
At night upon high Etna's topmost peak She lights two flames, that shining through the isle Leave dark no wood, or cave, or mountain path, Their sunlike splendour makes the moon-beams dim, And the bright stars are lost within their day. She's in yon field,--she comes towards this plain, Her loosened hair has fallen on her neck, Uncircled by the coronal of grain:-- Her cheeks are wan,--her step is faint & slow.
    Enter Ceres.
    Cer.
I faint with weariness: a dreadful thirst Possesses me! Must I give up the search? Oh! never, dearest Proserpine, until I once more clasp thee in my vacant arms! Help me, dear Arethuse! fill some deep shell With the clear waters of thine ice-cold spring, And bring it me;--I faint with heat and thirst.
    Areth.
My words are better than my freshest waves[:] I saw your Proserpine-- [19]
    Cer.
Arethusa, where? Tell me! my heart beats quick, & hope and fear Cause my weak limbs to fail me.--
    Areth.
Sit, Goddess, Upon this mossy bank, beneath the shade Of this tall rock, and I will tell my tale. The day you lost your child, I left my source. With my Alpheus I had wandered down The sloping shore into the sunbright sea; And at the coast we paused, watching the waves Of our mixed waters dance into the main:-- When suddenly I heard the thundering tread Of iron hoofed steeds trampling the ground, And a faint shriek that made my blood run cold. I saw the King of Hell in his black car, And in his arms he bore your fairest child, Fair as the moon encircled by the night,-- But that she strove, and cast her arms aloft, And cried, "My Mother!"--When she saw me near She would have sprung from his detested arms, And with a tone of deepest grief, she cried, "Oh, Arethuse!" I hastened at her call-- But Pluto when he saw that aid was nigh, Struck furiously the green earth with his spear, Which yawned,--and down the deep Tartarian gulph [20] His black car rolled--the green earth closed above.
    Cer.
(
starting up
) Is this thy doom, great Jove? & shall Hell's king Quitting dark Tartarus, spread grief and tears Among the dwellers of your bright abodes? Then let him seize the earth itself, the stars,-- And all your wide dominion be his prey!-- Your sister calls upon your love, great King! As you are God I do demand your help!-- Restore my child, or let all heaven sink, And the fair world be chaos once again!
    Ino.
Look[!] in the East that loveliest bow is formed[;] Heaven's single-arched bridge, it touches now The Earth, and 'mid the pathless wastes of heaven It paves a way for Jove's fair Messenger;-- Iris descends, and towards this field she comes.
    Areth.
Sovereign of Harvests, 'tis the Messenger That will bring joy to thee. Thine eyes light up With sparkling hope, thy cheeks are pale with dread.
    Enter Iris.
    Cer.
Speak, heavenly Iris! let thy words be poured Into my drooping soul, like dews of eve On a too long parched field.--Where is my Proserpine?
    Iris.
Sister of Heaven, as by Joves throne I stood [21] The voice of thy deep prayer arose,--it filled The heavenly courts with sorrow and dismay: The Thunderer frowned, & heaven shook with dread I bear his will to thee, 'tis fixed by fate, Nor prayer nor murmur e'er can alter it. If Proserpine while she has lived in hell Has not polluted by Tartarian food Her heavenly essence, then she may return, And wander without fear on Enna's plain, Or take her seat among the Gods above. If she has touched the fruits of Erebus, She never may return to upper air, But doomed to dwell amidst the shades of death, The wife of Pluto and the Queen of Hell.
    Cer.
Joy treads upon the sluggish heels of care! The child of heaven disdains Tartarian food. Pluto[,] give up thy prey! restore my child!
    Iris.
Soon she will see again the sun of Heaven, By gloomy shapes, inhabitants of Hell, Attended, and again behold the field Of Enna, the fair flowers & the streams, Her late delight,--& more than all, her Mother.
    Ino.
Our much-loved, long-lost Mistress, do you come? And