Now , although you may not have supposed it , Proserpina found it impossible to take leave of poor King Pluto without some regrets , and a good deal of compunction for not telling him about the pomegranate . She even shed a tear or two , thinking how lonely and cheerless the great palace would seem to him , with all its ugly glare of artificial light , after she herself -- his one little ray of natural sunshine , whom he had stolen , to be sure , but only because he valued her so much -- after she should have departed . I know not how many kind things she might have said to the disconsolate king of the mines , had not Quicksilver hurried her way . `` Come along quickly , '' whispered he in her ear , `` or his majesty may change his royal mind . And take care , above all things , that you say nothing of what was brought you on the golden salver . '' In a very short time , they had passed the great gateway -LRB- leaving the three-headed Cerberus , barking , and yelping , and growling , with threefold din , behind them -RRB- , and emerged upon the surface of the earth . It was delightful to behold , as Proserpina hastened along , how the path grew verdant behind and on either side of her . Wherever she set her blessed foot , there was at once a dewy flower . The violets gushed up along the wayside . The grass and the grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and luxuriance , to make up for the dreary months that had been wasted in barrenness . The starved cattle immediately set to work grazing , after their long fast , and ate enormously , all day , and got up at midnight to eat more . But I can assure you it was a busy time of year with the farmers , when they found the summer coming upon them with such a rush . Nor must I forget to say , that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the newly-blossoming trees , and sang together , in a prodigious ecstasy of joy . Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home , and was sitting disconsolately on the doorstep , with her torch burning in her hand . She had been idly watching the flame for some moments past , when , all at once , it flickered and went out . `` What does this mean ? '' thought she . `` It was an enchanted torch , and should have kept burning till my child came back . '' Lifting her eyes , she was surprised to see a sudden verdure flashing over the brown and barren fields , exactly as you may have observed a golden hue gleaming far and wide across the landscape , from the just risen sun . `` Does the earth disobey me ? ''
exclaimed Mother XXXXX , indignantly .
Cerberus Ceres Proserpina barrenness compunction midnight months salver verdure year