cried Proserpina , weeping afresh . `` I had a thousand times rather be miserable with remembering my mother , than be happy in forgetting her . That dear , dear mother ! I never , never will forget her . '' `` We shall see , '' said King Pluto . `` You do not know what fine times we will have in my palace . Here we are just at the portal . These pillars are solid gold , I assure you . '' He alighted from the chariot , and taking Proserpina in his arms , carried her up a lofty flight of steps into the great hall of the palace . It was splendidly illuminated by means of large precious stones , of various hues , which seemed to burn like so many lamps , and glowed with a hundred-fold radiance all through the vast apartment . And yet there was a kind of gloom in the midst of this enchanted light ; nor was there a single object in the hall that was really agreeable to behold , except the little Proserpina herself , a lovely child , with one earthly flower which she had not let fall from her hand . It is my opinion that even King Pluto had never been happy in his palace , and that this was the true reason why he had stolen away Proserpina , in order that he might have something to love , instead of cheating his heart any longer with this tiresome magnificence . And , though he pretended to dislike the sunshine of the upper world , yet the effect of the child 's presence , bedimmed as she was by her tears , was as if a faint and watery sunbeam had somehow or other found its way into the enchanted hall . Pluto now summoned his domestics , and bade them lose no time in preparing a most sumptuous banquet , and above all things , not to fail of setting a golden beaker of the water of Lethe by Proserpina 's plate . `` I will neither drink that nor anything else , '' said Proserpina . `` Nor will I taste a morsel of food , even if you keep me forever in your palace . '' `` I should be sorry for that , '' replied King Pluto , patting her cheek ; for he really wished to be kind , if he had only known how . `` You are a spoiled child , I perceive , my little Proserpina ; but when you see the nice things which my cook will make for you , your appetite will quickly come again . '' Then , sending for the head cook , he gave strict orders that all sorts of delicacies , such as young people are usually fond of , should be set before Proserpina . He had a secret motive in this ; for , you are to understand , it is a fixed law , that when persons are carried off to the land of magic , if they once taste any food there , they can never get back to their friends .
Now , if King Pluto had been cunning enough XXXXX offer Proserpina some fruit , or bread and milk -LRB- which was the simple fare to which the child had always been accustomed -RRB- , it is very probable that she would soon have been tempted to eat it .
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