DEM. I had been blinded. Think ye for yourselves ... What vantage were it to mankind at large That one should be immortal,--if all beside Must die and suffer misery as before? CH. Nay, truly. And great envy borne to one So favour'd might have more embitter'd all. DEM. I had been foolish. My sojourn with men 810 Had warpt my mind with mortal tenderness. So, questioning myself what real gift I might bestow on man to help his state, I saw that sorrow was his life-companion, To be embrac't bravely, not weakly shun'd: That as by toil man winneth happiness, Thro' tribulation he must come to peace. How to make sorrow his friend then,--this my task. Here was a mystery ... and how persuade This thorny truth?... Ye do not hearken me. 820 CH. Yea, honour'd goddess, yea, we hearken still: Stint not thy tale. DEM. Ye might not understand. My tale to you must be a tale of deeds-- How first I bade King Keleos build for me A temple in Eleusis, and ordain'd My worship, and the mysteries of my thought; Where in the sorrow that I underwent Man's state is pattern'd; and in picture shewn The way of his salvation.... Now with me --Here is a matter grateful to your ears-- 830 Your lov'd Persephone hath equal honour, And in the spring her festival of flowers: And if she should return ... [_Listening._ Ah! hark! what hear I? CH. We hear no sound. DEM. Hush ye! Hermes: he comes. CH. What hearest thou? DEM. Hermes; and not alone. She is there. 'Tis she: I have won. CH. Where? where? DEM. (_aside_). Ah! can it be that out of sorrow's night, From tears, from yearning pain, from long despair, Into joy's sunlight I shall come again?-- Aside! stand ye aside! 840 _Enter Hermes leading Persephone._ HER. Mighty Demeter, lo! I execute The will of Zeus and here restore thy daughter. DEM. I have won. PER. Sweet Mother, thy embrace is as the welcome Of all the earth, thy kiss the breath of life. DEM. Ah! but to me, Cora! Thy voice again... My tongue is trammel'd with excess of joy. PER. Arise, my nymphs, my Oceanides! My Nereids all, arise! and welcome me! Put off your strange solemnity! arise! 850 CH. Welcome! all welcome, fair Persephone! (1) We came to welcome thee, but fell abash'd Seeing thy purple robe and crystal crown. PER. Arise and serve my pleasure as of yore. DEM. And thou too doff thy strange solemnity, That all may see thee as thou art, my Cora, Restor'd and ever mine. Put off thy crown!