Hymn 2 — To Demeter

I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess — of her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away, given to him by all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer. Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl.

It was a marvellous thing, shining for all, for the undying gods and for mortal men. From its root grew a hundred blooms and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands to take the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there in the plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal horses sprang out upon her.

He who receives many guests seized her perforce against her will on his golden car and drove away lamenting. Then she cried out shrilly with her voice, calling upon her father, the Son of Cronos, who is most able. But no one, either of the undying gods or of mortal men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only tender-hearted Hecate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of Persaeus, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios, Hyperion's bright son.

So long as the goddess Demeter looked upon the earth and starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and upon the rays of the sun, she still hoped to see her dear mother and the ranks of the undying gods. But pain still more cruel came into her heart, and she roved over the dry land and the sea long time in her sorrow.

And the bright-coiffed Hecate came near to her, and often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that time the lady Hecate was minister and companion to Persephone. Then all-seeing Zeus, the loud-thunderer, sent a messenger to her, rich-haired Demeter, to bring her back amongst the family of the gods: and Hermes, the sure guide, the slayer of Argos, obeyed him.

But Demeter did not refuse and straightway performed her office for the holy tribe of the eternal gods. She sent up grain from the rich glebe. And the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers. Then she went, and to the kings who deal justice, Triptolemus and Diocles, the horse-driver, and to doughty Eumolpus and Celeus, leader of the people, she showed the conduct of her rites and taught them all her mysteries, to Triptolemus and Polyxeinus and Diocles also.

Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries; but he who is uninitiate and who has no part in them, never has lot of like good things once he is dead, down in the darkness and gloom. I sing to you, O Goddess, Queen of fragrant Eleusis, and of the sea-girt isles. Yours is the power of giving or withholding the gifts of the grain-giving earth.