murky darkness, but the [other] two with thee and the other immortals,[1] * * * But come, child, and obey, nor be thou too immoderately wrathful against the dark-clouded son of Saturn. And straightway increase the life-bearing fruit for men."
Thus she spoke, nor did well-crowned Ceres disobey; but she straightway sent forth the fruit from the rich-soiled fields. And all the wide earth was weighed down with leaves and flowers; and she went to the law-administering kings, Triptolemus, and horse-goading Diocles, and the might of Eumolpus, and Celeus, leader of the people, and showed[2] [them] the performance of her sacred rites, and she appointed her hallowed orgies for all, for Triptolemus, and Polyxenius, and moreover, Diocles, which it is in no wise lawful either to neglect, or to inquire into, or mention,[3] for a mighty reverence of the gods restrains the voice. Blest is he of mortal men who has beheld these, for he who is initiated, and he who partakes not[4] in these rites, have by no means the same fortune, although dead, beneath the murky darkness. But when the divine one of goddesses had suggested all, they set out to go to Olympus, to the assembly of the other gods. And here they dwell by thunder-rejoicing Jove, both venerable and revered. Greatly blessed is he, whomsoever of mortal men, they love with a kindly mind, and straightway they send to the hearth of his noble dwelling Plutus, who affords riches to mortal men.
But come,[5] ye who possess the state of incense-fraught Eleusis, and sea-girt Paros, and rocky Antron, hallowed, the giver of glorious gifts, bearer of seasons, queen Ceres, thyself, and thy all-beauteous daughter Proserpine, willingly grant me a pleasant life for my song. But I will be mindful of thee and of another song.
- ↑ I follow Hermann's supplement from vs. 447. The next fragments of lines are a mistaken interpolation from 448—450, as the same scholar observes. But see his whole note.
- ↑ Read δεῐξεν for εἶπε, from Pausanias, Corinth. 14. See Ruhnken.
- ↑ I read οὔτε χανεῖν, with Ilgen, and Burney, note MS., and ἄγος, with Valckenaer.
- ↑ I read ὃς δ' ἀτελὴς ἱερῶν, ὅς τ' ἔμμορος, "dispar conditio initiatorum est et non initiatorum," with Hermann.
- ↑ Read ἀλλ' ἄγ', with Ruhnken.
