Long ago, before the seasons existed, there was a young woman named Proserpina. She was cheerful, curious and innocent, but soon, that all would change. One day, at about noon, Proserpina went wandering on the seashore with the sea nymphs. Her mother begged Proserpina to stay close to the sea nymphs, as they would keep her safe. Despite her mother’s best attempts, Proserpina wandered into the fields to pick flowers without the safety of the sea nymphs. One of the shrubs was very beautiful and grew new blossoms upon being looked at.
It was so marvelous Proserpina decided to pull the shrub and bring it home for her mother. As Proserpina pulled the shrub a hole started to form in the ground, it grew wider and wider until suddenly, at once, a man emerged. This man called himself Pluto, he claimed to be the king of diamonds and all precious stones. Pluto was very handsome and said to Proserpina, “Do not fear me, come with me in my beautiful chariot! ” Proserpina hesitated, and decided she should stay put, as Pluto did not seem very trustworthy. In a flash, she was in Pluto’s arms and descending into the deep and dark hole.
He brought Proserpina to his dominions, which was overcast and gloomy. First, at a big iron gate, Proserpina saw a strange dog, which had three heads. Then, in the distance, up a wooded path, she saw a mansion, as they approached closer it looked dark and scary. Finally, as she looked around more, she noticed that there was nobody around. “I do not see any others,” Proserpina said, “Don’t you get lonely out here by yourself? ” Pluto glanced at Proserpina and did not say a word. Finally, Pluto responded, “Yes, you see, this is why I need you, my dear. Immediately, upon arriving at Pluto’s mansion, Proserpina is locked away in a room. This room isn’t as dark and scary as the rest of the mansion, in fact it was very nice. There are beautiful murals painted throughout the room. Bright colors were used to paint each of the murals and all were done in great detail. She sat on the edge of the bed and bounced a couple of times, she was surprised that it was so comfortable. She than ran her hand across the bedding, it was made of the finest material with big fluffy pillows scattered all over.
As she sat on the edge of the bed she noticed a window at the back the room. She ran to look out, as she looked below she saw a spectacular garden. The garden was filled with flowers of every color. As she stared out the window, tears ran down her cheek as she thought about her mother and the beautiful fields filled with colorful flowers back home. Life at the mansion was quite lonely. She spends her days alone looking out the window at the flowers and admires the painted murals. Proserpina is taken out of her room only once a day around lunch time.
This is the only time Pluto would try to feed her. “Come out my dear, my chef has prepared a delicious meal for you! ” Pluto said. “Thank you. ” Proserpina said quietly and walked behind him to the table looking down the entire time. “Please,” Pluto begged, “eat a bite of food. ” “I shall never eat one bite of food as long as I am in this mansion! ” Proserpina angrily shouted, “I will die before I forget my mother and am trapped here forever. ” As time went on, Pluto realizes that he cannot force Proserpina to love him, and keeping her at the mansion is just causing her pain.
In order to persuade Pluto to return Proserpina to her mother, the gods sent Quicksiver, to Pluto’s dominion. Unwilling to give up, Pluto tried one last time to offer Proserpina a bite, of something to eat, which she kindly declined. All Proserpina longed for was fruit, from her mother’s own garden, and so, that is what Pluto searched for. But, sadly, all he could find was a withered old pomegranate, which he eagerly presented it to her. Proserpina knew she could not eat the pomegranate, so she decided to just smell it, but, before she knew it her teeth were sinking into the withered fruit’s flesh.
Subsequently, after Proserpina tasted to pomegranate, Quicksilver took Proserpina and brought her above ground. With every step she took the grass and grain grew, and all the animals in the land came to feast upon the green, freshly grown, food they had been without since Proserpina was gone. Proserpina began to cry with joy as she saw her mother, hopelessly sitting on the doorstep of their home. “Proserpina! ” she shouted joyously, with tears in her eyes. “My child, did you taste even a morsel of food while in King Pluto’s mansion? ” “Mother,” cried Proserpina. I will be honest, and tell you the whole truth. For 6 months, I did not take even a bite of food, until this morning. They brought me a pomegranate, I had not seen fruit in so long, I could not resist it. I was just going to smell it, but next thing I knew my teeth were in it’s flesh! I did not swallow a morsel, but, I am afraid, six of the pomegranate seeds remained in my mouth. ” “Unfortunately my child,” exclaimed Ceres. “For each of the six pomegranate seeds that were in your mouth, you must spend one month of every year in King Pluto’s mansion”.
You are only half restored to your mother, six months with me, and six months with King Pluto, for the rest of your life. ” Accordingly, after six months with her mother, it was time for Proserpina to return with Pluto. She returned to the spot where the beautiful shrub grew, once again, when pulling the shrub, a hole formed, and Pluto emerged. Proserpina was brought back to the mansion, it appeared the same as before, dark and lonely. But, this time Proserpina was not locked in a room, she had more freedom and was allowed to walk about the mansion.
Proserpina was also allowed outside of the palace once a day, for meals, but only with Pluto’s guidance. This is also the time she could take go visit with her dearest mother, Ceres. One day, Proserpina decided she would try and converse with Pluto. “Hello,” said Proserpina quietly. “Don’t you think, since I will be living here for half of my life, that I should be able to decorate? I have nothing to do around here, except clean, it will keep me busy and I promise to make it look marvelous! ” Pluto thought for a minute, “Yes, you may decorate the mansion! he said in what seemed to be a cheerful voice. “I wanted you here to make me a happier man and to relive my loneliness, perhaps decorating will help. ” “Thank you Pluto! ” Proserpina said happily, as they conversed further about color schemes and new furniture. In spite of the circumstances, with no one else to talk to, overtime Proserpina and Pluto became close. The mansion became a brighter and happier place, where Proserpina could welcome others. To show her how much things had changed, Proserpina invited her mother to visit the mansion.
Sadly, her mother declined her invitation. In the end, surprisingly, Proserpina decides to move into Pluto’s mansion and live with him all the time instead of the six months. He allows her total freedom in the mansion, where she can do whatever she wishes with her time. As more time passes, Proserpina and Pluto become close and form a relationship. The mansion, now a beautiful home, will soon be filled children running the halls, where they will live on to have a happy and wealthy family