and dreadful strife one upon the other.] Now I am the honoured Demeter,
the greatest good and gain of the Immortals to deathly men. But, come
now, let all the people build me a great temple and an altar thereby,
below the town, and the steep wall, above Callichorus on the jutting
rock. But the rites I myself will prescribe, that in time to come ye may
pay them duly and appease my power."

Therewith the Goddess changed her shape and height, and cast off old age,
and beauty breathed about her, and the sweet scent was breathed from her
fragrant robes, and afar shone the light from the deathless body of the
Goddess, the yellow hair flowing about her shoulders, so that the goodly
house was filled with the splendour as of levin fire, and forth from the
halls went she.

But anon the knees of the woman were loosened, and for long time she was
speechless, nay, nor did she even mind of the child, her best beloved, to
lift him from the floor. But the sisters of the child heard his pitiful
cry, and leapt from their fair-strewn beds; one of them, lifting the
child in her hands, laid it in her bosom; and another lit fire, and the
third ran with smooth feet to take her mother forth from the fragrant
chamber. Then gathered they about the child, and bathed and clad him
lovingly, yet his mood was not softened, for meaner nurses now and
handmaids held him.

They the long night through were adoring the renowned Goddess, trembling
with fear, but at the dawning they told truly to mighty Celeus all that
the Goddess had commanded; even Demeter of the goodly garland. Thereon
he called into the market-place the many people, and bade them make a
rich temple, and an altar to fair-tressed Demeter, upon the jutting rock.
Then anon they heard and obeyed his voice, and as he bade they builded.