And the child increased in strength by the Goddess's will.

Now when they had done their work, and rested from their labours, each
man started for his home, but yellow-haired Demeter, sitting there apart
from all the blessed Gods, abode, wasting away with desire for her deep-
bosomed daughter. Then the most dread and terrible of years did the
Goddess bring for mortals upon the fruitful earth, nor did the earth send
up the seed, for Demeter of the goodly garland concealed it. Many
crooked ploughs did the oxen drag through the furrows in vain, and much
white barley fell fruitless upon the land. Now would the whole race of
mortal men have perished utterly from the stress of famine, and the Gods
that hold mansions in Olympus would have lost the share and renown of
gift and sacrifice, if Zeus had not conceived a counsel within his heart.

First he roused Iris of the golden wings to speed forth and call the fair-
tressed Demeter, the lovesome in beauty. So spake Zeus, and Iris obeyed
Zeus, the son of Cronos, who hath dark clouds for his tabernacle, and
swiftly she sped adown the space between heaven and earth. Then came she
to the citadel of fragrant Eleusis, and in the temple she found Demeter
clothed in dark raiment, and speaking winged words addressed her:
"Demeter, Father Zeus, whose counsels are imperishable, bids thee back
unto the tribes of the eternal Gods. Come thou, then, lest the word of
Zeus be of no avail." So spake she in her prayer, but the Goddess
yielded not. Thereafter the Father sent forth all the blessed Gods, all
of the Immortals, and coming one by one they bade Demeter return, and
gave her many splendid gifts, and all honours that she might choose among
the immortal Gods. But none availed to persuade by turning her mind and
her angry heart, so stubbornly she refused their sayings. For she deemed
no more for ever to enter fragrant Olympus, and no more to allow the
earth to bear her fruit, until her eyes should behold her fair-faced