Mythology
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| Venus was accidentally wounded one day by one of Cupid's arrows. She then looked upon Adonis and was captivated by him. She followed him everywhere and became his companion. Although she had warned him to stay away from the wild animals while hunting, he was mortally wounded by a wild boar. As he lay there dying, she lamented over him and begged him to awaken for one last kiss. | -from an elegy intended to remember Adonis, translated
by Andrew Lang
Awake, Adonis, for a little while, and kiss me yet again, the latest kiss! ...This kiss I will treasure, even as thyself, Adonis, since, ah, ill-fated thou art fleeing me, thou art fleeing far, Adonis, and art faring to Acheron, to that hateful king and cruel, while wretched yet I live, being a goddess, and may not follow thee! Persephone, take thou my lover, my lord, thyself art stronger than I, and all lovely things drift down to thee. But I am ill-fated, inconsolable is my anguish; and I lament mine Adonis, dead to me, and I have no rest for sorrow. |
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Proserpine was the embodiment of spring. While picking flowers and singing one day, she was kidnapped by Pluto to be his bride of the underworld. Sadly, Proserpine begged to go back to be with her mother. Pluto agreed to allow her to go back for half the year, but the other half, she must live with him. Thus, it is said that in the cold winter months, it is then that Proserpine is reigning in the underworld. Proserpine soon came comfortable with her new role, and her heart hardened as the Queen of Hades. from Swinburne's Garden of Proserpine No growth of moor or coppice, |