The people said, “Where Persephone is, there is the warm sunshine.
“Flowers bloom when she smiles.
“Listen to her voice; it is like a bird’s song.”
Demeter wished always to have her child near her.
One day Persephone went alone into a meadow near the sea. She had made a wreath for her hair, and gathered all the flowers that her apron could hold.
Far away across the meadow she saw a white flower gleaming. She ran to it and found that it was a narcissus, but far more beautiful than any she had ever seen.
On a single stem were a hundred blossoms. She tried to pick it, but the stem would not break. With all her strength she grasped it, and slowly it came up by the roots.
It left a great opening in the earth which grew larger and larger.
Persephone heard a rumbling like thunder under her feet. Then she saw four black horses coming toward her from the opening.
Behind them was a chariot made of gold and precious stones.