\"Iwillneitherdrinkthatnoranythingelse，\"saidProserpina。
\"NorwillItasteamorseloffood，evenifyoukeepmeforeverinyourpalace。\"
\"Ishouldbesorryforthat，\"repliedKingPluto，pattinghercheek；forhereallywishedtobekind，ifhehadonlyknownhow。\"Youareaspoiledchild，Iperceive，mylittleProserpina；butwhenyouseethenicethingswhichmycookwillmakeforyou，yourappetitewillquicklycomeagain。\"
Then，sendingfortheheadcook，hegavestrictordersthatallsortsofdelicacies，suchasyoungpeopleareusuallyfondof，shouldbesetbeforeProserpina。Hehadasecretmotiveinthis；for，youaretounderstand，itisafixedlaw，thatwhenpersonsarecarriedofftothelandofmagic，iftheyoncetasteanyfoodthere，theycannevergetbacktotheirfriends。
Now，ifKingPlutohadbeencunningenoughtoofferProserpinasomefruit，orbreadandmilk（whichwasthesimplefaretowhichthechildhadalwaysbeenaccustomed），itisveryprobablethatshewouldsoonhavebeentemptedtoeatit。Butheleftthematterentirelytohiscook，who，likeallothercooks，considerednothingfittoeatunlessitwererichpastry，orhighly-seasonedmeat，orspicedsweetcakes——thingswhichProserpina’smotherhadnevergivenher，andthesmellofwhichquitetookawayherappetite，insteadofsharpeningit。