The Infernal Marriage | Page 4

but for my part, knowing as much of Juno as I do-----'
'The Queen of Heaven!' observed Atropos, with an intimidating glance.
'The Queen of Fiddlestick!' said Proserpine; 'as great a flirt as ever existed, with all her prudish looks.'
The Fates and the Furies exchanged glances of astonishment and horror.
'For my part,' continued Proserpine, 'I make it a rule to support the weaker side, and nothing will ever persuade me that Ixion is not a victim, and a pitiable one.'
'Well! men generally have the best of it in these affairs,' said Lachesis, with a forced smile.
'Juno ought to be ashamed of herself,' said Proserpine. 'Had I been in her situation, they should have tied me to a wheel first. At any rate, they ought to have punished him in Heaven. I have no idea of those people sending every mauvais sujet to Hell.'
'But what shall we do?' inquired Pluto, who wished to turn the conversation.
'Shall we turn out a sinner and hunt him for her Majesty's diversion?' suggested Tisiphone, flanking her serpents.
'Nothing of the kind will ever divert me,' said Proserpine; 'for I have no hesitation in saying that I do not at all approve of these eternal punishments, or, indeed, of any punishment whatever.'
'The heretic!' whispered Tisiphone to Meg?ra. Alecto moaned.
'It might be more interesting to her Majesty,' said Atropos, 'to witness some of those extraordinary instances of predestined misery with which Hades abounds. Shall we visit OEdipus?'
'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Proserpine. 'For myself, I willingly confess that torture disgusts and Destiny puzzles me.'
The Fates and the Furies all alike started.
'I do not understand this riddle of Destiny,' continued the young Queen. 'If you, Parc?, have predestined that a man should commit a crime, it appears to me very unjust that you should afterwards call upon the Furies to punish him for its commission.'
'But man is a free agent,' observed Lachesis, in as mild a tone as she could command.
'Then what becomes of Destiny?' replied Proserpine.
'Destiny is eternal and irresistible,' replied Clotho. 'All is ordained; but man is, nevertheless, master of his own actions.'
'I do not understand that,' said Proserpine.
'It is not meant to be understood,' said Atropos; 'but you must nevertheless believe it.'
'I make it a rule only to believe what I understand,' replied Proserpine.
'It appears,' said Lachesis, with a blended glance of contempt and vengeance, 'that your Majesty, though a goddess, is an atheist.'
'As for that, anybody may call me just what they please, provided they do nothing else. So long as I am not tied to a wheel or whipped with scorpions for speaking my mind, I shall be as tolerant of the speech and acts of others as I expect them to be tolerant of mine. Come, Pluto, I am sure that the chariot must be ready!'
So saying, her Majesty took the arm of her spouse, and with a haughty curtsey left the apartment.
'Did you ever!' shrieked Tisiphone, as the door closed.
'No! never!' squeaked Megaera.
'Never! never!' moaned Alecto.
'She must understand what she believes, must she?' said Lachesis, scarcely less irritated.
'I never heard such nonsense,' said Clotho.
'What next!' said Atropos.
'Disgusted with torture!' exclaimed the Furies.
'Puzzled with Destiny!' said the Fates.
It was the third morning after the Infernal Marriage; the slumbering Proserpine reposed in the arms of the snoring Pluto. There was a loud knocking at the chamber-door. Pluto jumped up in the middle of a dream.
'My life, what is the matter?' exclaimed Proserpine.
The knocking was repeated and increased. There was also a loud shout of 'treason, murder, and fire!'
'What is the matter?' exclaimed the god, jumping out of bed and seizing his trident. 'Who is there?'
'Your pages, your faithful pages! Treason! treason! For the sake of Hell, open the door. Murder, fire, treason!'
'Enter!' said Pluto, as the door was unlocked.
And Terror and Rage entered.
'You frightful things, get out of the room!' cried Proserpine.
'A moment, my angel!' said Pluto, 'a single moment. Be not alarmed, my best love; I pray you be not alarmed. Well, imps, why am I disturbed?'
'Oh!' said Terror. Rage could not speak, but gnashed his teeth and stamped his feet.
'O-o-o-h!' repeated Terror.
'Speak, cursed imps!' cried the enraged Pluto; and he raised his arm.
'A man! a man!' cried Terror. 'Treason, treason! a man! a man!'
'What man?' said Pluto, in a rage.
'A man, a live man, has entered Hell!'
'You don't say so?' said Proserpine; 'a man, a live man. Let me see him immediately.'
'Where is he?' said Pluto; 'what is he doing?'
'He is here, there, and everywhere! asking for your wife, and singing like anything.'
'Proserpine!' said Pluto, reproachfully; but, to do the god justice, he was more astounded than jealous.
'I am sure I shall be delighted to see him; it is so long since I have seen a live man,' said Proserpine. 'Who can he be? A man, and a live man! How delightful! It must be a