Demophoön

Fair-tressed Demeter
Immortal disguised as an old maid
In sorrow at her daughter's abduction
Is approached by several girls
By a fountain

A growing son is being reared in the mansion
To deep-girded Metaneira
Late in her life but much desired
If you should bring him up to reach puberty
Such rewards she will give you for rearing him

The goddess walked behind them
Brooding in her dark heart

She refused their wine
And instead requested a drink
Of barley-meal mixed with pennyroyal

I will nurture him
Nothing will harm him
For my multitude of remedies
And antidotes

Thus Demophoön grew up like a God
Not eating food
Nor nursing at his mother's breast
Demeter anointed him
With psychotropic ambrosia
At night she secretly hid him
In the blazing Fire
She introduced him to deadly venoms

To the parents it was a miracle how he blossomed

She would have made him ageless and immortal
Had not the mother Metaneira
Thinking foolishly
Kept watch by night
She raised a cry and struck her thighs
In fear for the child

Demeter in terrible anger removed her disguise
Revealing her identity

Ignorant humans, lacking discernment
You were blinded by your foolishness
I would have made your son immortal
But now he cannot escape the fate of Death