--- title: The Pomegranate Seeds., part 5 — Tanglewood Tales · full text with trees description: The Pomegranate Seeds., part 5, «Tanglewood Tales» by Nathaniel Hawthorne: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: "It is the only one in the world," said the servant. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/) / The Pomegranate Seeds., part 5 # The Pomegranate Seeds., part 5 The Pomegranate Seeds., part 5 of «Tanglewood Tales» by Nathaniel Hawthorne: the whole text, 66 sentences and 1425 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/1/) — "It is the only one in the world," said the servant. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/2/) — He set down the golden salver, with the wizened pomegranate upon it, and left the room. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/3/) — When he was gone, Proserpina could not help coming close to the table, and looking at this poor specimen of dried fruit with a great deal of eagerness; for, to say the truth, on seeing something that suited her taste, she felt all the six months' appetite taking possession of her at once. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/4/) — To be sure, it was a very wretched-looking pomegranate, and seemed to have no more juice in it than an oyster shell. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/5/) — But there was no choice of such things in King Pluto's palace. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/6/) — This was the first fruit she had seen there, and the last she was ever likely to see; and unless she ate it up immediately, it would grow drier than it already was, and be wholly unfit to eat. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/7/) — "At least, I may smell it," thought Proserpina. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/8/) — So she took up the pomegranate, and applied it to her nose; and, somehow or other, being in such close neighborhood to her mouth, the fruit found its way into that little red cave. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/9/) — Dear me! what an everlasting pity! - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/10/) — Before Proserpina knew what she was about, her teeth had actually bitten it, of their own accord. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/11/) — Just as this fatal deed was done, the door of the apartment opened, and in came King Pluto, followed by Quicksilver, who had been urging him to let his little prisoner go. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/12/) — At the first noise of their entrance, Proserpina withdrew the pomegranate from her mouth. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/13/) — But Quicksilver (whose eyes were very keen, and his wits the sharpest that ever anybody had) perceived that the child was a little confused; and seeing the empty salver, he suspected that she had been taking a sly nibble of something or other. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/14/) — As for honest Pluto, he never guessed at the secret. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/15/) — "My little Proserpina," said the king, sitting down, and affectionately drawing her between his knees, "here is Quicksilver, who tells me that a great many misfortunes have befallen innocent people on account of my detaining you in my dominions. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/16/) — To confess the truth, I myself had already reflected that it was an unjustifiable act to take you away from your good mother. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/17/) — But, then, you must consider, my dear child, that this vast palace is apt to be gloomy (although the precious stones certainly shine very bright), and that I am not of the most cheerful disposition, and that therefore it was a natural thing enough to seek for the society of some merrier creature than myself. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/18/) — I hoped you would take my crown for a plaything, and me--ah, you laugh, naughty Proserpina--me, grim as I am, for a playmate. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/19/) — It was a silly expectation." - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/20/) — "Not so extremely silly," whispered Proserpina. " - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/21/) — You have really amused me very much, sometimes." - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/22/) — "Thank you," said King Pluto, rather dryly. " - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/23/) — But I can see plainly enough, that you think my palace a dusky prison, and me the iron-hearted keeper of it. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/24/) — And an iron heart I should surely have, if I could detain you here any longer, my poor child, when it is now six months since you tasted food. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/25/) — I give you your liberty. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/26/) — Go with Quicksilver. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/27/) — Hasten home to your dear mother." - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/28/) — Now, although you may not have supposed it, Proserpina found it impossible to take leave of poor King Pluto without some regrets, and a good deal of compunction for not telling him about the pomegranate. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/29/) — She even shed a tear or two, thinking how lonely and cheerless the great palace would seem to him, with all its ugly glare of artificial light, after she herself--his one little ray of natural sunshine, whom he had stolen, to be sure, but only because he valued her so much--after she should have departed. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/30/) — I know not how many kind things she might have said to the disconsolate king of the mines, had not Quicksilver hurried her way. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/31/) — "Come along quickly," whispered he in her ear, "or his majesty may change his royal mind. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/32/) — And take care, above all things, that you say nothing of what was brought you on the golden salver." - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/33/) — In a very short time, they had passed the great gateway (leaving the three-headed Cerberus, barking, and yelping, and growling, with threefold din, behind them), and emerged upon the surface of the earth. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/34/) — It was delightful to behold, as Proserpina hastened along, how the path grew verdant behind and on either side of her. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/35/) — Wherever she set her blessed foot, there was at once a dewy flower. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/36/) — The violets gushed up along the wayside. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/37/) — The grass and the grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and luxuriance, to make up for the dreary months that had been wasted in barrenness. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/38/) — The starved cattle immediately set to work grazing, after their long fast, and ate enormously, all day, and got up at midnight to eat more. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/39/) — But I can assure you it was a busy time of year with the farmers, when they found the summer coming upon them with such a rush. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/40/) — Nor must I forget to say, that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the newly-blossoming trees, and sang together, in a prodigious ecstasy of joy. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/41/) — Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home, and was sitting disconsolately on the doorstep, with her torch burning in her hand. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/42/) — She had been idly watching the flame for some moments past, when, all at once, it flickered and went out. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/43/) — "What does this mean?" thought she. " - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/44/) — It was an enchanted torch, and should have kept burning till my child came back." - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/45/) — Lifting her eyes, she was surprised to see a sudden verdure flashing over the brown and barren fields, exactly as you may have observed a golden hue gleaming far and wide across the landscape, from the just risen sun. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/46/) — "Does the earth disobey me?" exclaimed Mother Ceres, indignantly. " - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/47/) — Does it presume to be green, when I have bidden it be barren, until my daughter shall be restored to my arms?" - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/48/) — "Then open your arms, dear mother," cried a well-known voice, "and take your little daughter into them." - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/49/) — And Proserpina came running, and flung herself upon her mother's bosom. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/50/) — Their mutual transport is not to be described. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/51/) — The grief of their separation had caused both of them to shed a great many tears; and now they shed a great many more, because their joy could not so well express itself in any other way. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/52/) — When their hearts had grown a little more quiet, Mother Ceres looked anxiously at Proserpina. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/53/) — "My child," said she, "did you taste any food while you were in King Pluto's palace?" - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/54/) — "Dearest mother," exclaimed Proserpina, "I will tell you the whole truth. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/55/) — Until this very morning, not a morsel of food had passed my lips. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/56/) — But to-day, they brought me a pomegranate (a very dry one it was, and all shriveled up, till there was little left of it but seeds and skin), and having seen no fruit for so long a time, and being faint with hunger, I was tempted just to bite it. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/57/) — The instant I tasted it, King Pluto and Quicksilver came into the room. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/58/) — I had not swallowed a morsel; but--dear mother, I hope it was no harm--but six of the pomegranate seeds, I am afraid, remained in my mouth." - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/59/) — "Ah, unfortunate child, and miserable me!" exclaimed Ceres. " - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/60/) — For each of those six pomegranate seeds you must spend one month of every year in King Pluto's palace. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/61/) — You are but half restored to your mother. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/62/) — Only six months with me, and six with that good-for-nothing King of Darkness!" - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/63/) — "Do not speak so harshly of poor King Pluto," said Prosperina, kissing her mother. " - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/64/) — He has some very good qualities; and I really think I can bear to spend six months in his palace, if he will only let me spend the other six with you. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/65/) — He certainly did very wrong to carry me off; but then, as he says, it was but a dismal sort of life for him, to live in that great gloomy place, all alone; and it has made a wonderful change in his spirits to have a little girl to run up stairs and down. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/24/66/) — There is some comfort in making him so happy; and so, upon the whole, dearest mother, let us be thankful that he is not to keep me the whole year round." - ← previous: [The Pomegranate Seeds., part 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/23/) - next →: [The Golden Fleece., part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/25/) - ↑ back to [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/)