The Muses commence their song with describing the arts of Venus and Cupid to inflame the god Pluto with a passion for Proserpine.
“First Ceres taught the labouring hind to plough The pregnant earth, and quick’ning seed to sow; She first for man did wholesome food provide, And with just laws the wicked world supplied: All good from her derived, to her belong The grateful tributes of the muse’s song; Her more than worthy of our verse we deem; Oh! were our verse more worthy of the theme!