Jean-François de Troy, The Abduction of Europa, 1716
Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, the three sons of King Agenor, andtheir little sister Europa (who was a very beautiful child),were at play together near the seashore in their father'skingdom of Phoenicia. They had rambled to some distance fromthe palace where their parents dwelt, and were now in a verdantmeadow, on one side of which lay the sea, all sparkling anddimpling in the sunshine, and murmuring gently against thebeach. The three boys were very happy, gathering flowers, andtwining them into garlands, with which they adorned the littleEuropa. Seated on the grass, the child was almost hidden underan abundance of buds and blossoms, whence her rosy face peepedmerrily out, and, as Cadmus said, was the prettiest of all theflowers.
Just then, there came a splendid butterfly, fluttering alongthe meadow; and Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix set off in pursuitof it, crying out that it was a flower with wings. Europa, whowas a little wearied with playing all day long, did not chasethe butterfly with her brothers, but sat still where they hadleft her, and closed her eyes. For a while, she listened to thepleasant murmur of the sea, which was like a voice saying"Hush!" and bidding her go to sleep. But the pretty child, ifshe slept at all, could not have slept more than a moment, whenshe heard something trample on the grass, not far from her,and, peeping out from the heap of flowers, beheld a snow-whitebull.
And whence could this bull have come? Europa and her brothershad been a long time playing in the meadow, and had seen nocattle, nor other living thing, either there or on theneighboring hills.
"Brother Cadmus!" cried Europa, starting up out of the midst ofthe roses and lilies. "Phoenix! Cilix! Where are you all? Help!Help! Come and drive away this bull!"
But her brothers were too far off to hear; especially as thefright took away Europa's voice, and hindered her from callingvery loudly. So there she stood, with her pretty mouth wideopen, as pale as the white lilies that were twisted among theother flowers in her garlands.
Nevertheless, it was the suddenness with which she hadperceived the bull, rather than anything frightful in hisappearance, that caused Europa so much alarm. On looking at himmore attentively, she began to see that he was a beautifulanimal, and even fancied a particularly amiable expression inhis face. As for his breath--the breath of cattle, you know, isalways sweet--it was as fragrant as if he had been grazing onno other food than rosebuds, or at least, the most delicate ofclover blossoms. Never before did a bull have such bright andtender eyes, and such smooth horns of ivory, as this one. Andthe bull ran little races, and capered sportively around thechild; so that she quite forgot how big and strong he was, and,from the gentleness and playfulness of his actions, soon cameto consider him as innocent a creature as a pet lamb.
Thus, frightened as she at first was, you might by and by haveseen Europa stroking the bull's forehead with her small whitehand, and taking the garlands off her own head to hang them onhis neck and ivory horns. Then she pulled up some blades ofgrass, and he ate them out of her hand, not as if he werehungry, but because he wanted to be friends with the child, andtook pleasure in eating what she had touched. Well, my stars!was there ever such a gentle, sweet, pretty, and amiablecreature as this bull, and ever such a nice playmate for alittle girl?
When the animal saw (for the bull had so much intelligence thatit is really wonderful to think of), when he saw that Europawas no longer afraid of him, he grew overjoyed, and couldhardly contain himself for delight. He frisked about themeadow, now here, now there, making sprightly leaps, with aslittle effort as a bird expends in hopping from twig to twig.Indeed, his motion was as light as if he were flying throughthe air, and his hoofs seemed hardly to leave their print inthe grassy soil over which he trod. With his spotless hue, heresembled a snow drift, wafted along by the wind. Once hegalloped so far away that Europa feared lest she might neversee him again; so, setting up her childish voice, called himback.
"Come back, pretty creature!" she cried. "Here is a nice cloverblossom."
And then it was delightful to witness the gratitude of thisamiable bull, and how he was so full of joy and thankfulnessthat he capered higher than ever. He came running, and bowedhis head before Europa, as if he knew her to be a king'sdaughter, or else recognized the important truth that a littlegirl is everybody's queen. And not only did the bull bend hisneck, he absolutely knelt down at her feet, and made suchintelligent nods, and other inviting gestures, that Europaunderstood what he meant just as well as if he had put it in somany words.
"Come, dear child," was what he wanted to say, "let me give youa ride on my back."
At the first thought of such a thing, Europa drew back. Butthen she considered in her wise little head that there could beno possible harm in taking just one gallop on the back of thisdocile and friendly animal, who would certainly set her downthe very instant she desired it. And how it would surprise herbrothers to see her riding across the green meadow! And whatmerry times they might have, either taking turns for a gallop,or clambering on the gentle creature, all four childrentogether, and careering round the field with shouts of laughterthat would be heard as far off as King Agenor's palace!
"I think I will do it," said the child to herself.
And, indeed, why not? She cast a glance around, and caught aglimpse of Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, who were still inpursuit of the butterfly, almost at the other end of themeadow. It would be the quickest way of rejoining them, to getupon the white bull's back. She came a step nearer to himtherefore; and--sociable creature that he was--he showed somuch joy at this mark of her confidence, that the child couldnot find in her heart to hesitate any longer. Making one bound(for this little princess was as active as a squirrel), theresat Europa on the beautiful bull, holding an ivory horn in eachhand, lest she should fall off.
"Softly, pretty bull, softly!" she said, rather frightened atwhat she had done. "Do not gallop too fast."
Having got the child on his back, the animal gave a leap intothe air, and came down so like a feather that Europa did notknow when his hoofs touched the ground. He then began a race tothat part of the flowery plain where her three brothers were,and where they had just caught their splendid butterfly. Europascreamed with delight; and Phoenix, Cilix, and Cadmus stoodgaping at the spectacle of their sister mounted on a whitebull, not knowing whether to be frightened or to wish the samegood luck for themselves. The gentle and innocent creature (forwho could possibly doubt that he was so?) pranced round amongthe children as sportively as a kitten. Europa all the whilelooked down upon her brothers, nodding and laughing, but yetwith a sort of stateliness in her rosy little face. As the bullwheeled about to take another gallop across the meadow, thechild waved her hand, and said, "Good-bye," playfullypretending that she was now bound on a distant journey, andmight not see her brothers again for nobody could tell howlong.
"Good-bye," shouted Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, all in onebreath.
But, together with her enjoyment of the sport, there was stilla little remnant of fear in the child's heart; so that her lastlook at the three boys was a troubled one, and made them feelas if their dear sister were really leaving them forever. Andwhat do you think the snowy bull did next? Why, he set off, asswift as the wind, straight down to the seashore, scamperedacross the sand, took an airy leap, and plunged right in amongthe foaming billows. The white spray rose in a shower over himand little Europa, and fell spattering down upon the water.
Then what a scream of terror did the poor child send forth! Thethree brothers screamed manfully, likewise, and ran to theshore as fast as their legs would carry them, with Cadmus attheir head. But it was too late. When they reached the marginof the sand, the treacherous animal was already far away in thewide blue sea, with only his snowy head and tail emerging, andpoor little Europa between them, stretching out one handtowards her dear brothers, while she grasped the bull's ivoryhorn with the other. And there stood Cadmus, Phoenix, andCilix, gazing at this sad spectacle, through their tears, untilthey could no longer distinguish the bull's snowy head from thewhite-capped billows that seemed to boil up out of the sea'sdepths around him. Nothing more was ever seen of the whitebull--nothing more of the beautiful child.
This was a mournful story, as you may well think, for the threeboys to carry home to their parents. King Agenor, their father,was the ruler of the whole country; but he loved his littledaughter Europa better than his kingdom, or than all his otherchildren, or than anything else in the world. Therefore, whenCadmus and his two brothers came crying home, and told him howthat a white bull had carried off their sister, and swam withher over the sea, the king was quite beside himself with griefand rage. Although it was now twilight, and fast growing dark,he bade them set out instantly in search of her.
"Never shall you see my face again," he cried, "unless youbring me back my little Europa, to gladden me with her smilesand her pretty ways. Begone, and enter my presence no more,till you come leading her by the hand."
As King Agenor said this, his eyes flashed fire (for he was avery passionate king), and he looked so terribly angry that thepoor boys did not even venture to ask for their suppers, butslunk away out of the palace, and only paused on the steps amoment to consult whither they should go first. While they werestanding there, all in dismay, their mother, Queen Telephassa(who happened not to be by when they told the story to theking), came hurrying after them, and said that she too would goin quest of her daughter.
"O, no, mother!" cried the boys. "The night is dark, and thereis no knowing what troubles and perils we may meet with."
"Alas! my dear children," answered poor Queen Telephassa;weeping bitterly, "that is only another reason why I should gowith you. If I should lose you, too, as well as my littleEuropa, what would become of me!"
"And let me go likewise!" said their playfellow Thasus, whocame running to join them.
Thasus was the son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood;he had been brought up with the young princes, and was theirintimate friend, and loved Europa very much; so they consentedthat he should accompany them. The whole party, therefore, setforth together. Cadmus, Phoenix, Cilix, and Thasus clusteredround Queen Telephassa, grasping her skirts, and begging her tolean upon their shoulders whenever she felt weary. In thismanner they went down the palace steps, and began a journey,which turned out to be a great deal longer than they dreamedof. The last that they saw of King Agenor, he came to the door,with a servant holding a torch beside him, and called afterthem into the gathering darkness:
"Remember! Never ascend these steps again without the child!"
"Never!" sobbed Queen Telephassa; and the three brothers andThasus answered, "Never! Never! Never! Never!"
And they kept their word. Year after year, King Agenor sat inthe solitude of his beautiful palace, listening in vain fortheir returning footsteps, hoping to hear the familiar voice ofthe queen, and the cheerful talk of his sons and theirplayfellow Thasus, entering the door together, and the sweet,childish accents of little Europa in the midst of them. But solong a time went by, that, at last, if they had really come,the king would not have known that this was the voice ofTelephassa, and these the younger voices that used to make suchjoyful echoes, when the children were playing about the palace.We must now leave King Agenor to sit on his throne, and must goalong with Queen Telephassa, and her four youthful companions.
They went on and on, and traveled a long way, and passed overmountains and rivers, and sailed over seas. Here, and there,and everywhere, they made continual inquiry if any person couldtell them what had become of Europa. The rustic people, of whomthey asked this question, paused a little while from theirlabors in the field, and looked very much surprised. Theythought it strange to behold a woman in the garb of a queen(for Telephassa in her haste had forgotten to take off hercrown and her royal robes), roaming about the country, with fourlads around her, on such an errand as this seemed to be. Butnobody could give them any tidings of Europa; nobody had seen alittle girl dressed like a princess, and mounted on a snow-white bull, which galloped as swiftly as the wind.
I cannot tell you how long Queen Telephassa, and Cadmus,Phoenix, and Cilix, her three sons, and Thasus, theirplayfellow, went wandering along the highways and bypaths, orthrough the pathless wildernesses of the earth, in this manner.But certain it is, that, before they reached any place of rest,their splendid garments were quite worn out. They all lookedvery much travel-stained, and would have had the dust of manycountries on their shoes, if the streams, through which theywaded, had not washed it all away. When they had been gone ayear, Telephassa threw away her crown, because it chafed herforehead.
"It has given me many a headache," said the poor queen, "and itcannot cure my heartache."
As fast as their princely robes got torn and tattered, theyexchanged them for such mean attire as ordinary people wore. Byand by, they come to have a wild and homeless aspect; so thatyou would much sooner have taken them for a gypsy family than aqueen and three princes, and a young nobleman, who had once apalace for a home, and a train of servants to do their bidding.The four boys grew up to be tall young men, with sunburntfaces. Each of them girded on a sword, to defend themselvesagainst the perils of the way. When the husbandmen, at whosefarmhouses they sought hospitality, needed their assistance inthe harvest field, they gave it willingly; and Queen Telephassa(who had done no work in her palace, save to braid silk threadswith golden ones) came behind them to bind the sheaves. Ifpayment was offered, they shook their heads, and only asked fortidings of Europa.
"There are bulls enough in my pasture," the old farmers wouldreply; "but I never heard of one like this you tell me of. Asnow-white bull with a little princess on his back! Ho! ho! Iask your pardon, good folks; but there never such a sight seenhereabouts."
At last, when his upper lip began to have the down on it,Phoenix grew weary of rambling hither and thither to nopurpose. So one day, when they happened to be passing through apleasant and solitary tract of country, he sat himself down ona heap of moss.
"I can go no farther," said Phoenix. "It is a mere foolishwaste of life, to spend it as we do, always wandering up anddown, and never coming to any home at nightfall. Our sister islost, and never will be found. She probably perished in thesea; or, to whatever shore the white bull may have carried her,it is now so many years ago, that there would be neither lovenor acquaintance between us, should we meet again. My fatherhas forbidden us to return to his palace, so I shall build me ahut of branches, and dwell here."
"Well, son Phoenix," said Telephassa, sorrowfully, "you havegrown to be a man, and must do as you judge best. But, for mypart, I will still go in quest of my poor child."
"And we three will go along with you!" cried Cadmus and Cilix,and their faithful friend Thasus.
But, before setting out, they all helped Phoenix to build ahabitation. When completed, it was a sweet rural bower, roofedoverhead with an arch of living boughs. Inside there were twopleasant rooms, one of which had a soft heap of moss for a bed,while the other was furnished with a rustic seat or two,curiously fashioned out of the crooked roots of trees. Socomfortable and home-like did it seem, that Telephassa and herthree companions could not help sighing, to think that theymust still roam about the world, instead of spending theremainder of their lives in some such cheerful abode as theyhad here built for Phoenix. But, when they bade him farewell,Phoenix shed tears, and probably regretted that he was nolonger to keep them company.
However, he had fixed upon an admirable place to dwell in. Andby and by there came other people, who chanced to have nohomes; and, seeing how pleasant a spot it was, they builtthemselves huts in the neighborhood of Phoenix's habitation.Thus, before many years went by, a city had grown up there, inthe center of which was seen a stately palace of marble,wherein dwelt Phoenix, clothed in a purple robe, and wearing agolden crown upon his head. For the inhabitants of the newcity, finding that he had royal blood in his veins, had chosenhim to be their king. The very first decree of state which KingPhoenix issued was, that, if a maiden happened to arrive in thekingdom, mounted on a snow-white bull, and calling herselfEuropa, his subjects should treat her with the greatestkindness and respect, and immediately bring her to the palace.You may see, by this, that Phoenix's conscience never quiteceased to trouble him, for giving up the quest of his dearsister, and sitting himself down to be comfortable, while hismother and her companions went onward.
But often and often, at the close of a weary day's journey, didTelephassa and Cadmus, Cilix, and Thasus, remember the pleasantspot in which they had left Phoenix. It was a sorrowfulprospect for these wanderers, that on the morrow they mustagain set forth, and that, after many nightfalls, they wouldperhaps be no nearer the close of their toilsome pilgrimagethan now. These thoughts made them all melancholy at times, butappeared to torment Cilix more than the rest of the party. Atlength, one morning, when they were taking their staffs in handto set out, he thus addressed them:
"My dear mother, and you, good brother Cadmus, and my friendThasus, methinks we are like people in a dream. There is nosubstance in the life which we are leading. It is such a drearylength of time since the white bull carried off my sisterEuropa, that I have quite forgotten how she looked, and thetones of her voice, and, indeed, almost doubt whether such alittle girl ever lived in the world. And whether she once livedor no, I am convinced that she no longer survives, and thattherefore it is the merest folly to waste our own lives andhappiness in seeking her. Were we to find her, she would now bea woman grown, and would look upon us all as strangers. So, totell you the truth, I have resolved to take up my abode here;and I entreat you, mother, brother, and friend, to follow myexample."
"Not I, for one," said Telephassa; although the poor queen,firmly as she spoke, was so travel-worn that she could hardlyput her foot to the ground. "Not I, for one! In the depths ofmy heart, little Europa is still the rosy child who ran togather flowers so many years ago. She has not grown towomanhood, nor forgotten me. At noon, at night, journeyingonward, sitting down to rest, her childish voice is always inmy ears, calling, 'Mother! mother!' Stop here who may, there isno repose for me."
"Nor for me," said Cadmus, "while my dear mother pleases to goonward."
And the faithful Thasus, too, was resolved to bear themcompany. They remained with Cilix a few days, however, andhelped him to build a rustic bower, resembling the one whichthey had formerly built for Phoenix.
When they were bidding him farewell Cilix burst into tears, andtold his mother that it seemed just as melancholy a dream tostay there, in solitude, as to go onward. If she reallybelieved that they would ever find Europa, he was willing tocontinue the search with them, even now. But Telephassa badehim remain there, and be happy, if his own heart would let him.So the pilgrims took their leave of him, and departed, and werehardly out of sight before some other wandering people camealong that way, and saw Cilix's habitation, and were greatlydelighted with the appearance of the place. There beingabundance of unoccupied ground in the neighborhood, thesestrangers built huts for themselves, and were soon joined by amultitude of new settlers, who quickly formed a city. In themiddle of it was seen a magnificent palace of colored marble,on the balcony of which, every noontide, appeared Cilix, in along purple robe, and with a jeweled crown upon his head; forthe inhabitants, when they found out that he was a king's son,had considered him the fittest of all men to be a king himself.
One of the first acts of King Cilix's government was to sendout an expedition, consisting of a grave ambassador, and anescort of bold and hardy young men, with orders to visit theprincipal kingdoms of the earth, and inquire whether a youngmaiden had passed through those regions, galloping swiftly on awhite bull. It is, therefore, plain to my mind, that Cilixsecretly blamed himself for giving up the search for Europa, aslong as he was able to put one foot before the other.
As for Telephassa, and Cadmus, and the good Thasus, it grievesme to think of them, still keeping up that weary pilgrimage.The two young men did their best for the poor queen, helpingher over the rough places, often carrying her across rivuletsin their faithful arms and seeking to shelter her at nightfall,even when they themselves lay on the ground. Sad, sad it was tohear them asking of every passer-by if he had seen Europa, solong after the white bull had carried her away. But, though thegray years thrust themselves between, and made the child'sfigure dim in their remembrance, neither of these true-heartedthree ever dreamed of giving up the search.
One morning, however, poor Thasus found that he had sprainedhis ankle, and could not possibly go a step farther.
"After a few days, to be sure," said he, mournfully, "I mightmake shift to hobble along with a stick. But that would onlydelay you, and perhaps hinder you from finding dear littleEuropa, after all your pains and trouble. Do you go forward,therefore, my beloved companions, and leave me to follow as Imay."
"Thou hast been a true friend, dear Thasus," said QueenTelephassa, kissing his forehead. "Being neither my son, northe brother of our lost Europa, thou hast shown thyself truerto me and her than Phoenix and Cilix did, whom we have leftbehind us. Without thy loving help, and that of my son Cadmus,my limbs could not have borne me half so far as this. Now, takethy rest, and be at peace. For--and it is the first time I haveowned it to myself--I begin to question whether we shall everfind my beloved daughter in this world."
Saying this, the poor queen shed tears, because it was agrievous trial to the mother's heart to confess that her hopeswere growing faint. From that day forward, Cadmus noticed thatshe never traveled with the same alacrity of spirit that hadheretofore supported her. Her weight was heavier upon his arm.
Before setting out, Cadmus helped Thasus build a bower; whileTelephassa, being too infirm to give any great assistance,advised them how to fit it up and furnish it, so that it mightbe as comfortable as a hut of branches could. Thasus, however,did not spend all his days in this green bower. For it happenedto him, as to Phoenix and Cilix, that other homeless peoplevisited the spot, and liked it, and built themselveshabitations in the neighborhood. So here, in the course of afew years, was another thriving city, with a red freestonepalace in the center of it, where Thasus sat upon a throne,doing justice to the people, with a purple robe over hisshoulders, a sceptre in his hand, and a crown upon his head.The inhabitants had made him king, not for the sake of anyroyal blood (for none was in his veins), but because Thasus wasan upright, true-hearted, and courageous man, and therefore fitto rule.
But when the affairs of his kingdom were all settled, KingThasus laid aside his purple robe and crown, and sceptre, andbade his worthiest subjects distribute justice to the people inhis stead. Then, grasping the pilgrim's staff that hadsupported him so long, he set forth again, hoping still todiscover some hoof-mark of the snow-white bull, some trace ofthe vanished child. He returned after a lengthened absence, andsat down wearily upon his throne. To his latest hour,nevertheless, King Thasus showed his true-hearted remembranceof Europa, by ordering that a fire should always be keptburning in his palace, and a bath steaming hot, and food readyto be served up, and a bed with snow-white sheets, in case themaiden should arrive, and require immediate refreshment. And,though Europa never came, the good Thasus had the blessings ofmany a poor traveler, who profited by the food and lodgingwhich were meant for the little playmate of the king's boyhood.
Telephassa and Cadmus were now pursuing their weary way, withno companion but each other. The queen leaned heavily upon herson's arm, and could walk only a few miles a day. But for allher weakness and weariness, she would not be persuaded to giveup the search. It was enough to bring tears into the eyes ofbearded men to hear the melancholy tone with which she inquiredof every stranger whether he could not tell her any news of thelost child.
"Have you seen a little girl--no, no, I mean a young maiden offull growth--passing by this way, mounted on a snow-white bull,which gallops as swiftly as the wind?"
"We have seen no such wondrous sight," the people would reply;and very often, taking Cadmus aside, they whispered to him, "Isthis stately and sad-looking woman your mother? Surely she isnot in her right mind; and you ought to take her home, and makeher comfortable, and do your best to get this dream out of herfancy."
"It is no dream," said Cadmus. "Everything else is a dream,save that."
But, one day, Telephassa seemed feebler than usual, and leanedalmost her whole weight on the arm of Cadmus, and walked moreslowly than ever before. At last they reached a solitary spot,where she told her son that she must needs lie down, and take agood long rest.
"A good long rest!" she repeated, looking Cadmus tenderly inthe face. "A good long rest, thou dearest one!"
"As long as you please, dear mother," answered Cadmus.
Telephassa bade him sit down on the turf beside her, and thenshe took his hand.
"My son," said she, fixing her dim eyes most lovingly upon him,"this rest that I speak of will be very long indeed! You mustnot wait till it is finished. Dear Cadmus, you do notcomprehend me. You must make a grave here, and lay yourmother's weary frame into it. My pilgrimage is over."
Cadmus burst into tears, and, for a long time, refused tobelieve that his dear mother was now to be taken from him. ButTelephassa reasoned with him, and kissed him, and at lengthmade him discern that it was better for her spirit to pass awayout of the toil, the weariness, and grief, and disappointmentwhich had burdened her on earth, ever since the child was lost.He therefore repressed his sorrow, and listened to her lastwords.
"Dearest Cadmus," said she, "thou hast been the truest son thatever mother had, and faithful to the very last. Who else wouldhave borne with my infirmities as thou hast! It is owing to thycare, thou tenderest child, that my grave was not dug longyears ago, in some valley, or on some hillside, that lies far,far behind us. It is enough. Thou shalt wander no more on thishopeless search. But, when thou hast laid thy mother in theearth, then go, my son, to Delphi, and inquire of the oraclewhat thou shalt do next."
"O mother, mother," cried Cadmus, "couldst thou but have seenmy sister before this hour!"
"It matters little now," answered Telephassa, and there was asmile upon her face. "I go now to the better world, and, sooneror later, shall find my daughter there."
I will not sadden you, my little hearers, with telling howTelephassa died and was buried, but will only say, that herdying smile grew brighter, instead of vanishing from her deadface; so that Cadmus left convinced that, at her very firststep into the better world, she had caught Europa in her arms.He planted some flowers on his mother's grave, and left them togrow there, and make the place beautiful, when he should be faraway.
After performing this last sorrowful duty, he set forth alone,and took the road towards the famous oracle of Delphi, asTelephassa had advised him. On his way thither, he stillinquired of most people whom he met whether they had seenEuropa; for, to say the truth, Cadmus had grown so accustomedto ask the question, that it came to his lips as readily as aremark about the weather. He received various answers. Sometold him one thing, and some another. Among the rest, a marineraffirmed, that, many years before, in a distant country, he hadheard a rumor about a white bull, which came swimming acrossthe sea with a child on his back, dressed up in flowers thatwere blighted by the sea water. He did not know what had becomeof the child or the bull; and Cadmus suspected, indeed, by aqueer twinkle in the mariner's eyes, that he was putting a jokeupon him, and had never really heard anything about the matter.
Poor Cadmus found it more wearisome to travel alone than tobear all his dear mother's weight, while she had kept himcompany. His heart, you will understand, was now so heavy thatit seemed impossible, sometimes, to carry it any farther. Buthis limbs were strong and active, and well accustomed toexercise. He walked swiftly along, thinking of King Agenor andQueen Telephassa, and his brothers, and the friendly Thasus,all of whom he had left behind him, at one point of hispilgrimage or another, and never expected to see them any more.Full of these remembrances, he came within sight of a loftymountain, which the people thereabouts told him was calledParnassus. On the slope of Mount Parnassus was the famousDelphi, whither Cadmus was going.
This Delphi was supposed to be the very midmost spot of thewhole world. The place of the oracle was a certain cavity inthe mountain side, over which, when Cadmus came thither, hefound a rude bower of branches. It reminded him of those whichhe had helped to build for Phoenix and Cilix, and afterwardsfor Thasus. In later times, when multitudes of people came fromgreat distances to put questions to the oracle, a spacioustemple of marble was erected over the spot. But in the days ofCadmus, as I have told you, there was only this rustic bower,with its abundance of green foliage, and a tuft of shrubbery,that ran wild over the mysterious hole in the hillside.
When Cadmus had thrust a passage through the tangled boughs,and made his way into the bower, he did not at first discernthe half-hidden cavity. But soon he felt a cold stream of airrushing out of it, with so much force that it shook theringlets on his cheek. Pulling away the shrubbery whichclustered over the hole, he bent forward, and spoke in adistinct but reverential tone, as if addressing some unseenpersonage inside of the mountain.
"Sacred oracle of Delphi," said he, "whither shall I go next inquest of my dear sister Europa?"
There was at first a deep silence, and then a rushing sound, ora noise like a long sigh, proceeding out of the interior of theearth. This cavity, you must know, was looked upon as a sort offountain of truth, which sometimes gushed out in audible words;although, for the most part, these words were such a riddlethat they might just as well have staid at the bottom of thehole. But Cadmus was more fortunate than many others who wentto Delphi in search of truth. By and by, the rushing noisebegan to sound like articulate language. It repeated, over andover again, the following sentence, which, after all, was solike the vague whistle of a blast of air, that Cadmus reallydid not quite know whether it meant anything or not:
"Seek her no more! Seek her no more! Seek her no more!"
"What, then, shall I do?" asked Cadmus.
For, ever since he was a child, you know, it had been the greatobject of his life to find his sister. From the very hour thathe left following the butterfly in the meadow, near hisfather's palace, he had done his best to follow Europa, overland and sea. And now, if he must give up the search, he seemedto have no more business in the world.
But again the sighing gust of air grew into something like ahoarse voice.
"Follow the cow!" it said. "Follow the cow! Follow the cow!"
And when these words had been repeated until Cadmus was tiredof hearing them (especially as he could not imagine what cow itwas, or why he was to follow her), the gusty hole gave vent toanother sentence.
"Where the stray cow lies down, there is your home."
These words were pronounced but a single time, and died awayinto a whisper before Cadmus was fully satisfied that he hadcaught the meaning. He put other questions, but received noanswer; only the gust of wind sighed continually out of thecavity, and blew the withered leaves rustling along the groundbefore it.
"Did there really come any words out of the hole?" thoughtCadmus; "or have I been dreaming all this while?"
He turned away from the oracle, and thought himself no wiserthan when he came thither. Caring little what might happen tohim, he took the first path that offered itself, and went alongat a sluggish pace; for, having no object in view, nor anyreason to go one way more than another, it would certainly havebeen foolish to make haste. Whenever he met anybody, the oldquestion was at his tongue's end.
"Have you seen a beautiful maiden, dressed like a king'sdaughter, and mounted on a snow-white bull, that gallops asswiftly as the wind?"
But, remembering what the oracle had said, he only half utteredthe words, and then mumbled the rest indistinctly; and from hisconfusion, people must have imagined that this handsome youngman had lost his wits.
I know not how far Cadmus had gone, nor could he himself havetold you, when at no great distance before him, he beheld abrindled cow. She was lying down by the wayside, and quietlychewing her cud; nor did she take any notice of the young manuntil he had approached pretty nigh. Then, getting leisurelyupon her feet, and giving her head a gentle toss, she began tomove along at a moderate pace, often pausing just long enoughto crop a mouthful of grass. Cadmus loitered behind, whistlingidly to himself, and scarcely noticing the cow; until thethought occurred to him, whether this could possibly be theanimal which, according to the oracle's response, was to servehim for a guide. But he smiled at himself for fancying such athing. He could not seriously think that this was the cow,because she went along so quietly, behaving just like any othercow. Evidently she neither knew nor cared so much as a wisp ofhay about Cadmus, and was only thinking how to get her livingalong the wayside, where the herbage was green and fresh.Perhaps she was going home to be milked.
"Cow, cow, cow!" cried Cadmus. "Hey, Brindle, hey! Stop, mygood cow!"
He wanted to come up with the cow, so as to examine her, andsee if she would appear to know him, or whether there were anypeculiarities to distinguish her from a thousand other cows,whose only business is to fill the milk-pail, and sometimeskick it over. But still the brindled cow trudged on, whiskingher tail to keep the flies away, and taking as little notice ofCadmus as she well could. If he walked slowly, so did the cow,and seized the opportunity to graze. If he quickened his pace,the cow went just so much the faster; and once, when Cadmustried to catch her by running, she threw out her heels, stuckher tail straight on end, and set off at a gallop, looking asqueerly as cows generally do, while putting themselves to theirspeed.
When Cadmus saw that it was impossible to come up with her, hewalked on moderately, as before. The cow, too, went leisurelyon, without looking behind. Wherever the grass was greenest,there she nibbled a mouthful or two. Where a brook glistenedbrightly across the path, there the cow drank, and breathed acomfortable sigh, and drank again. and trudged onward at thepace that best suited herself and Cadmus.
"I do believe," thought Cadmus, "that this may be the cow thatwas foretold me. If it be the one, I suppose she will lie downsomewhere hereabouts."
Whether it were the oracular cow or some other one, it did notseem reasonable that she should travel a great way farther. So,whenever they reached a particularly pleasant spot on a breezyhillside, or in a sheltered vale, or flowery meadow, on theshore of a calm lake, or along the bank of a clear stream,Cadmus looked eagerly around to see if the situation would suithim for a home. But still, whether he liked the place or no,the brindled cow never offered to lie down. On she went at thequiet pace of a cow going homeward to the barn yard; and, everymoment, Cadmus expected to see a milkmaid approaching with apail, or a herdsman running to head the stray animal, and turnher back towards the pasture. But no milkmaid came; no herdsmandrove her back; and Cadmus followed the stray Brindle till hewas almost ready to drop down with fatigue.
"O brindled cow," cried he, in a tone of despair, "do you nevermean to stop?"
He had now grown too intent on following her to think oflagging behind, however long the way, and whatever might be hisfatigue. Indeed, it seemed as if there were something about theanimal that bewitched people. Several persons who happened tosee the brindled cow, and Cadmus following behind, began totrudge after her, precisely as he did. Cadmus was glad ofsomebody to converse with, and therefore talked very freely tothese good people. He told them all his adventures, and how hehad left King Agenor in his palace, and Phoenix at one place,and Cilix at another, and Thasus at a third, and his dearmother, Queen Telephassa, under a flowery sod; so that now hewas quite alone, both friendless and homeless. He mentioned,likewise, that the oracle had bidden him be guided by a cow,and inquired of the strangers whether they supposed that thisbrindled animal could be the one.
"Why, 'tis a very wonderful affair," answered one of his newcompanions. "I am pretty well acquainted with the ways ofcattle, and I never knew a cow, of her own accord, to go so farwithout stopping. If my legs will let me, I'll never leavefollowing the beast till she lies down."
"Nor I!" said a second.
"Nor I!" cried a third. "If she goes a hundred miles farther, Iam determined to see the end of it."
The secret of it was, you must know, that the cow was anenchanted cow, and that, without their being conscious of it,she threw some of her enchantment over everybody that took somuch as half a dozen steps behind her. They could not possiblyhelp following her, though all the time they fancied themselvesdoing it of their own accord. The cow was by no means very nicein choosing her path; so that sometimes they had to scrambleover rocks, or wade through mud and mire, and all in a terriblybedraggled condition, and tired to death, and very hungry, intothe bargain. What a weary business it was!
But still they kept trudging stoutly forward, and talking asthey went. The strangers grew very fond of Cadmus, and resolvednever to leave him, but to help him build a city wherever thecow might lie down. In the center of it there should be a noblepalace, in which Cadmus might dwell, and be their king, with athrone, a crown, a sceptre, a purple robe, and everything elsethat a king ought to have; for in him there was the royalblood, and the royal heart, and the head that knew how to rule.
While they were talking of these schemes, and beguiling thetediousness of the way with laying out the plan of the newcity, one of the company happened to look at the cow.
"Joy! joy!" cried he, clapping his hands. "Brindle is going tolie down."
They all looked; and, sure enough, the cow had stopped, and wasstaring leisurely about her, as other cows do when on the pointof lying down. And slowly, slowly did she recline herself onthe soft grass, first bending her forelegs, and then crouchingher hind ones. When Cadmus and his companions came up with her,there was the brindled cow taking her ease, chewing her cud,and looking them quietly in the face; as if this was just thespot she had been seeking for, and as if it were all a matterof course.
"This, then," said Cadmus, gazing around him, "this is to be myhome."
It was a fertile and lovely plain, with great trees flingingtheir sun-speckled shadows over it, and hills fencing it infrom the rough weather. At no great distance, they beheld ariver gleaming in the sunshine. A home feeling stole into theheart of poor Cadmus. He was very glad to know that here hemight awake in the morning without the necessity of putting onhis dusty sandals to travel farther and farther. The days andthe years would pass over him, and find him still in thispleasant spot. If he could have had his brothers with him, andhis friend Thasus, and could have seen his dear mother under aroof of his own, he might here have been happy after all theirdisappointments. Some day or other, too, his sister Europamight have come quietly to the door of his home, and smiledround upon the familiar faces. But, indeed, since there was nohope of regaining the friends of his boyhood, or ever seeinghis dear sister again, Cadmus resolved to make himself happywith these new companions, who had grown so fond of him whilefollowing the cow.
"Yes, my friends," said he to them, "this is to be our home.Here we will build our habitations. The brindled cow, which hasled us hither, will supply us with milk. We will cultivate theneighboring soil. and lead an innocent and happy life."
His companions joyfully assented to this plan; and, in thefirst place, being very hungry and thirsty, they looked aboutthem for the means of providing a comfortable meal. Not far offthey saw a tuft of trees, which appeared as if there might be aspring of water beneath them. They went thither to fetch some,leaving Cadmus stretched on the ground along with the brindledcow; for, now that he had found a place of rest, it seemed asif all the weariness of his pilgrimage, ever since he left KingAgenor's palace, had fallen upon him at once. But his newfriends had not long been gone, when he was suddenly startledby cries, shouts, and screams, and the noise of a terriblestruggle, and in the midst of it all, a most awful hissing,which went right through his ears like a rough saw.
Running towards the tuft of trees, he beheld the head and fieryeyes of an immense serpent or dragon, with the widest jaws thatever a dragon had, and a vast many rows of horribly sharpteeth. Before Cadmus could reach the spot, this pitilessreptile had killed his poor companions, and was busilydevouring them, making but a mouthful of each man.
It appears that the fountain of water was enchanted, and thatthe dragon had been set to guard it, so that no mortal mightever quench his thirst there. As the neighboring inhabitantscarefully avoided the spot, it was now a long time (not lessthan a hundred years or thereabouts) since the monster hadbroken his fast; and, as was natural enough, his appetite hadgrown to be enormous, and was not half satisfied by the poorpeople whom he had just eaten up. When he caught sight ofCadmus, therefore, he set up another abominable hiss, and flungback his immense jaws, until his mouth looked like a great redcavern, at the farther end of which were seen the legs of hislast victim, whom he had hardly had time to swallow.
But Cadmus was so enraged at the destruction of his friendsthat he cared neither for the size of the dragon's jaws nor forhis hundreds of sharp teeth. Drawing his sword, he rushed atthe monster, and flung himself right into his cavernous mouth.This bold method of attacking him took the dragon by surprise;for, in fact, Cadmus had leaped so far down into his throat,that the rows of terrible teeth could not close upon him, nordo him the least harm in the world. Thus, though the strugglewas a tremendous one, and though the dragon shattered the tuftof trees into small splinters by the lashing of his tail, yet,as Cadmus was all the while slashing and stabbing at his veryvitals, it was not long before the scaly wretch bethoughthimself of slipping away. He had not gone his length, however,when the brave Cadmus gave him a sword thrust that finished thebattle; and creeping out of the gateway of the creature's jaws,there he beheld him still wriggling his vast bulk, althoughthere was no longer life enough in him to harm a little child.
But do not you suppose that it made Cadmus sorrowful to thinkof the melancholy fate which had befallen those poor, friendlypeople, who had followed the cow along with him? It seemed asif he were doomed to lose everybody whom he loved, or to seethem perish in one way or another. And here he was, after allhis toils and troubles, in a solitary place, with not a singlehuman being to help him build a hut.
"What shall I do?" cried he aloud. "It were better for me tohave been devoured by the dragon, as my poor companions were."
"Cadmus," said a voice but whether it came from above or belowhim, or whether it spoke within his own breast, the young mancould not tell--"Cadmus, pluck out the dragon's teeth, andplant them in the earth."
This was a strange thing to do; nor was it very easy, I shouldimagine, to dig out all those deep-rooted fangs from the deaddragon's jaws. But Cadmus toiled and tugged, and after poundingthe monstrous head almost to pieces with a great stone, he atlast collected as many teeth as might have filled a bushel ortwo. The next thing was to plant them. This, likewise, was atedious piece of work, especially as Cadmus was alreadyexhausted with killing the dragon and knocking his head topieces, and had nothing to dig the earth with, that I know of,unless it were his sword blade. Finally, however, asufficiently large tract o ground was turned up, and sown withthis new kind of seed; although half of the dragon's teethstill remained to be planted some other day.
Cadmus, quite out of breath, stood leaning upon his sword, andwondering what was to happen next. He had waited but a fewmoments, when he began to see a sight, which was as great amarvel as the most marvelous thing I ever told you about.
The sun was shining slantwise over the field, and showed allthe moist, dark soil just like any other newly-planted piece ofground. All at once, Cadmus fancied he saw something glistenvery brightly, first at one spot, then at another, and then ata hundred and a thousand spots together. Soon he perceived themto be the steel heads of spears, sprouting up everywhere likeso many stalks of grain, and continually growing taller andtaller. Next appeared a vast number of bright sword blades,thrusting themselves up in the same way. A moment afterwards,the whole surface of the ground was broken by a multitude ofpolished brass helmets, coming up like a crop of enormousbeans. So rapidly did they grow, that Cadmus now discerned thefierce countenance of a man beneath every one. In short, beforehe had time to think what a wonderful affair it was, he beheldan abundant harvest of what looked like human beings, armedwith helmets and breastplates, shields, swords, and spears; andbefore they were well out of the earth, they brandished theirweapons, and clashed them one against another, seeming tothink, little while as they had yet lived, that they had wastedtoo much of life without a battle. Every tooth of the dragonhad produced one of these sons of deadly mischief.
Up sprouted also a great many trumpeters; and with the firstbreath that they drew, they put their brazen trumpets to theirlips, and sounded a tremendous and ear-shattering blast, sothat the whole space, just now so quiet and solitary,reverberated with the clash and clang of arms, the bray ofwarlike music, and the shouts of angry men. So enraged did theyall look, that Cadmus fully expected them to put the wholeworld to the sword. How fortunate would it be for a greatconqueror, if he could get a bushel of the dragon's teeth tosow!
"Cadmus," said the same voice which he had before heard, "throwa stone into the midst of the armed men."
So Cadmus seized a large stone, and flinging it into the middleof the earth army, saw it strike the breastplate of a giganticand fierce-looking warrior. Immediately on feeling the blow, heseemed to take it for granted that somebody had struck him;and, uplifting his weapon, he smote his next neighbor a blowthat cleft his helmet asunder, and stretched him on the ground.In an instant, those nearest the fallen warrior began to strikeat one another with their swords, and stab with their spears.The confusion spread wider and wider. Each man smote down hisbrother, and was himself smitten down before he had time toexult in his victory. The trumpeters, all the while, blew theirblasts shriller and shriller; each soldier shouted a battlecry, and often fell with it on his lips. It was the strangestspectacle of causeless wrath, and of mischief for no good end,that had ever been witnessed; but, after all, it was neithermore foolish nor more wicked than a thousand battles that havesince been fought, in which men have slain their brothers withjust as little reason as these children of the dragon's teeth.It ought to be considered, too, that the dragon people weremade for nothing else; whereas other mortals were born to loveand help one another.
Well, this memorable battle continued to rage until the groundwas strewn with helmeted heads that had been cut off. Of allthe thousands that began the fight, there were only five leftstanding. These now rushed from different parts of the field,and, meeting in the middle of it, clashed their swords, andstruck at each other's hearts as fiercely as ever.
"Cadmus," said the voice again, "bid those five warriorssheathe their swords. They will help you to build the city."
Without hesitating an instant, Cadmus stepped forward, with theaspect of a king and a leader, and extending his drawn swordamongst them, spoke to the warriors in a stern and commandingvoice.
"Sheathe your weapons!" said he.
And forthwith, feeling themselves bound to obey him, the fiveremaining sons of the dragon's teeth made him a military salutewith their swords, returned them to the scabbards, and stoodbefore Cadmus in a rank, eyeing him as soldiers eye theircaptain, while awaiting the word of command.
These five men had probably sprung from the biggest of thedragon's teeth, and were the boldest and strongest of the wholearmy. They were almost giants indeed, and had good need to beso, else they never could have lived through so terrible afight. They still had a very furious look, and, if Cadmushappened to glance aside, would glare at one another, with fireflashing out of their eyes. It was strange, too, to observe howthe earth, out of which they had so lately grown, wasincrusted, here and there, on their bright breastplates, andeven, begrimed their faces; just as you may have seen itclinging to beets and carrots, when pulled out of their nativesoil. Cadmus hardly knew whether to consider them as men, orsome odd kind of vegetable; although, on the whole, heconcluded that there was human nature in them, because theywere so fond of trumpets and weapons, and so ready to shedblood.
They looked him earnestly in the face, waiting for his nextorder, and evidently desiring no other employment than tofollow him from one battlefield to another, all over the wideworld. But Cadmus was wiser than these earth-born creatures,with the dragon's fierceness in them, and knew better how touse their strength and hardihood.
"Come!" said he. "You are sturdy fellows. Make yourselvesuseful! Quarry some stones with those great swords of yours,and help me to build a city."
The five soldiers grumbled a little, and muttered that it wastheir business to overthrow cities, not to build them up. ButCadmus looked at them with a stern eye, and spoke to them in atone of authority, so that they knew him for their master, andnever again thought of disobeying his commands. They set towork in good earnest, and toiled so diligently, that, in a veryshort time, a city began to make its appearance. At first, tobe sure, the workmen showed a quarrelsome disposition. Likesavage beasts, they would doubtless have done one another amischief, if Cadmus had not kept watch over them, and quelledthe fierce old serpent that lurked in their hearts, when he sawit gleaming out of their wild eyes. But, in course of time,they got accustomed to honest labor, and had sense enough tofeel that there was more true enjoyment in living at peace, anddoing good to one's neighbor, than in striking at him with atwo-edged sword. It may not be too much to hope that the restof mankind will by and by grow as wise and peaceable as thesefive earth-begrimed warriors, who sprang from the dragon'steeth.
And now the city was built, and there was a home in it for eachof the workmen. But the palace of Cadmus was not yet erected,because they had left it till the last, meaning to introduceall the new improvements of architecture, and make it verycommodious, as well as stately and beautiful. After finishingthe rest of their labors, they all went to bed betimes, inorder to rise in the gray of the morning, and get at least thefoundation of the edifice laid before nightfall. But, whenCadmus arose, and took his way towards the site where thepalace was to be built, followed by his five sturdy workmenmarching all in a row, what do you think he saw?
What should it be but the most magnificent palace that had everbeen seen in the world. It was built of marble and otherbeautiful kinds of stone, and rose high into the air, with asplendid dome and a portico along the front, and carvedpillars, and everything else that befitted the habitation of amighty king. It had grown up out of the earth in almost asshort a time as it had taken the armed host to spring from thedragon's teeth; and what made the matter more strange, no seedof this stately edifice ever had been planted.
When the five workmen beheld the dome, with the morningsunshine making it look golden and glorious, they gave a greatshout.
"Long live King Cadmus," they cried, "in his beautiful palace."
And the new king, with his five faithful followers at hisheels, shouldering their pickaxes and marching in a rank (forthey still had a soldier-like sort of behavior, as their naturewas), ascended the palace steps. Halting at the entrance, theygazed through a long vista of lofty pillars, that were rangedfrom end to end of a great hall. At the farther extremity ofthis hall, approaching slowly towards him, Cadmus beheld afemale figure, wonderfully beautiful, and adorned with a royalrobe, and a crown of diamonds over her golden ringlets, and therichest necklace that ever a queen wore. His heart thrilledwith delight. He fancied it his long-lost sister Europa, nowgrown to womanhood, coming to make him happy, and to repay himwith her sweet sisterly affection, for all those wearywonderings in quest of her since he left King Agenor'spalace--for the tears that he had shed, on parting withPhoenix, and Cilix, and Thasus--for the heart-breakings thathad made the whole world seem dismal to him over his dearmother's grave.
But, as Cadmus advanced to meet the beautiful stranger, he sawthat her features were unknown to him, although, in the littletime that it required to tread along the hall, he had alreadyfelt a sympathy betwixt himself and her.
"No, Cadmus," said the same voice that had spoken to him in thefield of the armed men, "this is not that dear sister Europawhom you have sought so faithfully all over the wide world.This is Harmonia, a daughter of the sky, who is given youinstead of sister, and brothers, and friend, and mother. Youwill find all those dear ones in her alone."
So King Cadmus dwelt in the palace, with his new friendHarmonia, and found a great deal of comfort in his magnificentabode, but would doubtless have found as much, if not more, inthe humblest cottage by the wayside. Before many years went by,there was a group of rosy little children (but how they camethither has always been a mystery to me) sporting in the greathall, and on the marble steps of the palace, and runningjoyfully to meet King Cadmus when affairs of state left him atleisure to play with them. They called him father, and QueenHarmonia mother. The five old soldiers of the dragon's teethgrew very fond of these small urchins, and were never weary ofshowing them how to shoulder sticks, flourish wooden swords,and march in military order, blowing a penny trumpet, orbeating an abominable rub-a-dub upon a little drum.
But King Cadmus, lest there should be too much of the dragon'stooth in his children's disposition, used to find time from hiskingly duties to teach them their A B C--which he invented fortheir benefit, and for which many little people, I am afraid,are not half so grateful to him as they ought to be.
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