Myths That Every Child Should Know

dom of Ph?nicia. They had rambled to some distance from the palace where their parents dwelt, and were now in a verdant meadow, on one side of which lay the sea, all sparkling and dimpli

ance of buds and blossoms, whence her rosy face peeped merrily

ong, did not chase the butterfly with her brothers, but sat still where they had left her, and closed her eyes. For a while, she listened to the pleasant murmur of the sea, which was like a voice saying "Hush!" and bidding her g

been a long time playing in the meadow, and had seen no cattle,

midst of the roses and lilies. "Ph?nix! Cilix! Where

, and hindered her from calling very loudly. So there she stood, with her pretty mouth wide

expression in his face. As for his breath-the breath of cattle, you know, is always sweet-it was as fragrant as if he had been grazing on no other food than rosebuds, or, at least, the most delicate of clover blossoms. Never before did a bull have such bright and tender eyes, and s

n his neck and ivory horns. Then she pulled up some blades of grass, and he ate them out of her hand, not as if he were hungry, but because he wanted to be friends with the child, and to

w, now here, now there, making sprightly leaps, with as little effort as a bird expends in hopping from twig to twig. Indeed, his motion was as light as if he were flying through the air, and his hoofs seemed hardly to leave their print in the g

ure!" she cried. "Here i

head before Europa, as if he knew her to be a king's daughter, or else recognised the important truth that a little girl is everybody's queen. And not only did the bull bend his neck,

t he wanted to say, "let me

dly animal, who would certainly set her down the very instant she desired it. And how it would surprise her brothers to see her riding across the green meadow! And what merry times they might have, eithe

do it," said the

rejoining them, to get upon the white bull's back. She came a step nearer to him, therefore; and-sociable creature that he was-he showed so much joy at this mark of her confidence, that the child could not find i

said, rather frightened at what she

Cilix, and Cadmus stood gaping at the spectacle of their sister mounted on a white bull, not knowing whether to be frightened or to wish the same good luck for themselves. The gentle and innocent creature (for who could possibly doubt that he was so?) pranced round among the children as sportively as a kitten. Europa all the while looked down u

dmus, Ph?nix, and Cil

el as if their dear sister were really leaving them forever. And what do you think the snowy bull did next? Why, he set off, as swift as the wind, straight down to the seashore, scampere

al was already far away in the wide blue sea, with only his snowy head and tail emerging, and poor little Europa between them, stretching out one hand toward her dear brothers, while she grasped the bull's ivory horn with the other. And there stood Cadmus, Ph?nix, and Cilix, gaz

better than his kingdom, or than all his other children, or than anything else in the world. Therefore, when Cadmus and his two brothers came crying home, and told him how that a white bull had carried of

my little Europa, to gladden me with her smiles and her pretty ways. Bego

suppers, but slunk away out of the palace, and only paused on the steps a moment to consult whither they should go first. While they were standing there, all in dismay, their

ght is dark, and there is no knowing wha

erly, "that is only another reason why I should go with you. If I shou

id their playfellow Thasus,

herefore, set forth together; Cadmus, Ph?nix, Cilix and Thasus clustered round Queen Telephassa, grasping her skirts, and begging her to lean upon their shoulders whenever she felt weary. In this manner they went down the palace steps, a

end these steps agai

nd the three brothers and Thasus an

ellow Thasus, entering the door together, and the sweet, childish accents of little Europa in the midst of them. But so long a time went by, that, at last, if they had really come, the king would not have known that this was the voice of Telepha

this question, paused a little while from their labours in the field, and looked very much surprised. They thought it strange to behold a woman in the garb of a queen (for Telephassa, in her haste, had forgotten to take off her crown and her royal robes), roaming

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 looked very much travel stained, and would have had the

he," said the poor queen, "and

who had once a palace for their home, and a train of servants to do their bidding. The four boys grew up to be tall young men, with sunburnt faces. Each of them girded on a sword, to defend themselves against the perils of the way. When the husbandmen, at whose farmhouses they sought hospitality

of one like this you tell me of. A snow-white bull with a little princess on his back! H

ng hither and thither to no purpose. So, one day, when they happened to be passing th

sister is lost, and never will be found. She probably perished in the sea; or, to whatever shore the white bull may have carried her, it is now so many years ago, that there wo

ve grown to be a man, and must do as you judge best. But,

you!" cried Cadmus and Cilix, a

hile the other was furnished with a rustic seat or two, curiously fashioned out of the crooked roots of trees. So comfortable and homelike did it seem, that Telephassa and her three companions could not help sighing, to think that they must still ro

ble, wherein dwelt Ph?nix, clothed in a purple robe, and wearing a golden crown upon his head. For the inhabitants of the new city, finding that he had royal blood in his veins, had chosen him to be their king. The very first decree of state which King Ph?nix issued was, that if a maiden happened to arrive in the kingdom, mounted on a snow-white bull, a

these wanderers, that on the morrow they must again set forth, and that, after many nightfalls, they would perhaps be no nearer the close of their toilsome pilgrimage than now. These thoughts mad

forgotten how she looked, and the tones of her voice, and, indeed, almost doubt whether such a little girl ever lived in the world. And whether she once lived or no, I am convinced that she no longer survives, and that therefore it is the merest folly to waste our own

In the depths of my heart, little Europa is still the rosy child who ran to gather flowers so many years ago. She has not grown to womanhood, nor forgotten me. At noo

us, "while my dear moth

remained with Cilix a few days, however, and helped him to build a rus

So the pilgrims took their leave of him, and departed, and were hardly out of sight before some other wandering people came along that way, and saw Cilix's habitation, and were greatly delighted with the appearance of the place. There being abundance of unoccupied ground in the neighbourhood, these strangers built huts for themselves, and were soon joined by a multi

orders to visit the principal kingdoms of the earth, and inquire whether a young maiden had passed through those regions, galloping swiftly on a white bull. It

ying her across rivulets in their faithful arms, and seeking to shelter her at nightfall, even when they themselves lay on the ground. Sad, sad it was to hear them asking of every passerby if he had seen Europa, so long af

nd that he had sprained his ankle, an

But that would only delay you, and perhaps hinder you from finding dear little Europa, after all your p

er to me and her than Ph?nix and Cilix did, whom we have left behind us. Without thy loving help, and that of my son Cadmus, my limbs could not have borne me half so far as thi

ss that her hopes were growing faint. From that day forward, Cadmus noticed that she never travelled w

pened to him, as to Ph?nix and Cilix, that other homeless people visited the spot and liked it, and built themselves habitations in the neighbourhood. So here, in the course of a few years, was another thriving city with a red freestone palace in the centre of it, where Thasus set upon a throne, doing ju

of the snow-white bull, some trace of the vanished child. He returned, after a lengthened absence, and sat down wearily upon his throne. To his latest hour, nevertheless, King Thasus showed his true-hearted remembrance of Europa, by ordering that a fire should always be kept burning in his palace, and a bath steaming hot,

lk only a few miles a day. But for all her weakness and weariness, she would not be persuaded to give up the search. It was enough to bring tears in

iden of full growth-passing by this way, mounted on a

ispered to him, "Is this stately and sad-looking woman your mother? Surely she is not in her right mind; an

Cadmus. "Everything els

the arm of Cadmus, and walked more slowly than ever before. At last they reached a solit

ooking Cadmus tenderly in the face-"

ease, dear mother,

wn on the turf beside her,

be very long indeed! You must not wait till it is finished. Dear Cadmus, you do not comprehend m

him, and kissed him, and at length made him discern that it was better for her spirit to pass away out of the toil, the weariness, the grief, an

t is owing to thy care, thou tenderest child, that my grave was not dug long years ago, in some valley, or on some hillside, that lies far, far behind us. It is enough. Thou

us, "couldst thou but have see

was a smile upon her face. "I go now to the better wor

instead of vanishing from her dead face; so that Cadmus felt convinced that, at her very first step into the better world, she had caught Europa

question, that it came to his lips as readily as a remark about the weather. He received various answers. Some told him one thing, and some another. Among the rest, a mariner affirmed, that, many years before, in a distant country, he had heard a rumour about a white bull, which came swimming across the s

s were strong and active and well accustomed to exercise. He walked swiftly along, thinking of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa, and his brothers, and the friendly Thasus, all of whom he had left behind him, at one point of his pilgrimage or another,

d him of those which he had helped to build for Phoenix and Cilix, and afterward for Thasus. In later times, when multitudes of people came from great distances to put questions to the oracle, a spacious temple of marble wa

t soon he felt a cold stream of air rushing out of it, with so much force that it shook the ringlets on his cheek. Pulling away the shrubbery which

he, "whither shall I go next in

ble words; although, for the most part, these words were such a riddle that they might just as well have stayed at the bottom of the hole. But Cadmus was more fortunate than many others who went to Delphi in search of truth. By and by, the rushi

Seek her no more!

shall I do?"

y hour that he left following the butterfly in the meadow, near his father's palace, he had done his best to follow

st of air grew into some

said. "Follow the c

ring them (especially as he could not imagine what cow it was, or wh

cow lies down, th

fied that he had caught the meaning. He put other questions, but received no answer; only the gust of win

of the hole?" thought Cadmus; "or h

k the first path that offered itself, and went along at a sluggish pace; for, having no object in view, nor any reason to go one way m

e a king's daughter, and mounted on a snow-whi

rds, and then mumbled the rest indistinctly; and from his confusion, p

began to move along at a moderate pace, often pausing just long enough to crop a mouthful of grass. Cadmus loitered behind, whistling idly to himself, and scarcely noticing the cow; until the thought occurred to him, whether this could possibly be the animal which, according to the oracle's response, was to serve him for a guide. But he smiled at himself for

Cadmus. "Hey, Brindle,

it over. But still the brindled cow trudged on, whisking her tail to keep the flies away, and taking as little notice of Cadmus as she well could. If he walked slowly, so did the cow, and seized the opportunity to graze. If he quickened his pace, the

looking behind. Wherever the grass was greenest, there she nibbled a mouthful or two. Where a brook glistened brightly across the path, t

the cow that was foretold me. If it be the one,

e bank of a clear stream, Cadmus looked eagerly around to see if the situation would suit him for a home. But still, whether he liked the place or no, the brindled cow never offered to lie down. On she went at the quiet pace of a cow going homeward to the barnyard; and, every moment

, in a tone of despair, "d

, began to trudge after her, precisely as he did. Cadmus was glad of somebody to converse with, and therefore talked very freely to these good people. He told them all his adventures, and how he had left King Agenor in his palace, and Ph?nix at one place, and Cilix at another, and Thasus at a th

uainted with the ways of cattle, and I never knew a cow, of her own accord, to go so far witho

" said

oes a hundred miles farther, I'm

teps behind her. They could not possibly help following her, though, all the time, they fancied themselves doing it of their own accord. The cow was by no means very nice in choosing her path; so that so

a city wherever the cow might lie down. In the centre of it there should be a noble palace, in which Cadmus might dwell, and be their king, with a throne, a crown an

he tediousness of the way with laying out the plan of the

apping his hands. "Brind

ecline herself on the soft grass, first bending her fore legs, and then crouching her hind ones. When Cadmus and his companions came up with her, there was the brindled c

us, gazing around him,

of putting on his dusty sandals to travel farther and farther. The days and the years would pass over him, and find him still in this pleasant spot. If he could have had his brothers with him, and his friend Thasus, and could have seen his dear mother under a roof of his own, he might here have been happy, after all their disappointments. Some day or

ur habitations. The brindled cow, which has led us hither, will supply us with mi

r beneath them. They went thither to fetch some, leaving Cadmus stretched on the ground along with the brindled cow; for, now that he had found a place of rest, it seemed as if all the weariness of his pilgrimage, ever since he left King Agenor's palace, had falle

t jaws that ever a dragon had, and a vast many rows of horribly sharp teeth. Before Cadmus could reach the spot, th

ess than a hundred years, or thereabouts) since the monster had broken his fast; and, as was natural enough, his appetite had grown to be enormous, and was not half satisfied by the poor people whom he had just eaten up. When he caught sight

own into his throat, that the rows of terrible teeth could not close upon him, nor do him the least harm in the world. Thus, though the struggle was a tremendous one, and though the dragon shattered the tuft of trees into small splinters by the lashing of his tail, yet, as Cadmus was all the while slashing and stabbing at his very vitals, it was not

had followed the cow along with him? It seemed as if he were doomed to lose everybody whom he loved, or to see them perish in one way o

re better for me to have been devoured by

r whether it spoke within his own breast, the young man could not tel

ollected as many teeth as might have filled a bushel or two. The next thing was to plant them. This, likewise, was a tedious piece of work, especially as Cadmus was already exhausted with killing the dragon and knocking his head to pieces, and had nothing t

s to happen next. He had waited but a few moments, when he began to see a sight,

er and taller. Next appeared a vast number of bright sword blades, thrusting themselves up in the same way. A moment afterward, the whole surface of the ground was broken up by a multitude of polished brass helmets, coming up like a crop of enormous beans. So rapidly did they grow, that Cadmus now discerned the fierce countenance of a man beneath every one. In short, before he had time to think what a wonderful affair it was

; so that the whole space, just now so quiet and solitary, reverberated with the clash and clang of arms, the bray of warlike music, and the shouts of angry men. So enraged did they

he had before heard, "throw a ston

rior began to strike at one another with their swords and stab with their spears. The confusion spread wider and wider. Each man smote down his brother, and was himself smitten down before he had time to exult in his victory. The trumpeters, all the while, blew their blasts shriller and shriller; each soldier shouted a battle cry and often fell with it on his lips. It was the strangest spectacle of causeless wrath, and

all the thousands that began the fight, there were only five left standing. These now rushed from different parts of t

se five warriors to sheathe their swords

aspect of a king and a leader, and extending his drawn sword amo

our weapon

th made him a military salute with their swords, returned them to the scabbards, and stood befor

s happened to glance aside, would glare at one another, with fire flashing out of their eyes. It was strange, too, to observe how the earth, out of which they had so lately grown, was incrusted, here and there, on their bright breastplates, and even begrimed their faces, just as you may have seen it

han to follow him from one battlefield to another, all over the wide world. But Cadmus was wiser than these ear

urselves useful! Quarry some stones with those gr

y short time, a city began to make its appearance. At first, to be sure, the workmen showed a quarrelsome disposition. Like savage beasts, they would doubtless have done one another a mischief, if Cadmus had not kept watch over them and quelled the fierce old serpent that lurked in their hearts, when he saw it gleaming out of their wild eyes. But, in course of time, they

hitecture, and make it very commodious, as well as stately and beautiful. After finishing the rest of their labours, they all went to bed betimes, in order to rise in the gray of the morning, and get at least the found

th a splendid dome and a portico along the front, and carved pillars, and everything else that befitted the habitation of a mighty king. It had grown up out of the earth in almo

th the morning sunshine making it look go

s," they cried, "in h

the farther extremity of this hall, approaching slowly toward him, Cadmus beheld a female figure, wonderfully beautiful, and adorned with a royal robe, and a crown of diamonds over her golden ringlets, and the richest necklace that ever a queen wore. His heart thrilled with delight. He fancied it his long-lost sister Europa, now grown to woman

ures were unknown to him, although, in the little time that it required to t

r Europa whom you have sought so faithfully all over the wide world. This is Harmonia, a daughter of the sky, who is

ildren (but how they came thither has always been a mystery to me) sporting in the great hall, and on the marble steps of the palace, and running joyfully to meet King Cadmus when affairs of state left him at leisure to play with them. They called him father, and Queen Harmonia mo

sed to find time from his kingly duties to teach them their A B C-which he invented for their benefit