rs； was another thriving city； with a red freestone palace in the center of it； where Thasus sat upon a throne； doing justice to the people； with a purple robe over his shoulders； a sceptre in his hand； and a crown upon his head。 The inhabitants had made him king； not for the sake of any royal blood （for none was in his veins）； but because Thasus was an upright； true…hearted； and courageous man； and therefore fit to rule。
But when the affairs of his kingdom were all settled； King Thasus laid aside his purple robe and crown； and sceptre； and bade his worthiest subjects distribute justice to the people in his stead。 Then； grasping the pilgrim's staff that had supported him so long； he set forth again； hoping still to discover some hoof…mark 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； and food ready to be served up； and a bed with snow…white sheets； in case the maiden should arrive； and require immediate refreshment。 And； though Europa never came； the good Thasus had the blessings of many a poor traveler； who profited by the food and lodging which were meant for the little playmate of the king's boyhood。
Telephassa and Cadmus were now pursuing their weary way； with no companion but each other。 The queen leaned heavily upon her son's arm； and could walk 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 into the eyes of bearded men to hear the melancholy tone with which she inquired of every stranger whether he could not tell her any news of the lost child。
〃Have you seen a little girlno； no； I mean a young maiden of full growthpassing 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； 〃Is this stately and sad…looking woman your mother？ Surely she is not in her right mind； and you ought to take her home； and make
her comfortable； and do your best to get this dream out of her fancy。〃
〃It is no dream；〃 said Cadmus。 〃Everything else is a dream； save that。〃
But； one day； Telephassa seemed feebler than usual； and leaned almost her whole weight on the arm of Cadmus； and walked more slowly than ever before。 At last they reached a solitary spot； where she told her son that she must needs lie down； and take a good long rest。
〃A good long rest！〃 she repeated； looking Cadmus tenderly in the 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 then she 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 must not wait till it is finished。 Dear Cadmus； you do not comprehend me。 You must make a grave here； and lay your mother's weary frame into it。 My pilgrimage is over。〃
Cadmus burst into tears； and； for a long time； refused to believe that his dear mother was now to be taken from him。 But Telephassa reasoned with 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； and grief； and disappointment which had burdened her on earth； ever since the child was lost。 He therefore repressed his sorrow； and listened to her last words。
〃Dearest Cadmus；〃 said she； 〃thou hast been the truest son that ever mother had； and faithful to the very last。 Who else would have borne with my infirmities as thou hast！ It 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 shalt wander no more on this hopeless search。 But； when thou hast laid thy mother in the earth； then go； my son； to Delphi； and inquire of the oracle what thou shalt do next。〃
〃O mother； mother；〃 cried Cadmus； 〃couldst thou but have seen my sister before this hour！〃
〃It matters little now；〃 answered Telephassa； and there was a smile upon her face。 〃I go now to the better world； and； sooner or later； shall find my daughter there。〃
I will not sadden you； my little hearers； with telling how Telephassa died and was buried； but will only say； that her dying smile grew brighter； instead of vanishing from her dead face； so that Cadmus left convinced that； at her very first step into the better world； she had caught Europa in her arms。 He planted some flowers on his mother's grave； and left them to grow there； and make the place beautiful； when he should be far away。
After performing this last sorrowful duty； he set forth alone； and took the road towards the famous oracle of Delphi； as Telephassa had advised him。 On his way thither； he still inquired of most people whom he met whether they had seen Europa； for； to say the truth； Cadmus had grown so accustomed to ask the 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 rumor about a white bull； which came swimming across the sea with a child on his back； dressed up in flowers that were blighted by the sea water。 He did not know what had become of the child or the bull； and Cadmus suspected； indeed； by a queer twinkle in the mariner's eyes； that he was putting a joke upon him； and had never really heard anything about the matter。
Poor Cadmus found it more wearisome to travel alone than to bear all his dear mother's weight； while she had kept him company。 His heart； you will understand； was now so heavy that it seemed impossible； sometimes； to carry it any farther。 But his limbs 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； and never expected to see them any more。 Full of these remembrances； he came within sight of a lofty mountain； which the people thereabouts told him was called Parnassus。 On the slope of Mount Parnassus was the famous Delphi； whither Cadmus was going。
This Delphi was supposed to be the very midmost spot of the whole world。 The place of the oracle was a certain cavity in the mountain side； over which； when Cadmus came thither； he found a rude bower of branches。 It reminded him of those which he had helped to build for Phoenix and Cilix； and afterwards for Thasus。 In later times； when multitudes of people came from great distances to put questions to the oracle； a spacious temple of marble was erected over the spot。 But in the days of Cadmus； 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 discern the half…hidden cavity。 But 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 clustered over the hole； he bent forward； and spoke in a distinct but reverential tone； as if addressing some unseen personage inside of the mountain。
〃Sacred oracle of Delphi；〃 said he； 〃whither shall I go next in quest of my dear sister Europa？〃
There was at first a deep silence； and then a rushing sound； or a noise like a long sigh； proceeding out of the interior of the earth。 This cavity； you must know； was looked upon as a sort of fountain of truth； which sometimes gushed out in audible words； although； for the most part； these words were such a riddle that they might just as well have staid 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 rushing noise began to sound like articulate language。 It repeated； over and over again； the following sentence； which； after all； was so like the vague whistle of a blast of air； that Cadmus really did 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 great object of his life to find his sister。 From the very hour that he left following the butterfly in the meadow； near his father's palace； he had done his best to follow Europa； over land and sea。 And now； if he must give up the search； he seemed to have no more business in the world。
But again the sighing gust of air grew into something like a hoarse voice。
〃Follow the cow！〃 it said。 〃Follow the cow！ Follow the cow！〃
And when these words had been repeated until Cadmus was tired of hearing them （especially as he could not imagine what cow it was； or why he was to follow her）； the gusty hole gave vent to another sentence。
〃Where the stray cow lies down； there is your home。〃
These words were pronounced but a single time； and died away into a whisper before Cadmus was fully satisfied that he had caught the meaning。 He put other questions； but received no answer； only the gust of wind sighed continually out of the cavity； and blew the withered leaves rustling along the ground before it。
〃Did there really come any words out of the hole？〃 thought Cadmus； 〃or have I been dreaming all this while？〃
He turned away from the oracle； and thought himself no wiser than when he came thither。 Caring little what might happen to him； he took 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 more than another； it would certainly have been foolish to make haste。 Whenever he met anybody； the old question was at his tongue's end。
〃Have you seen a beautiful maiden； dressed like a king's daughter； and mount