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this manner they went down the palace steps； and began a journey； which
turned out to be a great deal longer than they dreamed of。 The last that
they saw of King Agenor； he came to the door； with a servant holding a
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torch beside him； and called after them into the gathering darkness：
〃Remember！ Never ascend these steps again without the child！〃
〃Never！〃 sobbed Queen Telephassa； and the three brothers and Thasus
answered； 〃Never！ Never！ Never！ Never！〃
And they kept their word。 Year after year； King Agenor sat in the
solitude of his beautiful palace； listening in vain for their returning
footsteps； hoping to hear the familiar voice of the queen； and the cheerful
talk of his sons and their playfellow 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 Telephassa； and these the
younger voices that used to make such joyful echoes； when the children
were playing about the palace。 We must now leave King Agenor to sit on
his throne； and must go along with Queen Telephassa； and her four
youthful companions。
They went on and on； and traveled a long way； and passed over
mountains and rivers； and sailed over seas。 Here； and there； and
everywhere； they made continual inquiry if any person could tell them
what had become of Europa。 The rustic people； of whom they asked this
question； paused a little while from their labors 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
crownand her royal robes）； roaming about the country； with four lads
around her； on such an errand as this seemed to be。 But nobody could give
them any tidings of Europa； nobody had seen a little 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； their playfellow； went wandering
along the highways and bypaths； or through 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 looked
very much travel…stained； and would have had the dust of many countries
on their shoes； if the streams； through which they waded； had not washed
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it all away。 When they had been gone a year； Telephassa threw away her
crown； because it chafed her forehead。
〃It has given me many a headache；〃 said the poor queen； 〃and it cannot
cure my heartache。〃
As fast as their princely robes got torn and tattered； they exchanged
them for such mean attire as ordinary people wore。 By and by； they come
to have a wild and homeless aspect； so that you would much sooner have
taken them for a gypsy family than a queen and three princes； and a young
nobleman； who had once a palace for a 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； needed their assistance in the harvest field； they gave it
willingly； and Queen Telephassa （who had done no work in her palace；
save to braid silk threads with golden ones） came behind them to bind the
sheaves。 If payment was offered； they shook their heads； and only asked
for tidings of Europa。
〃There are bulls enough in my pasture；〃 the old farmers would reply；
〃but I never heard of one like this you tell me of。 A snow…white bull with a
little princess on his back！ Ho！ ho！ I ask your pardon； good folks； but there
never such a sight seen hereabouts。〃
At last； when his upper lip began to have the down on it； Phoenix grew
weary of rambling hither and thither to no purpose。 So one day； when they
happened to be passing through a pleasant and solitary tract of country； he
sat himself down on a heap of moss。
〃I can go no farther；〃 said Phoenix。 〃It is a mere foolish waste of life；
to spend it as we do； always wandering up and down； and never coming to
any home at nightfall。 Our 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 would be neither
love nor acquaintance between us； should we meet again。 My father has
forbidden us to return to his palace； so I shall build me a hut of branches；
and dwell here。〃
〃Well； son Phoenix；〃 said Telephassa； sorrowfully； 〃you have grown to
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be a man； and must do as you judge best。 But； for my part； 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 a habitation。
When completed； it was a sweet rural bower； roofed overhead with an arch
of living boughs。 Inside there were two pleasant 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。 So
comfortable and home…like did it seem； that Telephassa and her three
companions could not help sighing； to think that they must still roam
about the world； instead of spending the remainder of their lives in some
such cheerful abode as they had here built for Phoenix。 But； when they
bade him farewell； Phoenix shed tears； and probably regretted that he was
no longer to keep them company。
However； he had fixed upon an admirable place to dwell in。 And by
and by there came other people； who chanced to have no homes； and；
seeing how pleasant a spot it was； they built themselves huts in the
neighborhood of Phoenix's habitation。 Thus； before many years went by； a
city had grown up there； in the center of which was seen a stately palace of
marble； wherein dwelt Phoenix； 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 Phoenix issued was； that； if a maiden
happened to arrive in the kingdom； mounted on a snow…white bull； and
calling herself Europa； his subjects should treat her with the greatest
kindness and respect； and immediately bring her to the palace。 You may
see； by this； that Phoenix's conscience never quite ceased to trouble him；
for giving up the quest of his dear sister； and sitting himself down to be
comfortable； while his mother and her companions went onward。
But often and often； at the close of a weary day's journey； did
Telephassa and Cadmus； Cilix； and Thasus； remember the pleasant spot in
which they had left Phoenix。 It was a sorrowful prospect for these
wanderers； that on the morrow they must again set forth； and that； after
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many nightfalls； they would perhaps be no nearer the close of their
toilsome pilgrimage than now。 These thoughts made them all melancholy
at times； but appeared to torment Cilix more than the rest of the party。 At
length； one morning； when they were taking their staffs in hand to set out；
he thus addressed them：
〃My dear mother； and you； good brother Cadmus； and my friend
Thasus； methinks we are like people in a dream。 There is no substance in
the life which we are leading