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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
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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
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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
or