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beautiful。 After finishing the rest of their labors； they all went to bed
betimes； in order to rise in the gray of the morning； and get at least the
foundation of the edifice laid before nightfall。 But； when Cadmus arose；
and took his way towards the site where the palace was to be built；
followed by his five sturdy workmen marching all in a row； what do you
think he saw？
What should it be but the most magnificent palace that had ever been
seen in the world。 It was built of marble and other beautiful kinds of stone；
and rose high into the air； with 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 almost as short a time as
it had taken the armed host to spring from the dragon's teeth； and what
made the matter more strange； no seed of this stately edifice ever had been
planted。
When the five workmen beheld the dome； with the morning sunshine
making it look golden and glorious； they gave a great shout。
〃Long live King Cadmus；〃 they cried； 〃in his beautiful palace。〃
And the new king； with his five faithful followers at his heels；
shouldering their pickaxes and marching in a rank （for they still had a
soldier…like sort of behavior； as their nature was）； ascended the palace
steps。 Halting at the entrance； they gazed through a long vista of lofty
pillars； that were ranged from end to end of a great hall。 At the farther
extremity of this hall； approaching slowly towards 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 womanhood； coming to make him happy；
and to repay him with her sweet sisterly affection； for all those weary
wonderings in quest of her since he left King Agenor's palacefor the
tears that he had shed； on parting with Phoenix； and Cilix； and Thasusfor
the heart…breakings that had made the whole world seem dismal to him
over his dear mother's grave。
But； as Cadmus advanced to meet the beautiful stranger； he saw that
her features were unknown to him； although； in the little time that it
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required to tread along the hall； he had already felt a sympathy betwixt
himself and her。
〃No； Cadmus；〃 said the same voice that had spoken to him in the field
of the armed men； 〃this is not that dear sister Europa whom you have
sought so faithfully all over the wide world。 This is Harmonia； a daughter
of the sky； who is given you instead of sister； and brothers； and friend； and
mother。 You will find all those dear ones in her alone。〃
So King Cadmus dwelt in the palace； with his new friend Harmonia；
and found a great deal of comfort in his magnificent abode； but would
doubtless have found as much； if not more； in the humblest cottage by the
wayside。 Before many years went by； there was a group of rosy little
children （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
mother。 The five old soldiers of the dragon's teeth grew very fond of these
small urchins； and were never weary of showing them how to shoulder
sticks； flourish wooden swords； and march in military order； blowing a
penny trumpet； or beating an abominable rub…a…dub upon a little drum。
But King Cadmus； lest there should be too much of the dragon's tooth
in his children's disposition； used to find time from his kingly duties to
teach them their A B Cwhich he invented for their 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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CIRCE'S PALACE。
Some of you have heard； no doubt； of the wise King Ulysses； and how
he went to the siege of Troy； and how； after that famous city was taken and
burned； he spent ten long years in trying to get back again to his own little
kingdom of Ithaca。 At one time in the course of this weary voyage； he
arrived at an island that looked very green and pleasant； but the name of
which was unknown to him。 For； only a little while before he came thither；
he had met with a terrible hurricane； or rather a great many hurricanes at
once； which drove his fleet of vessels into a strange part of the sea； where
neither himself nor any of his mariners had ever sailed。 This misfortune
was entirely owing to the foolish curiosity of his shipmates； who； while
Ulysses lay asleep； had untied some very bulky leathern bags； in which
they supposed a valuable treasure to be concealed。 But in each of these
stout bags； King Aeolus； the ruler of the winds； had tied up a tempest； and
had given it to Ulysses to keep in order that he might be sure of a
favorable passage homeward to Ithaca； and when the strings were
loosened； forth rushed the whistling blasts； like air out of a blown bladder；
whitening the sea with foam； and scattering the vessels nobody could tell
whither。
Immediately after escaping from this peril； a still greater one had
befallen him。 Scudding before the hurricane； he reached a place； which； as
he afterwards found； was called Laestrygonia； where some monstrous
giants had eaten up many of his companions； and had sunk every one of
his vessels； except that in which he himself sailed； by flinging great
masses of rock at them； from the cliffs along the shore。 After going
through such troubles as these； you cannot wonder that King Ulysses was
glad to moor his tempest…beaten bark in a quiet cove of the green island；
which I began with telling you about。 But he h