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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 had encountered so many
dangers from giants； and one…eyed Cyclops； and monsters of the sea and
land； that he could not help dreading some mischief； even in this pleasant
and seemingly solitary spot。 For two days； therefore； the poor weather…
worn voyagers kept quiet； and either staid on board of their vessel； or
merely crept along under the cliffs that bordered the shore； and to keep
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themselves alive； they dug shellfish out of the sand； and sought for any
little rill of fresh water that might be running towards the sea。
Before the two days were spent； they grew very weary of this kind of
life； for the followers of King Ulysses； as you will find it important to
remember； were terrible gormandizers； and pretty sure to grumble if they
missed their regulars meals； and their irregular ones besides。 Their stock
of provisions was quite exhausted； and even the shellfish began to get
scarce； so that they had now to choose between starving to death or
venturing into the interior of the island； where perhaps some huge three…
headed dragon； or other horrible monster； had his den。 Such misshapen
creatures were very numerous in those days； and nobody ever expected to
make a voyage； or take a journey； without running more or less risk of
being devoured by them。
But King Ulysses was a bold man as well as a prudent one； and on the
third morning he determined to discover what sort of a place the island
was； and whether it were possible to obtain a supply of food for the
hungry mouths of his companions。 So； taking a spear in his hand； he
clambered to the summit of a cliff； and gazed round about him。 At a
distance； towards the center of the island； he beheld the stately towers of
what seemed to be a palace； built of snow…white marble； and rising in the
midst of a grove of lofty trees。 The thick branches of these trees stretched
across the front of the edifice； and more than half concealed it； although；
from the portion which he saw； Ulysses judged it to be spacious and
exceedingly beautiful； and probably the residence of some great nobleman
or prince。 A blue smoke went curling up from the chimney； and was
almost the pleasantest part of the spectacle to Ulysses。 For； from the
abundance of this smoke； it was reasonable to conclude that there was a
good fire in the kitchen； and that； at dinner…time； a plentiful banquet would
be served up to the inhabitants of the palace； and to whatever guests might
happen to drop in。
With so agreeable a prospect before him； Ulysses fancied that he could
not do better than go straight to the palace gate； and tell the master of it
that there was a crew of poor shipwrecked mariners； not far off； who had
eaten nothing for a day or two； save a few clams and oysters； and would
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therefore be thankful for a little food。 And the prince or nobleman must be
a very stingy curmudgeon； to be sure； if； at least； when his own dinner was
over； he would not bid them welcome to the broken victuals from the
table。
Pleasing himself with this idea； King Ulysses had made a few steps in
the direction of the palace； when there was a great twittering and chirping
from the branch of a neighboring tree。 A moment afterwards； a bird came
flying towards him； and hovered in the air； so as almost to br