The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art (2nd ed.) (1911): Based Originally on Bulfinch's "Age of Fable" (1855) — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art (2nd ed.) (1911): Based Originally on Bulfinch's "Age of Fable" (1855)
John Stuart Mill · en
To Europa, princess of Asia, once on a time, a sweet dream was
sent by Cypris.... Then she beheld two continents at strife for
her sake, Asia and the further shore, both in the shape of women.
Of these one had the guise of a stranger, the other of a lady of
that land, and closer still she clung about her maiden, and kept
saying how she was her mother, and herself had nursed Europa. But
that other with mighty hands, and forcefully, kept haling the
maiden, nothing loth; declaring that, by the will of ægis-bearing
Jupiter, Europa was destined to be her prize.
But Europa leaped forth from her strown bed in terror, with
beating heart, in such clear vision had she beheld the dream....
And she said, "Ah! who was the alien woman that I beheld in my
sleep? How strange a longing for her seized my heart, yea, and
how graciously she herself did welcome me, and regard me as it
had been her own child! Ye blessed gods, I pray you, prosper the
fulfillment of the dream!"
Therewith she arose, and began to seek the dear maidens of her
company, girls of like age with herself, born in the same year,
beloved of her heart, the daughters of noble sires, with whom she
was always wont to sport, when she was arrayed for the dance, or
when she would bathe her bright body at the mouths of the rivers,
or would gather fragrant lilies on the leas....
Now the girls, so soon as they were come to the flowering
meadows, took great delight in various sorts of flowers, whereof
one would pluck sweet-breathed narcissus, another the hyacinth,
another the violet, a fourth the creeping thyme; and on the
ground there fell many petals of the meadows rich with spring.
Others, again, were emulously gathering the fragrant tresses of
the yellow crocus; but in the midst of them all the princess
culled with her hand the splendor of the crimson rose, and shone
preëminent among them all like the foam-born goddess among the
Graces. Verily, she was not for long to set her heart's delight
upon the flowers.... For of a truth, the son of Cronus, so soon
as he beheld her, was troubled, and his heart was subdued by the
sudden shafts of Cypris, who alone can conquer even Jupiter.
Therefore, both to avoid the wrath of jealous Juno, and being
eager to beguile the maiden's tender heart, he concealed his
godhead, and changed his shape, and became a bull....
[Illustration: FIG. 48. EUROPA ON THE BULL]