In a kingdom by the sea, four siblings—Cadmus, Phoenix, Cilix, and their sister Europa—play joyfully until Europa is abducted by a mysterious white bull. The brothers, distraught, inform their father, King Agenor, who demands they find her or never return. The brothers, along with their mother, Queen Telephassa, embark on a long and fruitless search, enduring hardships and losing their royal status as they wander through various lands. As time passes, the brothers grow weary, with Phoenix and Cilix eventually abandoning the quest to establish their own lives. Telephassa and Cadmus continue, but Telephassa's health declines, leading her to pass away after urging Cadmus to seek guidance from the oracle at Delphi. Cadmus, heartbroken, follows her advice and learns from the oracle to "follow the cow" and to build a city where it lies down. Cadmus encounters a brindled cow, which he follows tirelessly until it finally rests in a fertile plain. There, he faces a dragon guarding a water source, which he bravely defeats. Following the oracle's instructions, he plants the dragon's teeth, which sprout into armed warriors. After a fierce battle among them, only five remain, whom Cadmus commands to help him build a city. The city flourishes, and Cadmus discovers a magnificent palace that mysteriously appears overnight. Inside, he meets Harmonia, a beautiful woman destined to be his wife, who embodies the love and companionship he lost. Together, they create a family, and Cadmus finds solace in his new life, teaching his children the alphabet he invented, ensuring that the legacy of his lost sister and the trials of his past are not forgotten.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1853 · Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure