shoulders, a sceptre in his hand, and a crown
upon his head. The inhabitants had made him
king, not for the sake of any royal blood, (for
none was in his veins,) but because Thasus was
an upright, true-hearted, and courageous man,
and therefore fit to rule.

But, when the affairs of his kingdom were all
settled, King Thasus laid aside his purple robe,
and crown, and sceptre, and bade his worthiest
subject distribute justice to the people in his
stead. Then, grasping the pilgrim's staff that
had supported him so long, he set forth again,
hoping still to discover some hoof mark of the
snow-white bull, some trace of the vanished
child. He returned, after a lengthened absence,
and sat down wearily upon his throne. To his
latest hour, nevertheless, King Thasus showed
his true-hearted remembrance of Europa, by or-
dering that a fire should always be kept burning
in his palace, and a bath steaming hot, and 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 traveller, who profited

[[130]]

p129 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p130w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p131

v?