WEST WIND

I’ve never seen a more magnificent pageant on the sea, ever since I began to live and blow. Didn’t you see it, Notus?

SOUTH WIND

What pageant do you mean, Zephyrus? Who were in it?

WEST WIND

You missed a most delightful spectacle, the like of which you’ll never see again.

SOUTH WIND

Well, I was at work about the Red Sea, and I blew also over the parts of India near the coast. So I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

WEST WIND

But you do know Agenor of Sidon?

SOUTH WIND

Yes, Europa’s father. Of course I do.

WEST WIND

I’ll tell you something about the girl herself.

SOUTH WIND

Not that Zeus has long been in love with her? I’ve known that for ages.

WEST WIND

Well, you may know about his love, but let me now tell you what followed.

WEST WIND

Europa in her play had come down to the beach with her companions, and Zeus took the shape of a bull, and started playing with them, looking magnificent, for he was all white with nice curly horns and gentle eyes. Well, he too started skipping about on the beach, and bellowed most charmingly, so that Europa even dared to climb up on to him. Thereupon Zeus galloped off to the sea with her on his back, plunged in and began to swim; she was quite terrified, and clutched his horn with her left hand so as not to slip off, while she held her robe down against the wind with her right hand.

SOUTH WIND

Indeed a delightful spectacle for you, my dear Zephyrus—a real love-scene! Zeus swimming along and carrying off his beloved!

WEST WIND

But what followed was far more delightful, Notus. The sea became waveless at once, and draping herself in calm, made herself smooth; we all kept quiet, and followed beside them, just watching what was going on, while the Loves fluttered alongside just above the sea, occasionally just touching the water with their feet, carrying lighted torches, and singing the marriage hymn, and the Nereids, coming to the surface, rode alongside on dolphins, clapping their hands, pretty well half-naked. The Tritons and all other creatures of the sea that do not frighten the eye, were dancing round the girl. Poseidon astride his car, with Amphitrite beside him, was driving in front, delighted to lead the way for his brother as he swam. To cap all, two Tritons were carrying Aphrodite reclining on a shell, and sprinkling all manner of flowers over the bride.

WEST WIND

This went on all the way from Phoenicia to Crete; but when he set foot on his island, the bull was no more to be seen, but Zeus took Europa’s hand and led her to the cave on Mount Dicte—blushing she was, and looking on the ground, for now she knew why she was being carried off. But we each assailed a different part of the sea, and stirred up the waves.

SOUTH WIND

How lucky you are, Zephyrus to have seen all that! All I saw was griffins and elephants and black men.

West Wind

Such a splendid pageant I never saw on the waves, since the day I first blew. You were not there, Notus?

South Wind

Pageant, Zephyr? what pageant? and whose?

West Wind

You missed a most ravishing spectacle; such another chance you are not likely to have.

South Wind

I was busy with the Red Sea; and I gave the Indian coasts a little airing too. So I don’t know what you are talking about.

West Wind

Well, you know Agenor the Sidonian?

South Wind

Europa’s father? what of him?

West Wind

Europa it is that I am going to tell you about.

South Wind

You need not tell me that Zeus has been in love with her this long while; that is stale news.

West Wind

We can pass the love, then, and get on to the sequel.

West Wind

Europa had come down for a frolic on the beach with her playfellows. Zeus transformed himself into a bull, and joined the game. A fine sight he was—spotless white skin, crumpled horns, and gentle eyes. He gambolled on the shore with them, bellowing most musically, till Europa took heart of grace and mounted him. No sooner had she done it than, with her on his back, Zeus made off at a run for the sea, plunged in, and began swimming; she was dreadfully frightened, but kept her seat by clinging to one of his horns with her left hand, while the right held her skirt down against the puffs of wind.

South Wind

A lovely sight indeed, Zephyr, in every sense—Zeus swimming with his darling on his back.

West Wind

Ay, but what followed was lovelier far. Every wave fell; the sea donned her robe of peace to speed them on their way; we winds made holiday and joined the train, all eyes; fluttering Loves skimmed the waves, just dipping now and again a heedless toe—in their hands lighted torches, on their lips the nuptial song; up floated Nereids—few but were prodigal of naked charms—and clapped their hands, and kept pace on dolphin steeds; the Triton company, with every seacreature that frights not the eye, tripped it around the maid; for Posidon on his car, with Amphitrite by him, led them in festal mood, ushering his brother through the waves. But, crowning all, a Triton pair bore Aphrodite, reclined on a shell, heaping the bride with all flowers that blow.

West Wind

So went it from Phoenice even to Crete. But, when he set foot on the isle, behold, the bull was no more; ’twas Zeus that took Europa’s hand and led her to the Dictaean Cave—blushing and downward-eyed; for she knew now the end of her bringing. But we plunged this way and that, and roused the still seas anew.

South Wind

Ah me, what sights of bliss! and I was looking at griffins, and elephants, and blackamoors!