When Cadmus saw that it was impossible to come up with her , he walked on moderately , as before . The cow , too , went leisurely on , without looking behind . Wherever the grass was greenest , there she nibbled a mouthful or two . Where a brook glistened brightly across the path , there the cow drank , and breathed a comfortable sigh , and drank again , and trudged onward at the pace that best suited herself and Cadmus . `` I do believe , '' thought Cadmus , `` that this may be the cow that was foretold me . If it be the one , I suppose she will lie down somewhere hereabouts . '' Whether it were the oracular cow or some other one , it did not seem reasonable that she should travel a great way farther . So , whenever they reached a particularly pleasant spot on a breezy hillside , or in a sheltered vale , or flowery meadow , on the shore of a calm lake , or along the bank of a clear stream , Cadmus looked eagerly around to see if the situation would suit him for a home . But still , whether he liked the place or no , the brindled cow never offered to lie down . On she went at the quiet pace of a cow going homeward to the barn yard ; and , every moment , Cadmus expected to see a milkmaid approaching with a pail , or a herdsman running to head the stray animal , and turn her back towards the pasture . But no milkmaid came ; no herdsman drove her back ; and Cadmus followed the stray Brindle till he was almost ready to drop down with fatigue . `` O brindled cow , '' cried he , in a tone of despair , `` do you never mean to stop ? '' He had now grown too intent on following her to think of lagging behind , however long the way , and whatever might be his fatigue . Indeed , it seemed as if there were something about the animal that bewitched people . Several persons who happened to see the brindled cow , and Cadmus following behind , began to trudge after her , precisely as he did . Cadmus was glad of somebody to converse with , and therefore talked very freely to these good people . He told them all his adventures , and how he had left King Agenor in his palace , and Phoenix at one place , and Cilix at another , and Thasus at a third , and his dear mother , Queen Telephassa , under a flowery sod ; so that now he was quite alone , both friendless and homeless . He mentioned , likewise , that the oracle had bidden him be guided by a cow , and inquired of the strangers whether they supposed that this brindled animal could be the one . `` Why , 't is a very wonderful affair , '' answered one of his new companions . `` I am pretty well acquainted with the ways of cattle , and I never knew a cow , of her own accord , to go so far without stopping .
If my legs will let me , I 'll never leave following the beast XXXXX she lies down . ''
If across along as at in of till whether without