`` O , no , mother ! '' cried the boys . `` The night is dark , and there is no knowing what troubles and perils we may meet with . '' `` Alas ! my dear children , '' answered poor Queen Telephassa ; weeping bitterly , `` that is only another reason why I should go with you . If I should lose you , too , as well as my little Europa , what would become of me ! '' `` And let me go likewise ! '' said their playfellow Thasus , who came running to join them . Thasus was the son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood ; he had been brought up with the young princes , and was their intimate friend , and loved Europa very much ; so they consented that he should accompany them . The whole party , therefore , set forth together . Cadmus , Phoenix , Cilix , and Thasus clustered round Queen Telephassa , grasping her skirts , and begging her to lean upon their shoulders whenever she felt weary . In this manner they went down the palace steps , and began a journey , which turned out to be a great deal longer than they dreamed of . The last that they saw of King Agenor , he came to the door , with a servant holding a torch beside him , and called after them into the gathering darkness : `` Remember ! Never ascend these steps again without the child ! '' `` Never ! '' sobbed Queen Telephassa ; and the three brothers and Thasus answered , `` Never ! Never ! Never ! Never ! '' And they kept their word .
Year after year , King Agenor sat in the solitude of his beautiful palace , listening in vain for their returning footsteps , hoping to hear the familiar voice of the queen , and the cheerful talk of his sons and their playfellow Thasus , entering the door together , and the sweet , childish accents of little Europa XXXXX the midst of them .
after as down in into of so than to without