Never before did a bull have such bright and tender eyes , and such smooth horns of ivory , as this one . And the bull ran little races , and capered sportively around the child ; so that she quite forgot how big and strong he was , and , from the gentleness and playfulness of his actions , soon came to consider him as innocent a creature as a pet lamb . Thus , frightened as she at first was , you might by and by have seen Europa stroking the bull 's forehead with her small white hand , and taking the garlands off her own head to hang them on his neck and ivory horns . Then she pulled up some blades of grass , and he ate them out of her hand , not as if he were hungry , but because he wanted to be friends with the child , and took pleasure in eating what she had touched . Well , my stars ! was there ever such a gentle , sweet , pretty , and amiable creature as this bull , and ever such a nice playmate for a little girl ? When the animal saw -LRB- for the bull had so much intelligence that it is really wonderful to think of -RRB- , when he saw that Europa was no longer afraid of him , he grew overjoyed , and could hardly contain himself for delight . He frisked about the meadow , now here , now there , making sprightly leaps , with as little effort as a bird expends in hopping from twig to twig . Indeed , his motion was as light as if he were flying through the air , and his hoofs seemed hardly to leave their print in the grassy soil over which he trod . With his spotless hue , he resembled a snow drift , wafted along by the wind . Once he galloped so far away that Europa feared lest she might never see him again ; so , setting up her childish voice , called him back . `` Come back , pretty creature ! '' she cried . `` Here is a nice clover blossom . '' And then it was delightful to witness the gratitude of this amiable bull , and how he was so full of joy and thankfulness that he capered higher than ever . He came running , and bowed his head before Europa , as if he knew her to be a king 's daughter , or else recognized the important truth that a little girl is everybody 's queen . And not only did the bull bend his neck , he absolutely knelt down at her feet , and made such intelligent nods , and other inviting gestures , that Europa understood what he meant just as well as if he had put it in so many words . `` Come , dear child , '' was what he wanted to say , `` let me give you a ride on my back . '' At the first thought of such a thing , Europa drew back . But then she considered in her wise little head that there could be no possible harm in taking just one gallop on the back of this docile and friendly animal , who would certainly set her down the very instant she desired it .
And how it would surprise her brothers XXXXX see her riding across the green meadow !
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