Up sprouted also a great many trumpeters ; and with the first breath that they drew , they put their brazen trumpets to their lips , and sounded a tremendous and ear-shattering blast , so that the whole space , just now so quiet and solitary , reverberated with the clash and clang of arms , the bray of warlike music , and the shouts of angry men . So enraged did they all look , that Cadmus fully expected them to put the whole world to the sword . How fortunate would it be for a great conqueror , if he could get a bushel of the dragon 's teeth to sow ! `` Cadmus , '' said the same voice which he had before heard , `` throw a stone into the midst of the armed men . '' So Cadmus seized a large stone , and flinging it into the middle of the earth army , saw it strike the breastplate of a gigantic and fierce-looking warrior . Immediately on feeling the blow , he seemed to take it for granted that somebody had struck him ; and , uplifting his weapon , he smote his next neighbor a blow that cleft his helmet asunder , and stretched him on the ground . In an instant , those nearest the fallen warrior began to strike at one another with their swords , and stab with their spears . The confusion spread wider and wider . Each man smote down his brother , and was himself smitten down before he had time to exult in his victory . The trumpeters , all the while , blew their blasts shriller and shriller ; each soldier shouted a battle cry , and often fell with it on his lips . It was the strangest spectacle of causeless wrath , and of mischief for no good end , that had ever been witnessed ; but , after all , it was neither more foolish nor more wicked than a thousand battles that have since been fought , in which men have slain their brothers with just as little reason as these children of the dragon 's teeth . It ought to be considered , too , that the dragon people were made for nothing else ; whereas other mortals were born to love and help one another . Well , this memorable battle continued to rage until the ground was strewn with helmeted heads that had been cut off . Of all the thousands that began the fight , there were only five left standing . These now rushed from different parts of the field , and , meeting in the middle of it , clashed their swords , and struck at each other 's hearts as fiercely as ever . `` Cadmus , '' said the voice again , `` bid those five warriors sheathe their swords . They will help you to build the city . '' Without hesitating an instant , Cadmus stepped forward , with the aspect of a king and a leader , and extending his drawn sword amongst them , spoke to the warriors in a stern and commanding voice . `` Sheathe your weapons ! '' said he .
And forthwith , feeling themselves bound XXXXX obey him , the five remaining sons of the dragon 's teeth made him a military salute with their swords , returned them to the scabbards , and stood before Cadmus in a rank , eyeing him as soldiers eye their captain , while awaiting the word of command .
Of at before for from in that to whereas with