One day he found himself in the noble city of Delphi，which in those times men thought to be the centre of the earth．He decided to visit the templetemple n.庙， 寺， 神殿， 教堂， 礼拜堂， 太阳穴， 鬓角 of Apollo and consult the oracle there，so that he might know where to turn in his search for Europa．To the temple he went，and awed as he was by the splendoursplendour n.[亦作splendor］ 光彩壮丽， 显赫， 杰出 of the shrine and the dignitydignity n.尊严， 高贵 of the priestess，he yet found courage to say：一天，他来到了一座宏伟的城市——特尔斐，当时人们认为它是地球的中心。他决定去参观阿波罗神庙并在那里向神使讨教，或许他可以得知何处去寻找欧罗巴。他走向神庙，圣殿光辉和女祭司的尊贵仪态使他感到敬畏。然而，他还是鼓起了说话的勇气。
“I seek for my sister Europa，who was carried away from her home by a white bull．For many years I have searched，and still I cannot find her．”
“我寻找我的妹妹欧罗巴，她被一头白公牛从家里带走。我寻找了许多年，却仍未能找到她。”
And the oracle made reply：“Follow the heifer．Wherever she rests，there too must you rest．”
神使做出了回答：“跟随这头小母牛。她在哪儿休息，你就在哪儿休息。”
Cadmus wondered much at this saying，but he left the temple and resumed his journey．Soon he saw a heifer at no great distance from him，and as he approached she moved away．Remembering what the priestess had told him he lost no time in following，while the heifer continred to walk a few steps in front of him．It was indeed a strange sight to see a heifer moving from place to place，and a man following some paces behind her．Many men，led on by the wonder of it，joined with Cadmus；and soon there was a small host of men following the sacred cow．One day，the creature halted in her journey，looked up towards heaven，lowed gently，and lay down on the ground．卡德摩斯对此感到很诧异，但他还是离开了神庙又继续他的旅程。没多久，他看到距他不远处有一头小母牛，当他接近她时，她便走开了。他记起女祭司对她讲的话，便紧随其后，与此同时，小母牛继续在他前面几步远的地方行走。看到一头小母牛从一处走到另一处，一个人尾随其几步远的确是一个奇特的景观。许多人被此事的奇妙所吸引，加入了卡德摩斯的行程；很快就有一小队人跟随在这头圣牛后面。一天，这个生灵停止了她的旅途，仰望苍穹，又温顺地俯下头颅，躺在地上。
Cadmus turned to his followers．“My friends，”he said，“I do not forget what the gods have spoken．Where the heifer rests，there also must I rest；and here，in this fertile spot，I will build my home．”
卡德摩斯转向他的追随者。“我的朋友，”他说，“我没忘记神灵的话。我必须在这头上母牛休息的地方休息，这儿，在这片肥沃的土地上，我要修建我的家园。”
His followers answered：“Then we will stay with you，Cadmus，and help you to build it．”
他的追随者答道：“那么我们就与您待在一起，卡德摩斯，帮助您修造家园。”
By now they were all weary with travel and parched with thirst；and Cadmus told his followers to fetch water from a spring in the grove near by. They left him，and Cadmus rested while awaiting their return．现在，旅途已使他们疲惫不堪，口干舌燥；卡德摩斯他的随从到附近的小树林里的泉边去打水。他们走开了，卡德摩斯开始休息，等待他们回来。
At last he rose．“This is strange，” he thought，“I sent my men but a little distance，and yet they do not come back．I will go and seek for them．”
最后，他站起来。“真是太奇怪了，”他想，“我派我的人去的地方并不远，可他们还没回来。我要去寻找他们。”
So Cadmus moved in the direction which his followers had disappeared，and entered the grove．The further he went the darker it grew，till at last he came to the edge of a spring；and on the ground near the spring lay the bones of his followers，covered with blood．As Cadmus gazed he heard sudden breathing not far off，and lifting his eyes he saw a hideous，bloodstained dragon coming towards him．于是卡德摩斯朝着他的随从消失的方向走去，进入了小树林。他越往里走，光线就越暗淡，最后，他来到泉边，在泉水附近的地面上尽是他的随从的骨头，满是鲜血。卡德摩斯正盯着看的时候，突然听到不远处的鼻息声，抬起眼睛，他看到一条可怕的、浑身血迹的龙向他扑来。