Europa, the daughter of Agenor, is beloved by Jupiter, who assumes the shape of a bull, and mingles with the herd—The maiden caresses the beautiful animal, and at length ventures to sit on his back; when the god immediately hastens to the shore, and crosses the sea—He arrives safe at Crete with his mistress, where he resumes his original shape.
When now the god his fury had allay’d, And taken vengeance of the stubborn maid, From where the bright Athenian turrets rise He mounts aloft, and reascends the skies. Jove saw him enter the sublime abodes, And, as he mix’d among the crowd of gods, Beckon’d him out, and drew him from the rest, And in soft whispers thus his will express’d:
“My trusty Hermes, by whose ready aid Thy sire’s commands are through the world convey’d, Resume thy wings, exert their utmost force, And to the walls of Sidon speed thy course; There find a herd of heifers wandering o’er The neighb’ring hill, and drive them to the shore.”