The White Bull
Voltaire's work seems to be prophetic in nature because the story was published only fifteen years before the French Revolution, when beheadings became common.
An English translation of the work, with a 144-page preface to the text, was produced by the philosopher and reformer Jeremy Bentham and published in London in 1774.
[1] How the Princess Amasidia met a bull The story takes place in Ancient Egypt where Princess Amasidia, daughter to King Amasis, is walking along the Pelusium Way in the company of Old Mambres, who the king appointed to be in charge of her household.
While walking along the Pelusium Way she encounters many majestic creatures one which is the most beautiful White Bull she has ever seen.
As soon as the Bull reaches princess Amasidia, he throws himself to the ground weeping and kissing her feet.
They argue and Amasidia asks if he were to escape she would not be able to restrain him, but the old lady says that if he were to do that, the magical serpent might give the bull a venomous bite.
Mambres knowing that the bull was the princess's love had to keep it a secret because that man was Nabuchad the one who had dethroned Amasis 7 years prior.
The white bull was unable to take part in the feast as he was an animal and his identity was unknown to them.
He sat angered as the prophet that had imprisoned him, Daniel, and the old lady got to enjoy a feast while he lay in the grass hungry.
The dinner continued and the prophets, Mambres, and the old lady feasted and drank wine, telling stories.
The white bull seeing an opportunity to strike his enemies took it and as he was charging towards the prophets the master of things transformed them into magpies so they were not harmed.
As the King arrived he yelled out saying that the bull needed to be tied up and thrown out into the Nile where the whale of Jonas was to eat him, for having placed a spell on his daughter.
The old lady had departed spirits to try and scare the king into not sacrificing the bull, but just like Nabuchad he did not remember in the morning.
Priests arriving due to the letter, and crowds joined from all reaches of the kingdom, all chanting "Our ox is dead and done, we'll find ourselves a better one."
Upon becoming the new bull god Nebuchad gained the ability to speak and shouted back to Amasidia that he will love her till his death.
He also bestowed foundations to the dove, she-ass, dog, whale, three magpies, and even the raven, showing the whole world that he could pardon as well as conquer.
Zeus, the sky and thunder god of the Olympic pantheon, often wore a disguise when romantically pursuing mortal women, so as to avoid the eye of his wife and sister, Hera.
