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fox； go exercise your craft in stealing poultry。 Thou hast quaffed off my
wine； and canst be man no longer。〃
But； such was the virtue of the snow…white flower； instead of
wallowing down from his throne in swinish shape； or taking any other
brutal form； Ulysses looked even more manly and king…like than before。
He gave the magic goblet a toss； and sent it clashing over the marble floor
to the farthest end of the saloon。 Then； drawing his sword； he seized the
enchantress by her beautiful ringlets； and made a gesture as if he meant to
strike off her head at one blow。
〃Wicked Circe；〃 cried he； in a terrible voice； 〃this sword shall put an
end to thy enchant meets。 Thou shalt die； vile wretch； and do no more
mischief in the world； by tempting human beings into the vices which
make beasts of them。〃
The tone and countenance of Ulysses were so awful； and his sword
gleamed so brightly； and seemed to have so intolerably keen an edge； that
Circe was almost killed by the mere fright； without waiting for a blow。 The
chief butler scrambled out of the saloon； picking up the golden goblet as
he went； and the enchantress and the four maidens fell on their knees；
wringing their hands； and screaming for mercy。
〃Spare me！〃 cried Circe。 〃Spare me； royal and wise Ulysses。 For now I
know that thou art he of whom Quicksilver forewarned me； the most
prudent of mortals； against whom no enchantments can prevail。 Thou only
couldst have conquered Circe。 Spare me； wisest of men。 I will show thee
true hospitality； and even give myself to be thy slave； and this magnificent
palace to be henceforth thy home。〃
The four nymphs； meanwhile； were making a most piteous ado； and
especially the ocean nymph； with the sea…green hair； wept a great deal of
salt water； and the fountain nymph； besides scattering dewdrops from her
fingers' ends； nearly melted away into tears。 But Ulysses would not be
pacified until Circe had taken a solemn oath to change back his
companions； and as many others as he should direct； from their present
forms of beast or bird into their former shapes of men。
〃On these conditions；〃 said he； 〃I consent to spare your life。 Otherwise
you must die upon the spot。〃
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With a drawn sword hanging over her； the enchantress would readily
have consented to do as much good as she had hitherto done mischief；
however little she might like such employment。 She therefore led Ulysses
out of the back entrance of the palace； and showed him the swine in their
sty。 There were about fifty of these unclean beasts in the whole herd； and
though the greater part were hogs by birth and education； there was
wonderfully little difference to be seen betwixt them and their new
brethren； who had so recently worn the human shape。 To speak critically；
indeed； the latter rather carried the thing to excess； and seemed to make it
a point to wallow in the miriest part of the sty； and otherwise to outdo the
original swine in their own natural vocation。 When men once turn to
brutes； the trifle of man's wit that remains in them adds tenfold to their
brutality。
The comrades of Ulysses； however； had not quite lost the
remembrance of having formerly stood erect。 When he approached the sty；
two and twenty enormous swine separated themselves from the herd； and
scampered towards him； with such a chorus of horrible squealing as made
him clap both hands to his ears。 And yet they did not seem to know what
they wanted； nor whether they were merely hungry； or miserable from
some other cause。 It was curious； in the midst of their distress； to observe
them thrusting their noses into the mire； in quest of something to eat。 The
nymph with the bodice of oaken bark （she was the hamadryad of an oak）
threw a handful of acorns among them； and the two and twenty hogs
scrambled and fought for the prize； as if they had tasted not so much as a
noggin of sour milk for a twelvemonth。
〃These must certainly be my comrades；〃 said Ulysses。 〃I recognize
their dispositions。 They are hardly worth the trouble of changing them into
the human form again。 Nevertheless； we will have it done； lest their bad
example should corrupt the other hogs。 Let them take their original shapes；
therefore； Dame Circe； if your skill is equal to the task。 It will require
greater magic； I trow； than it did to make swine of them。〃
So Circe waved her wand again； and repeated a few magic words； at
the sound of which the two and twenty hogs pricked up their pendulous
ears。 It was a wonder to behold how their snouts grew shorter and shorter；
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and their mouths （which they seemed to be sorry for； because they could
not gobble so expeditiously） smaller and smaller； and how one and another
began to stand upon his hind legs； and scratch his nose with his fore
trotters。 At first the spectators hardly knew whether to call them hogs or
men； but by and by came to the conclusion that they rather resembled the
latter。 Finally； there stood the twenty…two comrades of Ulysses； looking
pretty much the same as when they left the vessel。
You must not imagine； however； that the swinish quality had entirely
gone out of them。 When once it fastens itself into a person's character； it is
very difficult getting rid of it。 This was proved by the hamadryad； who；
being exceedingly fond of mischief； threw another handful of acorns
before the twenty… two newly…restored people； whereupon down they
wallowed in a moment； and gobbled them up in a very shameful way。
Then； recollecting themselves； they scrambled to their feet； and looked
more than commonly foolish。
〃Thanks； noble Ulysses！〃 they cried。 〃From brute beasts you have
restored us to the condition of men again。〃
〃Do not put yourselves to the trouble of thanking me；〃 said the wise
king。 〃I fear I have done but little for you。〃
To say the truth； there was a suspicious kind of a grunt in their voices；
and； for a long time afterwards； they spoke gruffly； and were apt to set up
a squeal。
〃It must depend on your own future behavior；〃 added Ulysses；
〃whether you do not find your way back to the sty。〃
At this moment； the note of a bird sounded from the branch of a
neighboring tree。
〃Peep； peep； peweee！〃
It was the purple bird； who； all this while； had been sitting over their
heads； watching what was going forward； and hoping that Ulysses would
remember how he had done his utmost to keep him and his followers out
of harm's way。 Ulysses ordered Circe instantly to make a king of this good
little fowl； and leave him exactly as she found him。 Hardly were the words
spoken； and before the bird had time to utter another 〃peweep；〃 King
Picus leaped down from the bough of a tree； as majestic a sovereign as any
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in the world； dressed in a long purple robe and gorgeous yellow stockings；
with a splendidly wrought collar about his neck； and a golden crown upon
his head。 He and King Ulysses exchanged with one another the courtesies
which belong to their elevated rank。 But from that time forth； King Picus
was no longer proud of his crown and his trappings of royalty； nor of the
fact of his being a king； he felt himself merely the upper servant of his
people； and that it must be his life…long labor to make them better and
happier。
As for the lions； tigers； and wolves （though Circe would have restored
them to their former shapes at his slightest word）； Ulysses thought it
advisable that they should remain as they now were； and thus give
warning of their cruel dispositions； instead of going about under the guise
of men； and pretending to human sympathies； while their hearts had the
blood… thirsti