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But； for all that； Eurylochus imagined that he saw something fierce
and savage in their eyes； nor would he have been surprised； at any moment；
to feel the big lion's terrible claws； or to see each of the tigers make a
deadly spring； or each wolf leap at the throat of the man whom he had
fondled。 Their mildness seemed unreal； and a mere freak； but their savage
nature was as true as their teeth and claws。
Nevertheless； the men went safely across the lawn with the wild beasts
frisking about them； and doing no manner of harm； although； as they
mounted the steps of the palace； you might possibly have heard a low
growl； particularly from the wolves； as if they thought it a pity； after all； to
let the strangers pass without so much as tasting what they were made of。
Eurylochus and his followers now passed under a lofty portal； and
looked through the open doorway into the interior of the palace。 The first
thing that they saw was a spacious hall； and a fountain in the middle of it；
gushing up towards the ceiling out of a marble basin； and falling back into
it with a continual plash。 The water of this fountain； as it spouted upward；
was constantly taking new shapes； not very distinctly； but plainly enough
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for a nimble fancy to recognize what they were。 Now it was the shape of a
man in a long robe； the fleecy whiteness of which was made out of the
fountain's spray； now it was a lion； or a tiger； or a wolf； or an ass； or； as
often as anything else； a hog； wallowing in the marble basin as if it were
his sty。 It was either magic or some very curious machinery that caused the
gushing waterspout to assume all these forms。 But； before the strangers
had time to look closely at this wonderful sight； their attention was drawn
off by a very sweet and agreeable sound。 A woman's voice was singing
melodiously in another room of the palace； and with her voice was
mingled the noise of a loom； at which she was probably seated； weaving a
rich texture of cloth； and intertwining the high and low sweetness of her
voice into a rich tissue of harmony。
By and by； the song came to an end； and then； all at once； there were
several feminine voices； talking airily and cheerfully； with now and then a
merry burst of laughter； such as you may always hear when three or four
young women sit at work together。
〃What a sweet song that was！〃 exclaimed one of the voyagers。
〃Too sweet； indeed；〃 answered Eurylochus； shaking his head。 〃Yet it
was not so sweet as the song of the Sirens； those bird…like damsels who
wanted to tempt us on the rocks； so that our vessel might be wrecked； and
our bones left whitening along the shore。〃
〃But just listen to the pleasant voices of those maidens； and that buzz
of the loom； as the shuttle passes to and fro；〃 said another comrade。 〃What
a domestic； household； home…like sound it is！ Ah； before that weary siege
of Troy； I used to hear the buzzing loom and the women's voices under my
own roof。 Shall I never hear them again？ nor taste those nice little savory
dishes which my dearest wife knew how to serve up？〃
〃Tush！ we shall fare better here；〃 said another。 〃But how innocently
those women are babbling together； without guessing that we overhear
them！ And mark that richest voice of all； so pleasant and so familiar； but
which yet seems to have the authority of a mistress among them。 Let us
show ourselves at once。 What harm can the lady of the palace and her
maidens do to mariners and warriors like us？〃
〃Remember；〃 said Eurylochus； 〃that it was a young maiden who
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beguiled three of our friends into the palace of the king of the Laestrygons；
who ate up one of them in the twinkling of an eye。〃
No warning or persuasion； however； had any effect on his companions。
They went up to a pair of folding doors at the farther end of the hall； and
throwing them wide open； passed into the next room。 Eurylochus；
meanwhile； had stepped behind a pillar。 In the short moment while the
folding doors opened and closed again； he caught a glimpse of a very
beautiful woman rising from the loom； and coming to meet the poor
weather…beaten wanderers； with a hospitable smile； and her hand stretched
out in welcome。 There were four other young women； who joined their
hands and danced merrily forward； making gestures of obeisance to the
strangers。 They were only less beautiful than the lady who seemed to be
their mistress。 Yet Eurylochus fancied that one of them had sea…green hair；
and that the close…fitting bodice of a second looked like the bark of a tree；
and that both the others had something odd in their aspect； although he
could not quite determine what it was； in the little while that he had to
examine them。
The folding doors swung quickly back； and left him standing behind
the pillar； in the solitude of the outer hall。 There Eurylochus waited until
he was quite weary； and listened eagerly to every sound； but without
hearing anything that could help him to guess what had become of his
friends。 Footsteps； it is true； seemed to be passing and repassing； in other
parts of the palace。 Then there was a clatter of silver dishes； or golden
ones； which made him imagine a rich feast in a splendid banqueting hall。
But by and by he heard a tremendous grunting and squealing； and then a
sudden scampering； like that of small； hard hoofs over a marble floor；
while the voices of the mistress and her four handmaidens were screaming
all together； in tones of anger and derision。 Eurylochus could not conceive
what had happened； unless a drove of swine had broken into the palace；
attracted by the smell of the feast。 Chancing to cast his eyes at the fountain；
he saw that it did not shift its shape； as formerly； nor looked either like a
long…robed man； or a lion； a tiger； a wolf； or an ass。 It looked like nothing
but a hog； which lay wallowing in the marble basin； and filled it from brim
to brim。
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But we m