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Whatever little fault they might find with the dishes； they sat at dinner
a prodigiously long while； and it would really have made you ashamed to
see how they swilled down the liquor and gobbled up the food。 They sat
on golden thrones； to be sure； but they behaved like pigs in a sty； and； if
they had had their wits about them； they might have guessed that this was
the opinion of their beautiful hostess and her maidens。 It brings a blush
into my face to reckon up； in my own mind； what mountains of meat and
pudding； and what gallons of wine； these two and twenty guzzlers and
gormandizers ate and drank。 They forgot all about their homes； and their
wives and children； and all about Ulysses； and everything else； except this
banquet； at which they wanted to keep feasting forever。 But at length they
began to give over； from mere incapacity to hold any more。
〃That last bit of fat is too much for me；〃 said one。
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〃And I have not room for another morsel；〃 said his next neighbor；
heaving a sigh。 〃What a pity！ My appetite is as sharp as ever。〃
In short； they all left off eating； and leaned back on their thrones； with
such a stupid and helpless aspect as made them ridiculous to behold。
When their hostess saw this； she laughed aloud； so did her four damsels；
so did the two and twenty serving men that bore the dishes； and their two
and twenty fellows that poured out the wine。 And the louder they all
laughed； the more stupid and helpless did the two and twenty
gormandizers look。 Then the beautiful woman took her stand in the middle
of the saloon； and stretching out a slender rod （it had been all the while in
her hand； although they never noticed it till this moment）； she turned it
from one guest to another； until each had felt it pointed at himself。
Beautiful as her face was； and though there was a smile on it； it looked just
as wicked and mischievous as the ugliest serpent that ever was seen； and
fat…witted as the voyagers had made themselves； they began to suspect that
they had fallen into the power of an evil…minded enchantress。
〃Wretches；〃 cried she； 〃you have abused a lady's hospitality； and in
this princely saloon your behavior has been suited to a hog…pen。 You are
already swine in everything but the human form； which you disgrace； and
which I myself should be ashamed to keep a moment longer； were you to
share it with me。 But it will require only the slightest exercise of magic to
make the exterior conform to the hoggish disposition。 Assume your proper
shapes； gormandizers； and begone to the sty！〃
Uttering these last words； she waved her wand； and stamping her foot
imperiously； each of the guests was struck aghast at beholding； instead of
his comrades in human shape； one and twenty hogs sitting on the same
number of golden thrones。 Each man （as he still supposed himself to be）
essayed to give a cry of surprise； but found that he could merely grunt； and
that； in a word； he was just such another beast as his companions。 It
looked so intolerably absurd to see hogs on cushioned thrones； that they
made haste to wallow down upon all fours； like other swine。 They tried to
groan and beg for mercy； but forthwith emitted the most awful grunting
and squealing that ever came out of swinish throats。 They would have
wrung their hands in despair； but； attempting to do so； grew all the more
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desperate for seeing themselves squatted on their hams； and pawing the air
with their fore trotters。 Dear me！ what pendulous ears they had！ what little
red eyes； half buried in fat！ and what long snouts； instead of Grecian
noses！
But brutes as they certainly were； they yet had enough of human
nature in them to be shocked at their own hideousness； and still intending
to groan； they uttered a viler grunt and squeal than before。 So harsh and
ear…piercing it was； that you would have fancied a butcher was sticking his
knife into each of their throats； or； at the very least； that somebody was
pulling every hog by his funny little twist of a tail。
〃Begone to your sty！〃 cried the enchantress； giving them some smart
strokes with her wand； and then she turned to the serving men〃Drive out
these swine； and throw down some acorns for them to eat。〃
The door of the saloon being flung open； the drove of hogs ran in all
directions save the right one； in accordance with their hoggish perversity；
but were finally driven into the back yard of the palace。 It was a sight to
bring tears into one's eyes （and I hope none of you will be cruel enough to
laugh at it）； to see the poor creatures go snuffing along； picking up here a
cabbage leaf and there a turnip top； and rooting their noses in the earth for
whatever they could find。 In their sty； moreover； they behaved more
piggishly than the pigs that had been born so； for they bit and snorted at
one another； put their feet in the trough； and gobbled up their victuals in a
ridiculous hurry； and； when there was nothing more to be had； they made a
great pile of themselves among some unclean straw； and fell fast asleep。 If
they had any human reason left； it was just enough to keep them
wondering when they should be slaughtered； and what quality of bacon
they should make。
Meantime； as I told you before； Eurylochus had waited； and waited；
and waited； in the entrance hall of the palace； without being able to
comprehend what had befallen his friends。 At last； when the swinish
uproar resounded through the palace； and when he saw the image of a hog
in the marble basin； he thought it best to hasten back to the vessel； and
inform the wise Ulysses of these marvelous occurrences。 So he ran as fast
as he could down the steps； and never stopped to draw breath till he
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reached the shore。
〃Why do you come alone？〃 asked King Ulysses； as soon as he saw
him。 〃Where are your two and twenty comrades？〃
At these questions； Eurylochus burst into tears。
〃Alas！〃 he cried； 〃I greatly fear that we shall never see one