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said she； 〃for； instead of disguising a man； as other liquor is apt to do； it
brings him to his true self； and shows him as he ought to be。〃
The chief butler liked nothing better than to see people turned into
swine； or making any kind of a beast of themselves； so he made haste to
bring the royal goblet； filled with a liquid as bright as gold； and which kept
sparkling upward； and throwing a sunny spray over the brim。 But；
delightfully as the wine looked； it was mingled with the most potent
enchantments that Circe knew how to concoct。 For every drop of the pure
grape juice there were two drops of the pure mischief； and the danger of
the thing was； that the mischief made it taste all the better。 The mere smell
of the bubbles； which effervesced at the brim； was enough to turn a man's
beard into pig's bristles； or make a lion's claws grow out of his fingers； or a
fox's brush behind him。
〃Drink； my noble guest；〃 said Circe； smiling； as she presented him
with the goblet。 〃You will find in this draught a solace for all your
troubles。〃
King Ulysses took the goblet with his right hand； while with his left he
held the snow…white flower to his nostrils； and drew in so long a breath
that his lungs were quite filled with its pure and simple fragrance。 Then；
drinking off all the wine； he looked the enchantress calmly in the face。
〃Wretch；〃 cried Circe； giving him a smart stroke with her wand； 〃how
dare you keep your human shape a moment longer！ Take the form of the
brute whom you most resemble。 If a hog； go join your fellow…swine in the
sty； if a lion； a wolf； a tiger； go howl with the wild beasts on the lawn； if a
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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 rep