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arated 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； 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 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… thirstiness of wild beasts。 So he let them howl as much as they liked； but never troubled his head about them。 And； when everything was settled according to his pleasure； he sent to summon the remainder of his comrades； whom he had left at the sea…shore。 These being arrived； with the prudent Eurylochus at their head； they all made themselves comfortable in Circe's enchanted palace； until quite rested and refreshed from the toils and hardships of their voyage。
THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS。
Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina； and seldom let her go alone into the fields。 But； just at the time when my story begins； the good lady was very busy； because she had the care of the wheat； and the Indian corn； and the rye and barley and； in short； of the crops of every kind； all over the earth； and as the season had thus far been uncommonly backward； it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more speedily than usual。 So she put on her turban； made of poppies （a kind of flower which she was always noted for wearing）； and got into her car drawn by a pair of winged dragons； and was just ready to set off。
〃Dear mother；〃 said Proserpina； 〃I shall be very lonely while you are away。 May I not run down to the shore； and ask some of the sea nymphs to come up out of the waves and play with me？〃
〃Yes； child；〃 answered Mother Ceres。 〃The sea nymphs are good creatures； and will never lead you into any harm。 But you must take care not to stray away from them； nor go wandering about the fields by yourself。 Young girls； without their mothers to take care of them； are very apt to get into mischief。〃
The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown…up woman； and； by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight； she was already on the shore； calling to the sea nymphs to come and play with her。 They knew Proserpina's voice； and were not long in showing their glistening faces and sea…green hair above the water； at the bottom of which was their home。 They brought along with them a great many beautiful shells； and sitting down on the moist sand； where the surf wave broke over them； they busied themselves in making a necklace； which they hung round Proserpina's neck。 By way of showing her gratitude； the child besought them to go with her a little way into the fields； so that they might gather abundance of flowers； with which she would make each of her kind playmates a wreath。
〃O no； dear Proserpina；〃 cried the sea nymphs； 〃we dare not go with you upon the dry land。 We are apt to grow faint； unless at every breath we can snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean。 And don't you see how careful we are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two； so as to keep ourselves comfortably moist？ If it were not for that； we should look like bunches of uprooted seaweed dried in the sun。
〃It is a great pity；〃 said Proserpina。 〃But do you wait for me here； and I will run and gather my apron full of flowers； and be back again before the surf wave has broken ten times over you。 I long to make you some wreaths that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells。〃
〃We will wait； then；〃 answered the sea nymphs。 〃But while you are gone； we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water。 The air to…day is a little too dry for our comfort。 But we will pop up our heads every few minutes to see if you are coming。〃
The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where； only the day before； she had seen a great many flowers。 These； however； were now a little past their bloom； and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest blossoms； she strayed farther into the fields； and found some that made her scream with delight。 Never had she met with such exquisite flowers beforeviolets so large and fragrantroses with so rich and delicate a blushsuch superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinksand many others； some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors。 Two or three times； moreover； she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes； as if on purpose to tempt her a few steps farther。 Proserpina's apron was soon filled； and brimming over with delightful blossoms。 She was on the point of turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs； and sit with them on the moist sands； all twining wreaths together。 But； a little farther on； what should she behold？ It was a large shrub； completely covered with the most magnificent flowers in the world。
〃The darlings！〃 cried Proserpina； and then she thought to herself； 〃I was looking at that spot only a moment ago。 How strange it is that I did not see the flowers！〃
The nearer she approached the shrub； the more attractive it looked； until she came quite close to it； and then； although its beauty was richer than words can tell； she hardly knew whether to like it or not。 It bore above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues； and each diff