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which I have forgotten）； all these followed behind； and hurried the guests
along； until they entered a magnificent saloon。 It was built in a perfect
oval； and lighted from a crystal dome above。 Around the walls were
ranged two and twenty thrones； overhung by canopies of crimson and gold；
and provided with the softest of cushions； which were tasselled and
fringed with gold cord。 Each of the strangers was invited to sit down； and
there they were； two and twenty storm… beaten mariners； in worn and
tattered garb； sitting on two and twenty cushioned and canopied thrones；
so rich and gorgeous that the proudest monarch had nothing more splendid
in his stateliest hall。
Then you might have seen the guests nodding； winking with one eye；
and leaning from one throne to another； to communicate their satisfaction
in hoarse whispers。
〃Our good hostess has made kings of us all；〃 said one。 〃Ha！ do you
smell the feast？ I'll engage it will be fit to set before two and twenty
kings。〃
〃I hope；〃 said another； 〃it will be； mainly； good substantial joints；
sirloins； spareribs； and hinder quarters； without too many kickshaws。 If I
thought the good lady would not take it amiss； I should call for a fat slice
of fried bacon to begin with。〃
Ah； the gluttons and gormandizers！ You see how it was with them。 In
the loftiest seats of dignity； on royal thrones； they could think of nothing
but their greedy appetite； which was the portion of their nature that they
shared with wolves and swine； so that they resembled those vilest of
animals far more than they did kingsif； indeed； kings were what they
ought to be。
But the beautiful woman now clapped her hands； and immediately
there entered a train of two and twenty serving man； bringing dishes of the
richest food； all hot from the kitchen fire； and sending up such a steam that
it hung like a cloud below the crystal dome of the saloon。 An equal
number of attendants brought great flagons of wine； of various kinds；
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some of which sparkled as it was poured out； and went bubbling down the
throat； while； of other sorts； the purple liquor was so clear that you could
see the wrought figures at the bottom of the goblet。 While the servants
supplied the two and twenty guests with food and drink； the hostess and
her four maidens went from one throne to another； exhorting them to eat
their fill； and to quaff wine abundantly； and thus to recompense them…
selves； at this one banquet； for the many days when they had gone without
a dinner。 But whenever the mariners were not looking at them （which was
pretty often； as they looked chiefly into the basins and platters）； the
beautiful woman and her damsels turned aside； and laughed。 Even the
servants； as they knelt down to present the dishes； might be seen to grin
and sneer； while the guests were helping themselves to the offered
dainties。
And； once in a while； the strangers seemed to taste something that they
did not like。
〃Here is an odd kind of spice in this dish；〃 said one。 〃I can't say it quite
suits my palate。 Down it goes； however。〃
〃Send a good draught of wine down your throat；〃 said his comrade on
the next throne。 〃That is the stuff to make this sort of cookery relish well。
Though I must needs say； the wine has a queer taste too。 But the more I
drink of it； the better I like the flavor。〃
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 th