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while you are talking with the enchantress。 Especially when she offers you
food； or a draught of wine out of her goblet； be careful to fill your nostrils
with the flower's fragrance。 Follow these directions； and you may defy her
magic arts to change you into a fox。〃
Quicksilver then gave him some further advice how to behave； and
bidding him be bold and prudent； again assured him that； powerful as
Circe was； he would have a fair prospect of coming safely out of her
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enchanted palace。 After listening attentively； Ulysses thanked his good
friend； and resumed his way。 But he had taken only a few steps； when；
recollecting some other questions which he wished to ask； he turned round
again； and beheld nobody on the spot where Quicksilver had stood； for
that winged cap of his； and those winged shoes； with the help of the
winged staff； had carried him quickly out of sight。
When Ulysses reached the lawn； in front of the palace； the lions and
other savage animals came bounding to meet him； and would have fawned
upon him and licked his feet。 But the wise king struck at them with his
long spear； and sternly bade them begone out of his path； for he knew that
they had once been bloodthirsty men； and would now tear him limb from
limb； instead of fawning upon him； could they do the mischief that was in
their hearts。 The wild beasts yelped and glared at him； and stood at a
distance； while he ascended the palace steps。
On entering the hall； Ulysses saw the magic fountain in the center of it。
The up…gushing water had now again taken the shape of a man in a long；
white； fleecy robe； who appeared to be making gestures of welcome。 The
king likewise heard the noise of the shuttle in the loom and the sweet
melody of the beautiful woman's song； and then the pleasant voices of
herself and the four maidens talking together； with peals of merry laughter
intermixed。 But Ulysses did not waste much time in listening to the
laughter or the song。 He leaned his spear against one of the pillars of the
hall； and then； after loosening his sword in the scabbard； stepped boldly
forward； and threw the folding doors wide open。 The moment she beheld
his stately figure standing in the doorway； the beautiful woman rose from
the loom； and ran to meet him with a glad smile throwing its sunshine over
her face； and both her hands extended。
〃Welcome； brave stranger！〃 cried she。 〃We were expecting you。〃
And the nymph with the sea…green hair made a courtesy down to the
ground； and likewise bade him welcome； so did her sister with the bodice
of oaken bark； and she that sprinkled dew…drops from her fingers' ends；
and the fourth one with some oddity which I cannot remember。 And Circe；
as the beautiful enchantress was called （who had deluded so many persons
that she did not doubt of being able to delude Ulysses； not imagining how
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wise he was）； again addressed him：
〃Your companions；〃 said she； 〃have already been received into my
palace； and have enjoyed the hospitable treatment to which the propriety
of their behavior so well entitles them。 If such be your pleasure； you shall
first take some refreshment； and then join them in the elegant apartment
which they now occupy。 See； I and my maidens have been weaving their
figures into this piece of tapestry。〃
She pointed to the web of beautifully…woven cloth in the loom。 Circe
and the four nymphs must have been very diligently at work since the
arrival of the mariners； for a great many yards of tapestry had nw been
wrought； in addition to what I before described。 In this new part； Ulysses
saw his two and twenty friends represented as sitting on cushions and
canopied thrones； greedily devouring dainties； and quaffing deep draughts
of wine。 The work had not yet gone any further。 O； no； indeed。 The
enchantress was far too cunning to let Ulysses see the mischief which her
magic arts had since brought upon the gormandizers。
〃As for yourself； valiant sir；〃 said Circe； 〃judging by the dignity of
your aspect； I take you to be nothing less than a king。 Deign to follow me；
and you shall be treated as befits your rank。〃
So Ulysses followed her into the oval saloon； where his two and
twenty comrades had devoured the banquet； which ended so disastrously
for themselves。 But； all this while； he had held the snow…white flower in
his hand； and had constantly smelt of it while Circe was speaking； and as
he crossed the threshold of the saloon； he took good care to inhale several
long and deep snuffs of its fragrance。 Instead of two and twenty thrones；
which had before been ranged around the wall； there was now only a
single throne； in the center of the apartment。 But this was surely the most
magnificent seat that ever a king or an emperor reposed himself upon； all
made of chased gold； studded with precious stones； with a cushion that
looked like a soft heap of living roses； and overhung by a canopy of
sunlight which Circe knew how to weave into drapery。 The enchantress
took Ulysses by the hand； and made him sit down upon this dazzling
throne。 Then； clapping her hands； she summoned the chief butler。
〃Bring hither；〃 said she； 〃the goblet that is set apart for kings to drink
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out of。 And fill it with the same delicious wine which my royal brother；
King Aetes； praised so highly； when he last visited me with my fair
daughter Medea。 That good and amiable child！ Were she now here； it
would delight her to see me offering this wine to my honored guest。〃
But Ulysses； while the butler was gone for the wine； held the snow…
white flower to his nose。
〃Is it a wholesome wine？〃 he asked。
At this the four maidens tittered； whereupon the enchantress looked
round at them； with an aspect of severity。
〃It is the wholesomest juice that ever was squeezed out of the grape；〃
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