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 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!" cried he, "I greatly fear that we shall never see one of their
faces again."

Then he told Ulysses all that had happened, as far as he knew it, and
added that he suspected the beautiful woman to be a vile enchantress, and
the marble palace, magnificent as it looked, to be only a dismal cavern in
reality. As for his companions, he could not imagine what had become of
them, unless they had been given to the swine to be devoured alive. At
this intelligence all the voyagers were greatly affrighted. But Ulysses
lost no time in girding on his sword, and hanging his bow and quiver over
his shoulders, and taking a spear in his right hand. When his followers
saw their wise leader making these preparations, they inquired whither he
was going, and earnestly besought him not to leave them.

"You are our king," cried they; "and what is more, you are the wisest man
in the whole world, and nothing but your wisdom and courage can get us out
of this