tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第31章
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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 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
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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！〃 he cried； 〃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 danger。 If you desert us； and go to the enchanted palace； you
will suffer the same fate as our poor companions； and not a soul of us will
ever see our dear Ithaca again。〃
〃As I am your king；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃and wiser than any of you； it
is therefore the more my duty to see what has befallen our comrades； and
whether anything can yet be done to rescue them。 Wait for me here until
tomorrow。 If I do not then return； you must hoist sail； and endeavor to find
your way to our native land。 For my part； I am answerable for the fate of
these poor mariners； who have stood by my side in battle； and been so
often drenched to the skin； along with me； by the same tempestuous surges。
I will either bring them back with me； or perish。〃
Had his followers dared； they would have detained him by force。 But
King Ulysses frowned sternly on them； and shook his spear； and bade
them stop him at their peril。 Seeing him so determined； they let him go；
and sat down on the sand； as disconsolate a set of people as could be；
waiting and praying for his return。
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It happened to Ulysses； just as before； that； when he had gone a few
steps from the edge of the cliff； the purple bird came fluttering towards
him； crying； 〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃 and using all the art it could to
persuade him to go no farther。
〃What mean you； little bird？〃 cried Ulysses。 〃You are arrayed like a
king in purple and gold； and wear a golden crown upon your head。 Is it
because I too am a king； that you desire so earnestly to speak with me？ If
you can talk in human language； say what you would have me do。〃
〃Peep！〃 answered the purple bird； very dolorously。 〃Peep； peep； pe
wee！〃
Certainly there lay some heavy anguish at the little bird's heart； and it
was a
