🧚 Circe's Palace., part 1 · page 2

On his way to the shore, Ulysses had the good luck to kill a large stag by thrusting his spear into his back.38 Taking it on his shoulders (for he was a remarkably strong man), he lugged it along with him, and flung it down before his hungry companions.39 I have already hinted to you what gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were.40 From what is related of them, I reckon that their favorite diet was pork, and that they had lived upon it until a good part of their physical substance was swine's flesh, and their tempers and dispositions were very much akin to the hog.41 A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams.42 So, beholding the dead stag, they felt of its ribs, in a knowing way, and lost no time in kindling a fire of driftwood, to cook it.43 The rest of the day was spent in feasting; and if these enormous eaters got up from table at sunset, it was only because they could not scrape another morsel off the poor animal's bones.44

The next morning, their appetites were as sharp as ever.45 They looked at Ulysses, as if they expected him to clamber up the cliff again, and come back with another fat deer upon his shoulders.46 Instead of setting out, however, he summoned the whole crew together, and told them it was in vain to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner, and therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode of satisfying their hunger.47

"Now," said he, "when I was on the cliff, yesterday, I discovered that this island is inhabited.48 At a considerable distance from the shore stood a marble palace, which appeared to be very spacious, and had a great deal of smoke curling out of one of its chimneys."49

"Aha!" muttered some of his companions, smacking their lips. "50 That smoke must have come from the kitchen fire.51 There was a good dinner on the spit; and no doubt there will be as good a one to-day."52

"But," continued the wise Ulysses, "you must remember, my good friends, our misadventure in the cavern of one-eyed Polyphemus, the Cyclops!53 Instead of his ordinary milk diet, did he not eat up two of our comrades for his supper, and a couple more for breakfast, and two at his supper again?54 Methinks I see him yet, the hideous monster, scanning us with that great red eye, in the middle of his forehead, to single out the fattest.55 And then, again, only a few days ago, did we not fall into the hands of the king of the Laestrygons, and those other horrible giants, his subjects, who devoured a great many more of us than are now left?56 To tell you the truth, if we go to yonder palace, there can be no question that we shall make our appearance at the dinner table; but whether seated as guests, or served up as food, is a point to be seriously considered."57

"Either way," murmured some of the hungriest of the crew; "it will be better than starvation; particularly if one could be sure of being well fattened beforehand, and daintily cooked afterwards."58

"That is a matter of taste," said King Ulysses, "and, for my own part, neither the most careful fattening nor the daintiest of cookery would reconcile me to being dished at last.59 My proposal is, therefore, that we divide ourselves into two equal parties, and ascertain, by drawing lots, which of the two shall go to the palace, and beg for food and assistance.60 If these can be obtained, all is well.61 If not, and if the inhabitants prove as inhospitable as Polyphemus, or the Laestrygons, then there will but half of us perish, and the remainder may set sail and escape."62

As nobody objected to this scheme, Ulysses proceeded to count the whole band, and found that there were forty-six men, including himself.63 He then numbered off twenty-two of them, and put Eurylochus (who was one of his chief officers, and second only to himself in sagacity) at their head.64 Ulysses took command of the remaining twenty-two men, in person.65 Then, taking off his helmet, he put two shells into it, on one of which was written, "Go," and on the other "Stay."66 Another person now held the helmet, while Ulysses and Eurylochus drew out each a shell; and the word "Go" was found written on that which Eurylochus had drawn.67 In this manner, it was decided that Ulysses and his twenty-two men were to remain at the seaside until the other party should have found out what sort of treatment they might expect at the mysterious palace.68 As there was no help for it, Eurylochus immediately set forth at the head of his twenty-two followers, who went off in a very melancholy state of mind, leaving their friends in hardly better spirits than themselves.69

No sooner had they clambered up the cliff, than they discerned the tall marble towers of the palace, ascending, as white as snow, out of the lovely green shadow of the trees which surrounded it.70 A gush of smoke came from a chimney in the rear of the edifice.71 This vapor rose high in the air, and, meeting with a breeze, was wafted seaward, and made to pass over the heads of the hungry mariners.72 When people's appetites are keen, they have a very quick scent for anything savory in the wind.73

"That smoke comes from the kitchen!" cried one of them, turning up his nose as high as he could, and snuffing eagerly. "74 And, as sure as I'm a half-starved vagabond, I smell roast meat in it."75

"Pig, roast pig!" said another. "76 Ah, the dainty little porker.77 My mouth waters for him."78

"Let us make haste," cried the others, "or we shall be too late for the good cheer!"79

But scarcely had they made half a dozen steps from the edge of the cliff, when a bird came fluttering to meet them.80 It was the same pretty little bird, with the purple wings and body, the yellow legs, the golden collar round its neck, and the crown-like tuft upon its head, whose behavior had so much surprised Ulysses.81 It hovered about Eurylochus, and almost brushed his face with its wings.82

"Peep, peep, pe--weep!" chirped the bird.83

So plaintively intelligent was the sound, that it seemed as if the little creature were going to break its heart with some mighty secret that it had to tell, and only this one poor note to tell it with.84

"My pretty bird," said Eurylochus--for he was a wary person, and let no token of harm escape his notice--"my pretty bird, who sent you hither?85 And what is the message which you bring?"86

"Peep, peep, pe--weep!" replied the bird, very sorrowfully.87

Then it flew towards the edge of the cliff, and looked around at them, as if exceedingly anxious that they should return whence they came.88 Eurylochus and a few of the others were inclined to turn back.89 They could not help suspecting that the purple bird must be aware of something mischievous that would befall them at the palace, and the knowledge of which affected its airy spirit with a human sympathy and sorrow.90 But the rest of the voyagers, snuffing up the smoke from the palace kitchen, ridiculed the idea of returning to the vessel.91 One of them (more brutal than his fellows, and the most notorious gormandizer in the crew) said such a cruel and wicked thing, that I wonder the mere thought did not turn him into a wild beast, in shape, as he already was in his nature.92