or an ass, or, as often as any thing else, a hog,
wallowing in the marble basin as if it were his
sty. It was either magic or some very curious
machinery that caused the gushing waterspout
to assume all these forms. But, before the
strangers had time to look closely at this won-
derful sight, their attention was drawn off by a
very sweet and agreeable sound. A woman's
voice was singing melodiously in another room
of the palace, and with her voice was mingled
the noise of a loom, at which she was probably
seated, weaving a rich texture of cloth, and in-
tertwining the high and low sweetness of her
voice into a rich tissue of harmony.

By and by, the song came to an end; and
then, ail at once, there were several feminine
voices, talking airily and cheerfully, with now
and then a merry burst of laughter, such as you
may always hear when three or four young
women sit at work together.

"What a sweet song that was!" exclaimed
one of the voyagers.

"Too sweet, indeed," answered Eurylochus,
shaking his head. "Yet it was not so sweet
as the song of the Sirens, those bird-like damsels

[[180]]

p179 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p180w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p181

v?