who wanted to tempt us on the rocks, so that
our vessel might be wrecked, and our bones loft
whitening alone the shore."

"But just listen to the pleasant voices of those
maidens, and that buzz of the loom, as the shut-
tle passes to and fro," said another comrade
"What a domestic, household, home-like sound
it is! Ah, before that weary siege of Troy, I
used to hear the buzzing loom and the women's
voices under my own roof. Shall I never heai
them again? nor taste those nice little savory
dishes which my dearest wife knew how to
serve up?"

"Tush! we shall fare better here," said anoth-
er. "But how innocently those women are bab-
bling together, without guessing that we over-
hear them! And mark that richest voice of all,
so pleasant and familiar, but which yet seems to
have the authority of a mistress among them.
Let us show ourselves at once. What harm
can the lady of the palace and her maidens do
to mariners and warriors like us?"

"Remember," said Eurylochus, "that it was
a young maiden who beguiled three of our friends
into the palace of the king of the Lsestrygons,

[[181]]

p180 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p181w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p182

v?