sparkled as it was poured out, and went bab-
bling down, the throat; while, of other sorts, the
purple liquor was so clear that you could see the
wrought figures at the bottom of the goblet.
While the servants supplied the two and twenty
guests with food and drink, the hostess and her
four maidens went from one throne to another,
exhorting them to eat their fill, and to quaff wine
abundantly, and thus to recompense themselves,
at this one banquet, for the many days when
they had gone without a dinner. But, whenever
the mariners were not looking at them, (which
was pretty often, as they looked chiefly into the
basins and platters,) the beautiful woman and
her damsels turned aside, and laughed. Even
the servants, as they knelt down to present the
dishes, might be seen to grin and sneer, while
the guests were helping themselves to the offered
dainties.

And, once in a while, the strangers seemed to
taste something that they did not like.

"Here is an odd kind of a spice in this dish,"
said one. "I can't say it quite suits my palate,
Down it goes, however."

"Send a good draught of wine down your

[[188]]

p187 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p188w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p189

v?