hand, while with his left he held the snow-white
flower to his nostrils, and drew in so long a
breath that his lungs were quite filled with its
pure and simple fragrance. Then, drinking off
all the wine, he looked the enchantress calrily
in the face.

"Wretch," cried Circe, giving him a smart
stroke with her wand, "how dare you keep your
human shape a moment longer? Take the
form of the brute whom you most resemble. If
a hog, go join your fellow-swine in the sty; if a
lion, a wolf, a tiger, go howl with the wild beasts
on the lawn; if a fox, go exercise your craft in
stealing poultry. Thou hast quaffed off my
wine, and canst be man no longer."

But, such was the virtue of the snow-white
flower, instead of wallowing down from his
throne in swinish shape, or taking any other
brutal form, Ulysses looked even more manly
and king-like than before. He gave the magic
goblet a toss, and sent it clashing over the mar
ble floor, to the farthest end of the saloon
Then, drawing his sword, he seized the enchan
tress by her beautiful ringlets, and made a ges
ture as if he meant to strike off her head a
one blow.

[[206]]

p205 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p206w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p207

v?