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〃Alas！〃 he cried； 〃I greatly fear that we shall never see one of their
faces again。〃
Then he told Ulysses all that had happened； as far as he knew it； and
added that he suspected the beautiful woman to be a vile enchantress； and
the marble palace； magnificent as it looked； to be only a dismal cavern in
reality。 As for his companions； he could not imagine what had become of
them； unless they had been given to the swine to be devoured alive。 At this
intelligence； all the voyagers were greatly affrighted。 But Ulysses lost no
time in girding on his sword； and hanging his bow and quiver over his
shoulders； and。 taking a spear in his right hand。 When his followers saw
their wise leader making these preparations； they inquired whither he was
going； and earnestly besought him not to leave them。
〃You are our king；〃 cried they； 〃and what is more； you are the wisest
man in the whole world； and nothing but your wisdom and courage can get
us out of this danger。 If you desert us； and go to the enchanted palace； you
will suffer the same fate as our poor companions； and not a soul of us will
ever see our dear Ithaca again。〃
〃As I am your king；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃and wiser than any of you； it
is therefore the more my duty to see what has befallen our comrades； and
whether anything can yet be done to rescue them。 Wait for me here until
tomorrow。 If I do not then return； you must hoist sail； and endeavor to find
your way to our native land。 For my part； I am answerable for the fate of
these poor mariners； who have stood by my side in battle； and been so
often drenched to the skin； along with me； by the same tempestuous surges。
I will either bring them back with me； or perish。〃
Had his followers dared； they would have detained him by force。 But
King Ulysses frowned sternly on them； and shook his spear； and bade
them stop him at their peril。 Seeing him so determined； they let him go；
and sat down on the sand； as disconsolate a set of people as could be；
waiting and praying for his return。
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It happened to Ulysses； just as before； that； when he had gone a few
steps from the edge of the cliff； the purple bird came fluttering towards
him； crying； 〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃 and using all the art it could to
persuade him to go no farther。
〃What mean you； little bird？〃 cried Ulysses。 〃You are arrayed like a
king in purple and gold； and wear a golden crown upon your head。 Is it
because I too am a king； that you desire so earnestly to speak with me？ If
you can talk in human language； say what you would have me do。〃
〃Peep！〃 answered the purple bird； very dolorously。 〃Peep； peep； pe
wee！〃
Certainly there lay some heavy anguish at the little bird's heart； and it
was a sorrowful predicament that he could not； at least； have the
consolation of telling what it was。 But Ulysses had no time to waste in
trying to get at the mystery。 He therefore quickened his pace； and had gone
a good way along the pleasant wood path； when there met him a young
man of very brisk and intelligent aspect； and clad in a rather singular garb。
He wore a short cloak and a sort of cap that seemed to be furnished with a
pair of wings； and from the lightness of his step； you would have supposed
that there might likewise be wings on his feet。 To enable him to walk still
better （for he was always on one journey or another） he carried a winged
staff； around which two serpents were wriggling and twisting。 In short； I
have said enough to make you guess that it was Quicksilver； and Ulysses
（who knew him of old； and had learned a great deal of his wisdom from
him） recognized him in a moment。
〃Whither are you going in such a hurry； wise Ulysses？〃 asked
Quicksilver。 〃Do you not know that this island is enchanted？ The wicked
enchantress （whose name is Circe； the sister of King Aetes） dwells in the
marble palace which you see yonder among the trees。 By her magic arts
she changes every human being into the brute； beast； or fowl whom he
happens most to resemble。〃
〃That little bird； which met me at the edge of the cliff；〃 exclaimed
Ulysses； 〃was he a human being once？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Quicksilver。 〃He was once a king； named Picus； and a
pretty good sort of a king； too； only rather too proud of his purple robe；
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and his crown； and the golden chain about his neck； so he was forced to
take the shape of a gaudy…feathered bird。 The lions； and wolves； and tigers；
who will come running to meet you； in front of the palace； were formerly
fierce and cruel men； resembling in their disposition the wild beasts
whose forms they now rightfully wear。〃
〃And my poor companions；〃 said Ulysses。 〃Have they undergone a
similar change； through the arts of this wicked Circe？〃
〃You well know what gormandizers they were；〃 replied Quicksilver；
and rogue that he was； he could not help laughing at the joke。 〃So you will
not be surprised to hear that they have all taken the shapes of swine！ If
Circe had never done anything worse； I really should not think her so very
much to blame。〃
〃But can I do nothing to help them？〃 inquired Ulysses。
〃It will require all your wisdom；〃 said Quicksilver； 〃and a little of my
own into the bargain； to keep your royal and sagacious self from being
transformed into a fox。 But do as I bid you； and the matter may end better
than it has begun。〃
While he was speaking； Quicksilver seemed to be in search of
something； he went stooping along the ground； and soon laid his hand on a
little plant with a snow…white flower； which he plucked and smelt of。
Ulysses had been looking at that very spot only just before； and it
appeared to him that the plant had burst into full flower the instant when
Quicksilver touched it with his fingers。
〃Take this flower； King Ulysses；〃 said he。 〃Guard it as you do your
eyesight； for I can assure you it is exceedingly rare and precious； and you
might seek the whole earth over without ever finding another like it。 Keep
it in your hand； and smell of it frequently after you enter the palace； and
while you are talking with the enchantress。 Especially when she offers you
food； or a drau