I have already hinted to you what gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were . From what is related of them , I reckon that their favorite diet was pork , and that they had lived upon it until a good part of their physical substance was swine 's flesh , and their tempers and dispositions were very much akin to the hog . A dish of venison , however , was no unacceptable meal to them , especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams . So , beholding the dead stag , they felt of its ribs , in a knowing way , and lost no time in kindling a fire of driftwood , to cook it . The rest of the day was spent in feasting ; and if these enormous eaters got up from table at sunset , it was only because they could not scrape another morsel off the poor animal 's bones . The next morning , their appetites were as sharp as ever . They looked at Ulysses , as if they expected him to clamber up the cliff again , and come back with another fat deer upon his shoulders . Instead of setting out , however , he summoned the whole crew together , and told them it was in vain to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner , and therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode of satisfying their hunger . `` Now , '' said he , `` when I was on the cliff , yesterday , I discovered that this island is inhabited . At a considerable distance from the shore stood a marble palace , which appeared to be very spacious , and had a great deal of smoke curling out of one of its chimneys . '' `` Aha ! '' muttered some of his companions , smacking their lips . `` That smoke must have come from the kitchen fire . There was a good dinner on the spit ; and no doubt there will be as good a one to-day . '' `` But , '' continued the wise Ulysses , `` you must remember , my good friends , our misadventure in the cavern of one-eyed Polyphemus , the Cyclops ! Instead of his ordinary milk diet , did he not eat up two of our comrades for his supper , and a couple more for breakfast , and two at his supper again ? Methinks I see him yet , the hideous monster , scanning us with that great red eye , in the middle of his forehead , to single out the fattest . And then , again , only a few days ago , did we not fall into the hands of the king of the Laestrygons , and those other horrible giants , his subjects , who devoured a great many more of us than are now left ? To tell you the truth , if we go to yonder palace , there can be no question that we shall make our appearance at the dinner table ; but whether seated as guests , or served up as food , is a point to be seriously considered . '' `` Either way , '' murmured some of the hungriest of the crew ; `` it will be better than starvation ; particularly if one could be sure of being well fattened beforehand , and daintily cooked afterwards . ''
`` That is a matter of taste , '' said King XXXXX , `` and , for my own part , neither the most careful fattening nor the daintiest of cookery would reconcile me to being dished at last .
Laestrygons Methinks Polyphemus Ulysses day fall fire gormandizers left starvation