But this was surely the most magnificent seat that ever a king or an emperor reposed himself upon , all made of chased gold , studded with precious stones , with a cushion that looked like a soft heap of living roses , and overhung by a canopy of sunlight which Circe knew how to weave into drapery . The enchantress took Ulysses by the hand , and made him sit down upon this dazzling throne . Then , clapping her hands , she summoned the chief butler . `` Bring hither , '' said she , `` the goblet that is set apart for kings to drink out of . And fill it with the same delicious wine which my royal brother , King Aetes , praised so highly , when he last visited me with my fair daughter Medea . That good and amiable child ! Were she now here , it would delight her to see me offering this wine to my honored guest . '' But Ulysses , while the butler was gone for the wine , held the snow-white flower to his nose . `` Is it a wholesome wine ? '' he asked . At this the four maidens tittered ; whereupon the enchantress looked round at them , with an aspect of severity . `` It is the wholesomest juice that ever was squeezed out of the grape , '' said she ; `` for , instead of disguising a man , as other liquor is apt to do , it brings him to his true self , and shows him as he ought to be . '' The chief butler liked nothing better than to see people turned into swine , or making any kind of a beast of themselves ; so he made haste to bring the royal goblet , filled with a liquid as bright as gold , and which kept sparkling upward , and throwing a sunny spray over the brim . But , delightfully as the wine looked , it was mingled with the most potent enchantments that Circe knew how to concoct . For every drop of the pure grape juice there were two drops of the pure mischief ; and the danger of the thing was , that the mischief made it taste all the better . The mere smell of the bubbles , which effervesced at the brim , was enough to turn a man 's beard into pig 's bristles , or make a lion 's claws grow out of his fingers , or a fox 's brush behind him . `` Drink , my noble guest , '' said Circe , smiling , as she presented him with the goblet . `` You will find in this draught a solace for all your troubles . '' King Ulysses took the goblet with his right 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 calmly in the face .
`` Wretch , '' cried Circe , giving him a smart stroke XXXXX her wand , `` how dare you keep your human shape a moment longer !
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