Let them take their original shapes , therefore , Dame Circe , if your skill is equal to the task . It will require greater magic , I trow , than it did to make swine of them . '' So Circe waved her wand again , and repeated a few magic words , at the sound of which the two and twenty hogs pricked up their pendulous ears . It was a wonder to behold how their snouts grew shorter and shorter , and their mouths -LRB- which they seemed to be sorry for , because they could not gobble so expeditiously -RRB- smaller and smaller , and how one and another began to stand upon his hind legs , and scratch his nose with his fore trotters . At first the spectators hardly knew whether to call them hogs or men , but by and by came to the conclusion that they rather resembled the latter . Finally , there stood the twenty-two comrades of Ulysses , looking pretty much the same as when they left the vessel . You must not imagine , however , that the swinish quality had entirely gone out of them . When once it fastens itself into a person 's character , it is very difficult getting rid of it . This was proved by the hamadryad , who , being exceedingly fond of mischief , threw another handful of acorns before the twenty-two newly-restored people ; whereupon down they wallowed in a moment , and gobbled them up in a very shameful way . Then , recollecting themselves , they scrambled to their feet , and looked more than commonly foolish . `` Thanks , noble Ulysses ! '' they cried . `` From brute beasts you have restored us to the condition of men again . '' `` Do not put yourselves to the trouble of thanking me , '' said the wise king . `` I fear I have done but little for you . '' To say the truth , there was a suspicious kind of a grunt in their voices , and , for a long time afterwards , they spoke gruffly , and were apt to set up a squeal . `` It must depend on your own future behavior , '' added Ulysses , `` whether you do not find your way back to the sty . '' At this moment , the note of a bird sounded from the branch of a neighboring tree . `` Peep , peep , pe -- wee -- e! '' It was the purple bird , who , all this while , had been sitting over their heads , watching what was going forward , and hoping that Ulysses would remember how he had done his utmost to keep him and his followers out of harm 's way . Ulysses ordered Circe instantly to make a king of this good little fowl , and leave him exactly as she found him .
Hardly were the words spoken , and before the bird had time to utter another `` pe -- weep , '' King Picus leaped down from the bough of a tree , as majestic a sovereign as any XXXXX the world , dressed in a long purple robe and gorgeous yellow stockings , with a splendidly wrought collar about his neck , and a golden crown upon his head .
for if in into on over that to whether while