On entering the hall , Ulysses saw the magic fountain in the center of it . The up-gushing water had now again taken the shape of a man in a long , white , fleecy robe , who appeared to be making gestures of welcome . The king likewise heard the noise of the shuttle in the loom and the sweet melody of the beautiful woman 's song , and then the pleasant voices of herself and the four maidens talking together , with peals of merry laughter intermixed . But Ulysses did not waste much time in listening to the laughter or the song . He leaned his spear against one of the pillars of the hall , and then , after loosening his sword in the scabbard , stepped boldly forward , and threw the folding doors wide open . The moment she beheld his stately figure standing in the doorway , the beautiful woman rose from the loom , and ran to meet him with a glad smile throwing its sunshine over her face , and both her hands extended . `` Welcome , brave stranger ! '' cried she . `` We were expecting you . '' And the nymph with the sea-green hair made a courtesy down to the ground , and likewise bade him welcome ; so did her sister with the bodice of oaken bark , and she that sprinkled dew-drops from her fingers ' ends , and the fourth one with some oddity which I can not remember . And Circe , as the beautiful enchantress was called -LRB- who had deluded so many persons that she did not doubt of being able to delude Ulysses , not imagining how wise he was -RRB- , again addressed him : `` Your companions , '' said she , `` have already been received into my palace , and have enjoyed the hospitable treatment to which the propriety of their behavior so well entitles them . If such be your pleasure , you shall first take some refreshment , and then join them in the elegant apartment which they now occupy . See , I and my maidens have been weaving their figures into this piece of tapestry . '' She pointed to the web of beautifully-woven cloth in the loom . Circe and the four nymphs must have been very diligently at work since the arrival of the mariners ; for a great many yards of tapestry had now been wrought , in addition to what I before described . In this new part , Ulysses saw his two and twenty friends represented as sitting on cushions and canopied thrones , greedily devouring dainties , and quaffing deep draughts of wine . The work had not yet gone any further . O , no , indeed . The enchantress was far too cunning to let Ulysses see the mischief which her magic arts had since brought upon the gormandizers . `` As for yourself , valiant sir , '' said Circe , `` judging by the dignity of your aspect , I take you to be nothing less than a king .
Deign to follow me , and you shall be treated XXXXX befits your rank . ''
If In after against as from over that to with