`` 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 with her wand , `` how dare you keep your human shape a moment longer ! Take the form of the brute whom you most resemble . If a hog , go join your fellow-swine in the sty ; if a lion , a wolf , a tiger , go howl with the wild beasts on the lawn ; if a fox , go exercise your craft in stealing poultry . Thou hast quaffed off my wine , and canst be man no longer . '' But , such was the virtue of the snow-white flower , instead of wallowing down from his throne in swinish shape , or taking any other brutal form , Ulysses looked even more manly and king-like than before . He gave the magic goblet a toss , and sent it clashing over the marble floor to the farthest end of the saloon . Then , drawing his sword , he seized the enchantress by her beautiful ringlets , and made a gesture as if he meant to strike off her head at one blow . `` Wicked Circe , '' cried he , in a terrible voice , `` this sword shall put an end to thy enchant meets .
Thou shalt die , vile wretch , and do no more mischief in the world , XXXXX tempting human beings into the vices which make beasts of them . ''
At by for from if into of than that to