So ridiculous were these images of themselves , indeed , that they did really laugh aloud , and could hardly be grave again as soon as they wished . And after they had drank , they grew still merrier than before . `` It has a twang of the wine cask in it , '' said one , smacking his lips . `` Make haste ! '' cried his fellows : `` we 'll find the wine cask itself at the palace , and that will be better than a hundred crystal fountains . '' Then they quickened their pace , and capered for joy at the thought of the savory banquet at which they hoped to be guests . But Eurylochus told them that he felt as if he were walking in a dream . `` If I am really awake , '' continued he , `` then , in my opinion , we are on the point of meeting with some stranger adventure than any that befell us in the cave of Polyphemus , or among the gigantic man-eating Laestrygons , or in the windy palace of King Aeolus , which stands on a brazen-walled island . This kind of dreamy feeling always comes over me before any wonderful occurrence . If you take my advice , you will turn back . '' `` No , no , '' answered his comrades , snuffing the air , in which the scent from the palace kitchen was now very perceptible . `` We would not turn back , though we were certain that the king of the Laestrygons , as big as a mountain , would sit at the head of the table , and huge Polyphemus , the one-eyed Cyclops , at its foot . '' At length they came within full sight of the palace , which proved to be very large and lofty , with a great number of airy pinnacles upon its roof . Though it was midday , and the sun shone brightly over the marble front , yet its snowy whiteness , and its fantastic style of architecture , made it look unreal , like the frost work on a window pane , or like the shapes of castles which one sees among the clouds by moonlight . But , just then , a puff of wind brought down the smoke of the kitchen chimney among them , and caused each man to smell the odor of the dish that he liked best ; and , after scenting it , they thought everything else moonshine , and nothing real save this palace , and save the banquet that was evidently ready to be served up in it . So they hastened their steps towards the portal , but had not got half way across the wide lawn , when a pack of lions , tigers , and wolves came bounding to meet them . The terrified mariners started back , expecting no better fate than to be torn to pieces and devoured . To their surprise and joy , however , these wild beasts merely capered around them , wagging their tails , offering their heads to be stroked and patted , and behaving just like so many well-bred house dogs , when they wish to express their delight at meeting their master , or their master 's friends . The biggest lion licked the feet of Eurylochus ; and every other lion , and every wolf and tiger , singled out one of his two and twenty followers , whom the beast fondled as if he loved him better than a beef bone . But , for all that , Eurylochus imagined that he saw something fierce and savage in their eyes ; nor would he have been surprised , at any moment , to feel the big lion 's terrible claws , or to see each of the tigers make a deadly spring , or each wolf leap at the throat of the man whom he had fondled .
Their mildness seemed unreal , and a mere freak ; but their savage nature was XXXXX true as their teeth and claws .
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