The door of the saloon being flung open , the drove of hogs ran in all directions save the right one , in accordance with their hoggish perversity , but were finally driven into the back yard of the palace . It was a sight to bring tears into one 's eyes -LRB- and I hope none of you will be cruel enough to laugh at it -RRB- , to see the poor creatures go snuffing along , picking up here a cabbage leaf and there a turnip top , and rooting their noses in the earth for whatever they could find . In their sty , moreover , they behaved more piggishly than the pigs that had been born so ; for they bit and snorted at one another , put their feet in the trough , and gobbled up their victuals in a ridiculous hurry ; and , when there was nothing more to be had , they made a great pile of themselves among some unclean straw , and fell fast asleep . If they had any human reason left , it was just enough to keep them wondering when they should be slaughtered , and what quality of bacon they should make . Meantime , as I told you before , Eurylochus had waited , and waited , and waited , in the entrance hall of the palace , without being able to comprehend what had befallen his friends . At last , when the swinish uproar resounded through the palace , and when he saw the image of a hog in the marble basin , he thought it best to hasten back to the vessel , and inform the wise Ulysses of these marvelous occurrences . So he ran as fast as he could down the steps , and never stopped to draw breath till he reached the shore . `` Why do you come alone ? '' asked King Ulysses , as soon as he saw him . `` Where are your two and twenty comrades ? '' At these questions , Eurylochus burst into tears . `` Alas ! '' he cried , `` I greatly fear that we shall never see one of their faces again . '' Then he told Ulysses all that had happened , as far as he knew it , and added that he suspected the beautiful woman to be a vile enchantress , and the marble palace , magnificent as it looked , to be only a dismal cavern in reality . As for his companions , he could not imagine what had become of them , unless they had been given to the swine to be devoured alive . At this intelligence , all the voyagers were greatly affrighted . But Ulysses lost no time in girding on his sword , and hanging his bow and quiver over his shoulders , and taking a spear in his right hand . When his followers saw their wise leader making these preparations , they inquired whither he was going , and earnestly besought him not to leave them . `` You are our king , '' cried they ; `` and what is more , you are the wisest man in the whole world , and nothing but your wisdom and courage can get us out of this danger . If you desert us , and go to the enchanted palace , you will suffer the same fate as our poor companions , and not a soul of us will ever see our dear Ithaca again . ''
`` As I am your king , '' answered Ulysses , `` and wiser XXXXX any of you , it is therefore the more my duty to see what has befallen our comrades , and whether anything can yet be done to rescue them .
If among as at for into of than that without