ὈΔΎΣΣΕΙΑ 21

Τῇ δ' ἄρ' ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον
ἐν μεγάροισ' Ὀδυσῆος, ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
κλίμακα δ' ὑψηλὴν προσεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,
εἵλετο δὲ κληῖδ' εὐκαμπέα χειρὶ παχείῃ,
καλὴν χαλκείην· κώπη δ' ἐλέφαντος ἐπῆεν.
βῆ δ' ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἔσχατον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος,
χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος.
ἔνθα δὲ τόξον κεῖτο παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρη
ἰοδόκος, πολλοὶ δ' ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί,
δῶρα τά οἱ ξεῖνος Λακεδαίμονι δῶκε τυχήσας
Ἴφιτος Εὐρυτίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισι.
τὼ δ' ἐν Μεσσήνῃ ξυμβλήτην ἀλλήλοιϊν
οἴκῳ ἐν Ὀρτιλόχοιο δαΐφρονος. ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἦλθε μετὰ χρεῖος, τό ῥά οἱ πᾶς δῆμος ὄφελλε·
μῆλα γὰρ ἐξ Ἰθάκης Μεσσήνιοι ἄνδρες ἄειραν
νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι τριηκόσι' ἠδὲ νομῆας.
τῶν ἕνεκ' ἐξεσίην πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
παιδνὸς ἐών· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε πατὴρ ἄλλοι τε γέροντες·
Ἴφιτος αὖθ' ἵππους διζήμενος, αἵ οἱ ὄλοντο
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δ' ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοί·
αἳ δή οἱ καὶ ἔπειτα φόνος καὶ μοῖρα γένοντο,
ἐπεὶ δὴ Διὸς υἱὸν ἀφίκετο καρτερόθυμον,
φῶθ' Ἡρακλῆα, μεγάλων ἐπιίστορα ἔργων,

ὅς μιν ξεῖνον ἐόντα κατέκτανεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σχέτλιος, οὐδὲ θεῶν ὄπιν αἰδέσατ' οὐδὲ τράπεζαν,
τὴν ἥν οἱ παρέθηκεν· ἔπειτα δὲ πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν,
ἵππους δ' αὐτὸς ἔχε κρατερώνυχας ἐν μεγάροισι.
τὰς ἐρέων Ὀδυσῆϊ συνήντετο, δῶκε δὲ τόξον,
τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἐφόρει μέγας Εὔρυτος, αὐτὰρ ὁ παιδὶ
κάλλιπ' ἀποθνῄσκων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι.
τῷ δ' Ὀδυσεὺς ξίφος ὀξὺ καὶ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἔδωκεν,
ἀρχὴν ξεινοσύνης προσκηδέος· οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ
γνώτην ἀλλήλω· πρὶν γὰρ Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπεφνεν
Ἴφιτον Εὐρυτίδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν,
ὅς οἱ τόξον ἔδωκε. τὸ δ' οὔ ποτε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἐρχόμενος πόλεμόνδε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν
ᾑρεῖτ', ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ μνῆμα ξείνοιο φίλοιο
κέσκετ' ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, φόρει δέ μιν ἧς ἐπὶ γαίης.

ἡ δ' ὅτε δὴ θάλαμον τὸν ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν
οὐδόν τε δρύϊνον προσεβήσετο, τόν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἐν δὲ σταθμοὺς ἄρσε, θύρας δ' ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς,
αὐτίκ' ἄρ' ἥ γ' ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,
ἐν δὲ κληῖδ' ἧκε, θυρέων δ' ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας
ἄντα τιτυσκομένη. τὰ δ' ἀνέβραχεν ἠΰτε ταῦρος
βοσκόμενος λειμῶνι· τόσ' ἔβραχε καλὰ θύρετρα
πληγέντα κληῖδι, πετάσθησαν δέ οἱ ὦκα.
ἡ δ' ἄρ' ἐφ' ὑψηλῆς σανίδος βῆ· ἔνθα δὲ χηλοὶ
ἕστασαν, ἐν δ' ἄρα τῇσι θυώδεα εἵματ' ἔκειτο.
ἔνθεν ὀρεξαμένη ἀπὸ πασσάλου αἴνυτο τόξον
αὐτῷ γωρυτῷ, ὅς οἱ περίκειτο φαεινός.
ἑζομένη δὲ κατ' αὖθι, φίλοισ' ἐπὶ γούνασι θεῖσα,
κλαῖε μάλα λιγέως, ἐκ δ' ᾕρεε τόξον ἄνακτος.
ἡ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,
βῆ ῥ' ἴμεναι μέγαρόνδε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
τόξον ἔχουσ' ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰοδόκον· πολλοὶ δ' ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί.
τῇ δ' ἄρ' ἅμ' ἀμφίπολοι φέρον ὄγκιον, ἔνθα σίδηρος
κεῖτο πολὺς καὶ χαλκός, ἀέθλια τοῖο ἄνακτος.
ἡ δ' ὄτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·
ἀμφίπολος δ' ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρσι μετηύδα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·

«κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, οἳ τόδε δῶμα
ἐχράετ' ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ
ἀνδρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδέ τιν' ἄλλην
μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην ἐδύνασθε,
ἀλλ' ἐμὲ ἱέμενοι γῆμαι θέσθαι τε γυναῖκα.
ἀλλ' ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετ' ἄεθλον·
θήσω γὰρ μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατ' ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,
τῷ κεν ἅμ' ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα
κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο,
τοῦ ποτε μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.»

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥ' Εὔμαιον ἀνώγει, δῖον ὑφορβόν,
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον.
δακρύσας δ' Εὔμαιος ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκε·
κλαῖε δὲ βουκόλος ἄλλοθ', ἐπεὶ ἴδε τόξον ἄνακτος.
Ἀντίνοος δ' ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·

«νήπιοι ἀγροιῶται, ἐφημέρια φρονέοντες,
ἆ δειλώ, τί νυ δάκρυ κατείβετον ἠδὲ γυναικὶ
θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρίνετον; ᾗ τε καὶ ἄλλως
κεῖται ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμός, ἐπεὶ φίλον ὤλεσ' ἀκοίτην.
ἀλλ' ἀκέων δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι, ἠὲ θύραζε
κλαίετον ἐξελθόντε κατ' αὐτόθι τόξα λιπόντε,
μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον ἀάατον· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ῥηϊδίως τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύεσθαι.
οὐ γάρ τις μέτα τοῖος ἀνὴρ ἐν τοίσδεσι πᾶσιν,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν· ἐγὼ δέ μιν αὐτὸς ὄπωπα,
καὶ γὰρ μνήμων εἰμί, πάϊς δ' ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.»

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ' ἄρα θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
νευρὴν ἐντανύειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
ἦ τοι ὀϊστοῦ γε πρῶτος γεύσασθαι ἔμελλεν
ἐκ χειρῶν Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὃν τότ' ἀτίμα
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροισ', ἐπὶ δ' ὤρνυε πάντας ἑταίρους.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφ' ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα με Ζεὺς ἄφρονα θῆκε Κρονίων·
μήτηρ μέν μοί φησι φίλη, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα,
ἄλλῳ ἅμ' ἕψεσθαι νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γελόω καὶ τέρπομαι ἄφρονι θυμῷ.
ἀλλ' ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετ' ἄεθλον,
οἵη νῦν οὐκ ἔστι γυνὴ κατ' Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν,
οὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτ' Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης,
οὔτ' αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης οὔτ' ἠπείροιο μελαίνης·
καὶ δ' αὐτοὶ τόδε ἴστε· τί με χρὴ μητέρος αἴνου; -
ἀλλ' ἄγε μὴ μύνῃσι παρέλκετε μηδ' ἔτι τόξου
δηρὸν ἀποτρωπᾶσθε τανυστύος, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
καὶ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τοῦ τόξου πειρησαίμην·
εἰ δέ κεν ἐντανύσω διοϊστεύσω τε σιδήρου,
οὔ κέ μοι ἀχνυμένῳ τάδε δώματα πότνια μήτηρ
λείποι ἅμ' ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσ', ὅτ' ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην
οἷός τ' ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλ' ἀνελέσθαι.»

ἦ, καὶ ἀπ' ὤμοιϊν χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν
ὀρθὸς ἀναΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτ' ὤμων.
πρῶτον μὲν πελέκεας στῆσεν, διὰ τάφρον ὀρύξας
πᾶσι μίαν μακρήν, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ γαῖαν ἔναξε. τάφος δ' ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας,
ὡς εὐκόσμως στῆσε· πάρος δ' οὔ πώ ποτ' ὀπώπει.
στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζε.
τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσεσθαι μενεαίνων,
τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης, ἐπιελπόμενος τό γε θυμῷ,
νευρὴν ἐντανύειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
καί νύ κε δὴ ἐτάνυσσε βίῃ τὸ τέταρτον ἀνέλκων,
ἀλλ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἀνένευε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱέμενόν περ.

τοῖς δ' αὖτις μετέειφ' ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κακός τ' ἔσομαι καὶ ἄκικυς,
ἠὲ νεώτερός εἰμι καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρ' ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
ἀλλ' ἄγεθ', οἵ περ ἐμεῖο βίῃ προφερέστεροί ἐστε,
τόξου πειρήσασθε, καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.»

ὣς εἰπὼν τόξον μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο θῆκε χαμᾶζε,
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δ' ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δ' αὖτις κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

τοῖσιν δ' Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
«ὄρνυσθ' ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια πάντες ἑταῖροι,
ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου, ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει.»

ὣς ἔφατ' Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δ' ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
Λειώδης δὲ πρῶτος ἀνίστατο, Ἤνοπος υἱός,
ὅ σφι θυοσκόος ἔσκε, παρὰ κρητῆρα δὲ καλὸν
ἷζε μυχοίτατος αἰεί· ἀτασθαλίαι δέ οἱ οἴῳ
ἐχθραὶ ἔσαν, πᾶσιν δὲ νεμέσσα μνηστήρεσσιν·
ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.
στῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζεν,
οὐδέ μιν ἐντάνυσε· πρὶν γὰρ κάμε χεῖρας ἀνέλκων
ἀτρίπτους ἁπαλάς. μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·

«ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὲν ἐγὼ τανύω, λαβέτω δὲ καὶ ἄλλος.
πολλοὺς γὰρ τόδε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστι
τεθνάμεν ἢ ζώοντας ἁμαρτεῖν, οὗ θ' ἕνεκ' αἰεὶ
ἐνθάδ' ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.
νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ
γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται, -
ἄλλην δή τιν' ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κ' ἔπειτα
γήμαιθ' ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν καὶ ἀπὸ ἕο τόξον ἔθηκε,
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δ' ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δ' αὖτις κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

Ἀντίνοος δ' ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·
«Λειῶδες, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,
δεινόν τ' ἀργαλέον τε, νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τ' ἀκούων,
εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.
οὐ γάρ τοι σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ,

οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τ' ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·
ἀλλ' ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.»

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥ' ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν·
«ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,
πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπ' αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,
ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.»

ὣς φάθ', ὁ δ' αἶψ' ἀνέκαιε Μελάνθιος ἀκάματον πῦρ,
πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπ' αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος.
τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντ', οὐδ' ἐδύναντο
ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.
Ἀντίνοος δ' ἔτ' ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δ' ἔσαν ἔξοχ' ἄριστοι.

τὼ δ' ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμ' ἄμφω
βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ἐκ δ' αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,
φθεγξάμενός σφ' ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·

«βουκόλε καὶ σύ, συφορβέ, ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην,
ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.
ποῖοί κ' εἶτ' Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
ὧδε μάλ' ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;
ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτ' ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;
εἴπαθ' ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο τελευτήσειας ἐέλδωρ,
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·
γνοίης χ', οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.»

ὣς δ' αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύξατο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέ' ἀνέγνω,
ἐξαῦτίς σφ' ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

«ἔνδον μὲν δὴ ὅδ' αὐτὸς ἐγώ, κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
γινώσκω δ' ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω
οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα
εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι.
σφῶϊν δ', ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω·
εἴ χ' ὑπ' ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροισ' ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματ' ὀπάσσω
οἰκία τ' ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα
Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.
εἰ δ' ἄγε δὴ καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,
ὄφρα μ' ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ με σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι
Παρνησόνδ' ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.»

ὣς εἰπὼν ῥάκεα μεγάλης ἀποέργαθεν οὐλῆς.
τὼ δ' ἐπεὶ εἰσιδέτην εὖ τ' ἐφράσσαντο ἕκαστα,
κλαῖον ἄρ' ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι χεῖρε βαλόντε
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμενοι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους·
ὣς δ' αὔτως Ὀδυσεὺς κεφαλὰς καὶ χεῖρας ἔκυσσε.
καί νύ κ' ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Ὀδυσσεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρύκακε φώνησέν τε·

«παύεσθον κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε, μή τις ἴδηται
ἐξελθὼν μεγάροιο, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσι καὶ εἴσω.
ἀλλὰ προμνηστῖνοι ἐσέλθετε, μηδ' ἅμα πάντες,
πρῶτος ἐγώ, μετὰ δ' ὔμμες. ἀτὰρ τόδε σῆμα τετύχθω·
ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,
οὐκ ἐάσουσιν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην·
ἀλλὰ σύ, δῖ' Εὔμαιε, φέρων ἀνὰ δώματα τόξον
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἐμοὶ θέμεναι, εἰπεῖν δὲ γυναιξὶ
κληῖσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας·
ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.
σοὶ δέ, Φιλοίτιε δῖε, θύρας ἐπιτέλλομαι αὐλῆς
κληῖσαι κληῖδι, θοῶς δ' ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἰῆλαι.»

ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους ἐῢ ναιετάοντας·
ἕζετ' ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη.
ἐς δ' ἄρα καὶ τὼ δμῶε ἴτην θείου Ὀδυσῆος.

Εὐρύμαχος δ' ἤδη τόξον μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
θάλπων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα σέλᾳ πυρός· ἀλλά μιν οὐδ' ὧς
ἐντανύσαι δύνατο, μέγα δ' ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·
ὀχθήσας δ' ἄρα εἶπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν·

«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μοι ἄχος περί τ' αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ πάντων.
οὔ τι γάμου τοσσοῦτον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ· -
εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες, αἱ μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ
ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, αἱ δ' ἄλλῃσιν πολίεσσιν· -
ἀλλ' εἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν
ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅ τ' οὐ δυνάμεσθα τανύσσαι
τόξον· ἐλεγχείη δὲ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
«Εὐρύμαχ', οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται· νοέεις δὲ καὶ αὐτός.
νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο
ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτ'; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
κάτθετ'. ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κ' εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας
ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τιν' ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,
ἐλθόντ' ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
ἀλλ' ἄγετ', οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,
ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·
ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,
αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγ' ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,
ὄφρ' ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.»

ὣς ἔφατ' Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δ' ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δ' ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν σπεῖσάν τε πίον θ', ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

«κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
ὄφρ' εἴπω, τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·
Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα
λίσσομ', ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,
νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·
ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος, ᾧ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν.
ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθ' ὑμῖν
χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτ' ἐστὶν
ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,
ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τ' ἀκομιστίη τε.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν,
δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.
Ἀντίνοος δ' ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν·

«ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἔνι τοι φρένες οὐδ' ἠβαιαί.
οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς, ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθ' ἡμῖν
δαίνυσαι οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς ἀμέρδεαι, αὐτὰρ ἀκούεις
μύθων ἡμετέρων καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.
οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους
βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδ' αἴσιμα πίνῃ.
οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,
ἄασ' ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,
ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθ'· ὁ δ' ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,
μαινόμενος κάκ' ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο.
ἥρωας δ' ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε
ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπ' οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
ῥῖνάς τ' ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς
ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.
ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,
οἷ δ' αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.
ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον
ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις
ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,
πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δ' οὔ τι σαώσεαι. ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
πῖνέ τε μηδ' ἐρίδαινε μετ' ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισι.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«Ἀντίνο', οὐ μὲν καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον
ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθ' ἵκηται.
ἔλπεαι, αἴ χ' ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον
ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας,
οἴκαδέ μ' ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;
οὐδ' αὐτός που τοῦτό γ' ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·

μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γ' εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων
ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικε.»

τὴν δ' αὖτ' Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
οὔ τί σε τόνδ' ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθ', οὐδὲ ἔοικεν,
ἀλλ' αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν,
μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν·
"ἦ πολὺ χείρονες ἄνδρες ἀμύμονος ἀνδρὸς ἄκοιτιν
μνῶνται, οὐδέ τι τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύουσιν·
ἀλλ' ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δ' ἧκε σιδήρου."
ὣς ἐρέουσ', ἡμῖν δ' ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.»

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
«Εὐρύμαχ', οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐϋκλεῖας κατὰ δῆμον
ἔμμεναι, οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δ' ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;
οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδ' εὐπηγής,
πατρὸς δ' ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.
ἀλλ' ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ κέ μιν ἐντανύσῃ, δώῃ δέ οἱ εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δ' ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,
καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δ' ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δ' ὅππῃ μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.»

τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο
κρείσσων, ᾧ κ' ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,
οὔθ' ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
οὔθ' ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·
τῶν οὔ τίς μ' ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κ' ἐθέλωμι
καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.
ἀλλ' εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σ' αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τ' ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δ' ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δ' ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.»

ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·
παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.
ἐς δ' ὑπερῷ' ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·
μνηστῆρες δ' ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

«πῇ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,
πλαγκτέ; τάχ' αὖ σ' ἐφ' ὕεσσι κύνες ταχέες κατέδονται
οἶον ἀπ' ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἔτρεφες, εἴ κεν Ἀπόλλων
ἡμῖν ἱλήκῃσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.»

ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ ὁ θῆκε φέρων αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ,
δείσας, οὕνεκα πολλοὶ ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισι.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἀπειλήσας ἐγεγώνει·

«ἄττα, πρόσω φέρε τόξα· τάχ' οὐκ ἐῢ πᾶσι πιθήσεις·
μή σε καὶ ὁπλότερος περ ἐὼν ἀγρόνδε δίωμαι
βάλλων χερμαδίοισι· βίηφι δὲ φέρτερός εἰμι.
αἲ γὰρ πάντων τόσσον, ὅσοι κατὰ δώματ' ἔασι,
μνηστήρων χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτερος εἴην·
τῶ κε τάχα στυγερῶς τιν' ἐγὼ πέμψαιμι νέεσθαι
ἡμετέρου ἐξ οἴκου, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.»

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν
μνηστῆρες καὶ δὴ μέθιεν χαλεποῖο χόλοιο
Τηλεμάχῳ· τὰ δὲ τόξα φέρων ἀνὰ δῶμα συβώτης
ἐν χείρεσσ' Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι θῆκε παραστάς.
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

«Τηλέμαχος κέλεταί σε, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,
κληῖσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας·
ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δ' ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,
κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων ἐῢ ναιεταόντων.

σιγῇ δ' ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,
κλήϊσεν δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.
κεῖτο δ' ὑπ' αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης
βύβλινον, ᾧ ῥ' ἐπέδησε θύρας, ἐς δ' ἤϊεν αὐτός·
ἕζετ' ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη,
εἰσορόων Ὀδυσῆα. ὁ δ' ἤδη τόξον ἐνώμα
πάντῃ ἀναστρωφῶν, πειρώμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

«ἦ τις θηητὴρ καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ἔπλετο τόξων·
ἤ ῥά νύ που τοιαῦτα καὶ αὐτῷ οἴκοθι κεῖται,
ἢ ὅ γ' ἐφορμᾶται ποιησέμεν, ὡς ἐνὶ χερσὶ
νωμᾷ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κακῶν ἔμπαιος ἀλήτης.»

ἄλλος δ' αὖτ' εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
«αἲ γὰρ δὴ τοσσοῦτον ὀνήσιος ἀντιάσειεν,
ὡς οὗτός ποτε τοῦτο δυνήσεται ἐντανύσασθαι.»

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφαν μνηστῆρες· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτίκ' ἐπεὶ μέγα τόξον ἐβάστασε καὶ ἴδε πάντῃ,
ὡς ὅτ' ἀνὴρ φόρμιγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ περὶ κόλλοπι χορδήν,
ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἰός,
ὣς ἄρ' ἄτερ σπουδῆς τάνυσεν μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσεύς.
δεξιτερῇ δ' ἄρα χειρὶ λαβὼν πειρήσατο νευρῆς·
ἡ δ' ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισε, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη αὐδήν.
μνηστῆρσιν δ' ἄρ' ἄχος γένετο μέγα, πᾶσι δ' ἄρα χρὼς
ἐτράπετο. Ζεὺς δὲ μεγάλ' ἔκτυπε σήματα φαίνων·
γήθησέν τ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅττι ῥά οἱ τέρας ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω.
εἵλετο δ' ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, ὅ οἱ παρέκειτο τραπέζῃ
γυμνός· τοὶ δ' ἄλλοι κοίλης ἔντοσθε φαρέτρης
κείατο, τῶν τάχ' ἔμελλον Ἀχαιοὶ πειρήσεσθαι.
τόν ῥ' ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε,
αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος, ἧκε δ' ὀϊστὸν
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος, πελέκεων δ' οὐκ ἤμβροτε πάντων
πρώτης στειλειῆς, διὰ δ' ἀμπερὲς ἦλθε θύραζε
ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής. ὁ δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσέειπε·

«Τηλέμαχ', οὔ σ' ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐλέγχει
ἥμενος, οὐδέ τι τοῦ σκοποῦ ἤμβροτον οὐδέ τι τόξον
δὴν ἔκαμον τανύων· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν,
οὐχ ὥς με μνηστῆρες ἀτιμάζοντες ὄνονται.
νῦν δ' ὥρη καὶ δόρπον Ἀχαιοῖσιν τετυκέσθαι
ἐν φάει, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄλλως ἑψιάασθαι
μολπῇ καὶ φόρμιγγι· τὰ γάρ τ' ἀναθήματα δαιτός.»

ἦ, καὶ ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσεν· ὁ δ' ἀμφέθετο ξίφος ὀξὺ
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρα φίλην βάλεν ἔγχεϊ, ἄγχι δ' ἄρ' αὐτοῦ
πὰρ θρόνον ἑστήκει κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

ODYSSEY 21

Then the bright-eyed goddess Athena put a thought into the heart of Icarius' daughter, the prudent Penelope, to set before the suitors the bow and the grey iron, there in the halls of Odysseus, as a contest and the beginning of slaughter. She climbed the high stairway of her own house, and in her sturdy hand she took a well-curved key, a beautiful one of bronze, with a handle of ivory upon it. And she went with her attendant women to the storeroom at the farthest end of the house, where the master's treasures lay, bronze and gold and laboriously-wrought iron. And there lay the back-sprung bow and the quiver that held the arrows, and many were the arrows of sorrow within, gifts which a guest-friend had given him, whom he met in Lacedaemon: Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like unto the immortals. These two had met one another in Messene, in the house of the wise Ortilochus. Indeed, Odysseus had come to collect a debt which the whole people owed him; for Messenian men had lifted from Ithaca three hundred sheep and their shepherds, carrying them off in their many-benched ships. On account of these, Odysseus had traveled that long road as an envoy, though he was but a boy; for his father and the other elders had sent him forth. Iphitus, for his part, was in search of his mares, which he had lost— twelve mares, and patient mules to run beneath them. But these very mares were to be his murder and his doom, when he came upon the strong-souled son of Zeus, the man Heracles, versed in mighty deeds,

who slew him in his own house, though Iphitus was his guest. The cruel man felt no reverence for the wrath of the gods, nor for the table that he had set before him; afterward he killed him, even Iphitus himself, and kept the strong-hoofed mares for himself in his halls. It was while seeking these that he met Odysseus and gave him the bow, which the great Eurytus had carried before him, and which, upon dying, he had left to his son in his lofty halls. And in return Odysseus gave him a sharp sword and a stout spear, as a beginning of fond guest-friendship; yet at the table they never came to know one another, for before that, the son of Zeus had slain Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like unto the immortals, he who had given Odysseus the bow. Yet godlike Odysseus never took it with him when he went to war aboard the black ships, but let it lie in his halls as a remembrance of his dear friend, and carried it only upon his own lands.

Now when she, the queenly woman, reached the storeroom and stepped upon the oaken threshold, which a craftsman had once skillfully planed and squared to the line, fitting the posts within it and setting on it the shining doors, she at once swiftly loosed the strap from the handle, inserted the key, and, aiming straight before her, shot back the bolts of the doors. And they groaned aloud, like a bull grazing in a meadow; so loud did the beautiful doors groan when struck by the key, and they flew open before her. She then stepped onto a high platform, where chests stood, and in them lay fragrant garments. From there, stretching up, she took down the bow from its peg in its own shining case that was fitted around it. Then sitting down there, she laid it upon her dear knees, and wept with piercing cries as she took out the bow of her lord. And when she had her fill of tearful lamentation, she went to the great hall to face the haughty suitors, holding in her hand the back-sprung bow and the quiver that held the arrows; and many were the arrows of sorrow within. With her, her attendants carried a casket, in which lay much iron and bronze, the prizes of her lord. And when she, the queenly woman, reached the suitors, she stood by the doorpost of the strongly-built roof, holding her shining veil before her cheeks, and a trusty attendant stood on either side of her. At once she addressed the suitors and spoke a word to them:

"Hear me, you arrogant suitors, who have plagued this house, eating and drinking always and forever, while its master is long since gone, nor could you devise any other pretext for your speech, but that you are eager to marry me and take me as your wife. Come then, you suitors, since this contest is revealed: I shall set forth the great bow of godlike Odysseus, and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes, with him I will go, leaving this house behind, this house of my youth, so very beautiful, so full of substance, which I think I shall remember forever, even in my dreams."

So she spoke, and ordered Eumaeus, the noble swineherd, to set the bow and the grey iron before the suitors. Weeping, Eumaeus took them and set them down, and the cattleherd wept in another part of the hall when he saw his master's bow. But Antinous rebuked them, and spoke a word and called them by name:

"Foolish rustics, whose minds dwell only on the day! Ah, you wretched pair, why do you let your tears fall and stir up the heart in this lady's breast? For her heart already lies in sorrow, since she lost her dear husband. But sit and feast in silence, or else go outside and weep there, leaving the bow here where it is, a grim contest for the suitors. For I do not think this polished bow will be easily strung. For there is no man among all these present such as Odysseus was. I myself saw him, and I remember it well, though I was then but a witless child."

So he spoke, but the heart in his breast was hoping to string the bowstring and shoot an arrow through the iron. In truth, he was to be the first to taste an arrow from the hands of blameless Odysseus, whom he was now dishonoring as he sat in the halls, and urging on all his companions.

And among them spoke the sacred might of Telemachus: "Oh, what a strange thing! Surely Zeus, son of Cronos, has made me a fool. My own dear mother, wise though she is, says she will follow another man and leave this house behind, yet I laugh and take delight in my senseless heart. But come, you suitors, since this is the prize revealed to you— such a woman as there is not now in the Achaean land, not in sacred Pylos, nor in Argos, nor in Mycenae, not in Ithaca itself, nor on the dark mainland. You know this yourselves, why should I need to praise my mother? Come then, do not delay with excuses, nor any longer shrink from the stringing of the bow, so that we may see. And I myself might make a trial of this bow. If I can string it and shoot an arrow through the iron, then my lady mother would not leave this house to my sorrow, going with another man, while I am left behind, being now a man able to win my father's fine prizes."

He spoke, and springing to his feet, he cast his crimson cloak from his shoulders, and from his shoulders he set down his sharp sword. First he set up the axes, having dug a trench, one long trench for them all, and trued them to the line, and he stamped the earth down around them. Wonder seized all who saw how orderly he set them, though he had never seen it done before. Then he went and stood on the threshold and began to try the bow. Three times he made it tremble, striving to draw it, and three times he slackened his strength, hoping in his heart to string the bowstring and shoot an arrow through the iron. And he would indeed have drawn it with his strength on the fourth attempt, but Odysseus gave a sign to check him, though he was eager still.

Then again among them spoke the sacred might of Telemachus: "Oh, strange! It seems I shall be a coward and a weakling hereafter, or else I am too young and cannot yet trust my hands to defend myself against a man, when one is first to provoke me. But come, you who are stronger in might than I, try the bow, and let us bring this contest to an end."

So saying, he set the bow from him on the ground, leaning it against the joined and well-planed doors, and leaned the swift arrow against the bow's beautiful tip, and then sat down again on the chair from which he had risen.

And Antinous, son of Eupheithes, spoke among them: "Rise up, all my companions, in order, from left to right, beginning from the place where the wine is poured."

So spoke Antinous, and his word was pleasing to them. And the first to stand was Leodes, son of Oenops, who was their diviner, and by the beautiful mixing-bowl he always sat, in the farthest corner. He alone hated their reckless deeds, and he was indignant with all the suitors. He it was who then first took the bow and the swift arrow. He went and stood on the threshold and began to try the bow, but could not string it; for his unworn and tender hands grew weary from drawing it. And he spoke among the suitors:

"My friends, I cannot string it; let another take it. For this bow will bereave many chieftains of spirit and of life, since it is far better to die than to live on and fail in the quest for which we always gather here, waiting day after day. Even now, a man hopes in his heart and desires to marry Penelope, the wife of Odysseus; but when he has tried the bow and seen his failure,— then let him woo some other fair-robed Achaean woman with his gifts, and seek her hand. And she might then marry whoever offers the most and comes as her fated man."

So he spoke, and set the bow from him, leaning it against the joined and well-planed doors, and leaned the swift arrow against the bow's beautiful tip, and then sat down again on the chair from which he had risen.

But Antinous rebuked him, and spoke a word and called him by name: "Leodes, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth, a dreadful and grievous one! It angers me to hear it, that this bow will indeed bereave chieftains of spirit and of life, just because you cannot string it. For your lady mother surely did not bear you

to be a drawer of a bow and of arrows. But other haughty suitors will string it soon enough."

So he spoke, and commanded Melanthius, the goatherd: "Come now, Melanthius, light a fire in the hall, and beside it place a great stool with a fleece upon it, and bring out a great wheel of tallow from what is within, so that we young men may warm the bow, and anoint it with fat, and make our trial and bring the contest to an end."

So he spoke, and Melanthius quickly kindled the tireless fire, and bringing a stool, he placed it near with a fleece upon it, and brought out a great wheel of tallow from what was within. With this the young men warmed the bow and made their trial, but they could not string it, for they were greatly lacking in strength. But Antinous still held back, and godlike Eurymachus, the leaders of the suitors, who were by far the best in prowess.

Then the two of them went out of the house together, the cattleherd and the swineherd of godlike Odysseus; and godlike Odysseus himself came out of the house after them. But when they were outside the doors and the courtyard, he spoke and addressed them with gentle words:

"Cattleherd, and you, swineherd, shall I speak a word, or shall I keep it to myself? My heart bids me to speak. What sort of men would you be to defend Odysseus, if he should come from somewhere, so very suddenly, and some god should bring him here? Would you defend the suitors, or Odysseus? Speak, as your heart and spirit command you."

To him in answer spoke the master cattleherd: "Father Zeus, if only you would fulfill this wish, that that man might come, and a god might guide him home! Then you would know what my strength is, and what hands follow my will."

And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods that wise Odysseus might return to his own home. And when he knew their true intent for a certainty, he spoke again and addressed them in answer with words:

"I am that man, here in your midst, I myself, after suffering many evils, have come in the twentieth year to my native land. And I know that I come to you who alone of my servants longed for my return; for of the others I have heard not one praying that I might come home again. To you two, then, I will tell the truth of what shall be. If a god subdues the haughty suitors beneath my hand, I will find wives for you both and grant you possessions and houses built near my own; and to me you shall then be companions and brothers to Telemachus. But come, let me show you another, manifest sign, so that you may know me well and be assured in your hearts: the scar, which a boar once dealt me with his white tusk when I went to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus."

So saying, he drew back the rags from the great scar. And when the two of them had looked and marked every feature well, they wept and threw their arms around wise Odysseus, and kissed him fondly on his head and shoulders. And in the same way Odysseus kissed their heads and hands. And the light of the sun would have set on their weeping, had not Odysseus himself restrained them and spoken:

"Cease from your weeping and lamentation, lest someone see coming out from the hall, and tell of it within. But go you inside one by one, not all together; I first, and you after me. And let this be the signal: all the others, all the haughty suitors, will not allow the bow and quiver to be given to me. But you, noble Eumaeus, carrying the bow through the house, are to place it in my hands, and tell the women to lock the close-fitting doors of their hall. And if any of them should hear a groaning or a crash of men within our walls, let her not venture out, but remain there in silence at her work. And to you, noble Philoetius, I entrust the doors of the courtyard: lock them with the key, and swiftly cast a rope upon the bolt."

So saying, he entered the well-appointed house, and went and sat on the stool from which he had risen. And the two servants of godlike Odysseus also went inside.

Eurymachus was now handling the bow, warming it here and there in the fire's glow; but not even so could he string it, and his proud heart groaned mightily. And greatly vexed, he spoke a word and called out by name:

"Oh, what sorrow for myself and for everyone! It is not for the marriage that I grieve so much, pained though I am— for there are many other Achaean women, some in Ithaca itself, that is girdled by the sea, and some in other cities— but that we are so greatly wanting in the might of godlike Odysseus that we cannot string his bow. This will be a disgrace for men yet to come to hear."

To him in turn spoke Antinous, son of Eupheithes: "Eurymachus, it will not be so, and you know it yourself. For today throughout the land is the sacred feast of the god; who would be drawing bows? No, put it aside in peace. As for the axes, what if we let them all stand? I do not think anyone will take them away, by coming to the hall of Odysseus, Laertes' son. Come then, let the wine-pourer begin the libations to the gods, so that after we have poured, we may set down the curved bow. And at dawn, bid Melanthius, the goatherd, to bring goats that are by far the best in all his flocks, so that we may lay the thigh-pieces on the altar of Apollo, the famed archer, and make trial of the bow and bring this contest to an end."

So spoke Antinous, and his word was pleasing to them. Then the heralds poured water over their hands, and youths filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink, and served to all, beginning the libations with the cups. Then when they had poured libations and had drunk as much as their hearts desired, with crafty intent Odysseus of many wiles spoke among them:

"Hear me, you suitors of the renowned queen, so that I may say what the heart in my breast commands me. To Eurymachus I make my plea above all, and to godlike Antinous, since he has spoken this word so fittingly, to cease from the bow for now and leave it to the gods; and at dawn a god will grant the victory to whomever he wishes. But come, give me the polished bow, so that in your company I may try my hands and my strength, to see if I still have the force that was once in my supple limbs, or if my wandering and want of care have already destroyed it."

So he spoke, and they were all exceedingly angered, fearing that he might string the polished bow. And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke a word and called him by name:

"Ah, you wretched stranger, you have not a shred of sense! Are you not content to feast in peace in our high company, lacking for no part of the feast, but hearing our words and our speech? No other stranger and beggar hears our words. It is the honey-sweet wine that addles you, as it does others who gulp it down and do not drink in measure. It was wine that crazed the Centaur, the renowned Eurytion, in the hall of the great-hearted Peirithous, when he had gone to the Lapiths. And when wine had clouded his senses, in his madness he did evil in the house of Peirithous. Sorrow seized the heroes, and springing up, they dragged him through the forecourt and out the door, and with pitiless bronze they sheared off his ears and his nose. And he, with his wits thus crazed, went on his way, bearing his ruin in his witless heart. From this, the feud between Centaurs and men arose, but he was the first to find his bane, heavy with wine. So too do I foretell great harm for you, if you string this bow. You will find no courtesy from anyone among our people, and at once in a black ship to King Echetus, the maimer of all mortals, we will send you; from there you will in no way be saved. So drink in peace, and do not strive with younger men."

To him in turn spoke the prudent Penelope: "Antinous, it is neither good nor just to mistreat the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house. Do you suppose that if this stranger, trusting in the might of his hands, were to string the great bow of Odysseus, he would lead me to his home and make me his wife? Not even he himself, I imagine, hopes for such a thing in his heart.

Let none of you feast here with a troubled heart on that account, for it is not in any way seemly."

To her in turn Eurymachus, son of Polybus, replied: "Daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope, we do not think he will lead you away; that would not be seemly. But we are ashamed of the talk of men and of women, lest some other, baser Achaean should one day say: 'Truly, far lesser men are wooing the wife of a blameless man, and cannot string his polished bow. But some other, a wandering beggar, came along and easily strung the bow, and shot it through the iron.' So they will say, and this would become a reproach to us."

To him in turn spoke the prudent Penelope: "Eurymachus, it is in no way possible to have a good name among the people for those who dishonor and consume the house of a great man. Why do you make this a matter of reproach? This stranger is very tall and well-built, and he declares himself the son of a noble father. Come then, give him the polished bow, so that we may see. For I will speak this word, and it shall be fulfilled: if he strings it, and Apollo grants him the glory, I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, beautiful garments, and I will give him a sharp javelin, a defense against dogs and men, and a two-edged sword. I will give him sandals for his feet, and send him wherever his heart and spirit command him."

To her in turn the wise Telemachus replied: "My mother, as to the bow, no Achaean has a better right than I to give it or to deny it, to whomever I wish, neither of those who rule in rocky Ithaca, nor of those on the islands towards horse-pasturing Elis. Not one of them will force me against my will, if I should wish to give this bow to the stranger once and for all, to carry away. But you, go to your chambers and attend to your own work, the loom and the distaff, and bid your handmaids to go about their tasks. The bow shall be the concern of men, of all men, but most of all for me; for mine is the authority in this house."

She, astonished, went back to her own chambers, for she took to heart the wise words of her son. And going up to her upper room with her attendant women, she then wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until upon her eyelids sweet sleep was cast by the bright-eyed goddess Athena.

Then the noble swineherd took up the curved bow and began to carry it; but the suitors all cried out in the halls, and thus would one of the arrogant young men say:

"Where are you carrying the curved bow, you wretched swineherd, you vagabond? Soon, among your own swine, the swift dogs you bred will devour you, alone and away from men, if Apollo and the other immortal gods are gracious to us."

So they spoke, and he set the bow down where he stood, in fear, because many cried out at him in the halls. But Telemachus from the other side shouted a threat:

"Father, bring the bow forward! Soon you will find it is not good to obey everyone! Take care, lest I, though I am younger, chase you to the fields pelting you with stones. For I am superior in strength. If only I were as much superior in the strength of my hands to all the suitors who are in this house! Then I would soon send one of them on a sorry journey out of our house, since they devise evil things."

So he spoke, and all the suitors laughed sweetly at him, and let go of their bitter anger against Telemachus. And the swineherd, carrying the bow through the hall, came up to wise Odysseus and placed it in his hands. And calling the nurse Eurycleia, he spoke to her:

"Telemachus commands you, prudent Eurycleia, to lock the close-fitting doors of the hall. And if any of you should hear a groaning or a crash of men within our walls, let her not venture out, but remain there in silence at her work."

So he spoke, and the word was to her unwinged; she locked the doors of the well-appointed hall.

And silently from the house Philoetius sprang outside, and at once locked the doors of the well-fenced courtyard. Under the portico lay the cable of a curved ship, made of papyrus reed, with which he fastened the doors, and then went inside himself. He went and sat on the stool from which he had risen, his eyes fixed on Odysseus. And he was now handling the bow, turning it every which way, testing it here and there, lest worms had eaten the horn while its master was away. And thus would one say, with a glance to his neighbor:

"This man must be a connoisseur and a thief of bows! Either he has such a one lying at home himself, or he is keen to make one, the way he turns it over in his hands, here and there, this vagabond versed in mischief."

And another of the arrogant young men would say: "May he meet with as much good fortune as he will ever have power to string this bow!"

So spoke the suitors; but Odysseus of many wiles, as soon as he had lifted the great bow and inspected it all over, just as a man skilled in the lyre and in song easily stretches a string around a new peg, fastening at both ends the well-twisted sheep-gut, so without effort did Odysseus string the great bow. Then with his right hand he took and tried the string, and it sang sweetly beneath his touch, with a voice like a swallow. Great sorrow came upon the suitors, and the color of all their faces changed. And Zeus thundered mightily, showing his signs. And the much-enduring, godlike Odysseus rejoiced that the son of crooked-counseling Cronos had sent him a portent. He took a swift arrow, which lay beside him on the table, uncovered; the others lay inside the hollow quiver, which the Achaeans were soon to try. Taking it, he set it on the bow's bridge and drew the string and the arrow-notches, sitting right there on his stool, and he sent the arrow forth, aiming straight, and he did not miss a single one of the axes, from the first handle-hole; and the heavy-bronzed arrow went right through and out. And he spoke to Telemachus:

"Telemachus, the guest who sits in your halls does not shame you. I have not missed the mark, nor did I toil long in stringing the bow. My strength is still firm, not as the suitors scornfully taunt me. But now it is time for the Achaeans' supper to be prepared in the daylight, and after that, to make our pleasure in other ways, with song and with the lyre, for these are the graces of the feast."

He spoke, and nodded with his brow. And he girded on his sharp sword, Telemachus, the dear son of godlike Odysseus; and he cast his dear hand about his spear, and close by his father, by the high seat, he stood, armed in gleaming bronze.

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