1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:07,120 Book twenty one of the Odyssey by Homer. The Odyssey Book twenty one, 2 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:12,800 the Trial of the Axes, during which Ulysses reveals himself to Eumaeus and Felicius. 3 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:18,280 Minerva now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors try their skill 4 00:00:18,359 --> 00:00:22,640 with the bow and with the iron axes in contest among themselves, as a 5 00:00:22,679 --> 00:00:27,320 means of bringing about their destruction. She went upstairs and got the storeroom key, 6 00:00:27,559 --> 00:00:31,320 which was made of bronze and had a handle of ivory. She then 7 00:00:31,399 --> 00:00:34,880 went with their maidens into the storeroom at the end of the house, where 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,399 her husband's treasures of gold, bronze and wrought iron were kept, and where 9 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,960 was also his bow and the quiverful of deadly arrows that had been given him 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,399 by a friend whom he had met in Lacedaemon Ephidus, the son of Eurytus. 11 00:00:49,399 --> 00:00:53,039 The two fell in with one another in Messini at the house of Ortilicus, 12 00:00:53,399 --> 00:00:57,119 where Ulysses was staying, in order to recover a debt that was owing 13 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,799 from the whole people, For the Messinian had carried off three hundred sheep from 14 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:06,319 Ithaca and had sailed away with them and with their shepherds. In quest of 15 00:01:06,359 --> 00:01:10,560 these, Ulysses took a long journey while still quite young, for his father 16 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,879 and the other chieftains sent him on a mission to recover them. Ephidis had 17 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,920 gone there also to try and get back twelve broodmares that he had lost and 18 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,920 the mule foals that were running with them. These mares were the death of 19 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,000 him in the end, for when he went to the house of Jove's son 20 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,560 Mighty Hercules, who performed such prodigies of valor, Hercules to shame him killed 21 00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:34,560 him, though he was his guest, for he feared not Heaven's vengeance, 22 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,920 nor yet respected his own table, which he had set before Iphidis, but 23 00:01:40,079 --> 00:01:44,239 killed him in spite of everything, and kept the mares himself. It was 24 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:49,280 when claiming these that Iphidis met Ulysses and gave him the bow which Mighty Eurytus 25 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:52,840 had been used to carry, and which on his death had been left by 26 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,760 him to his son. Ulysses gave him in return a sword and a spear, 27 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,799 and this was the beginning of a asked friendship, although they never visited 28 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:07,640 at one another's houses, for Jove's son Hercules killed Ipidis ere they could do 29 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:12,520 so. This bow then given him by Ifidis, had not been taken with 30 00:02:12,599 --> 00:02:15,680 him by Ulysses when he sailed for Troy. He had used it so long 31 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:19,879 as he had been at home, but had left it behind as having been 32 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:24,159 a keepsake from a valued friend. Penelope presently reached the oak threshold of the 33 00:02:24,199 --> 00:02:29,719 storeroom. The carpenter had planed this duli and had drawn a line on it 34 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,759 so as to get it quite straight. He had then set the doorposts into 35 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,400 it and hung the doors. She loosed the strap from the handle of the 36 00:02:37,439 --> 00:02:39,800 door, put in the key, and drove it straight home to shoot back 37 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:45,039 the bolts that held the doors. These flew open with a noise like a 38 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,919 bull bellowing in a meadow, and Penelope stepped upon the raised platform where the 39 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,879 chest stood, in which the fair linen and clothes were laid by, along 40 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,840 with fragrant herbs. Reaching thence she took down the bow with its bowcase from 41 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,360 a peg on which it hung. She sat down with it on her knees, 42 00:03:01,599 --> 00:03:06,240 weeping bitterly as she took the bow out of its case, And when 43 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,960 the tears had relieved her, she went to the cloister where the suitors were 44 00:03:09,719 --> 00:03:14,800 carrying the bow and the quiver with the many deadly arrows that were inside it. 45 00:03:15,719 --> 00:03:20,039 Along with her came her maidens, bearing a chest that contained much iron 46 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,159 and bronze, which her husband had won as prizes. When she reached the 47 00:03:23,199 --> 00:03:27,800 suitors, she stood by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the 48 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,879 cloister, holding a veil before her face, and with the maid on either 49 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:36,280 side of her. Then she said, listen to me, you suitors, 50 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,159 who persist in abusing the hospitality of this house because its owner has been long 51 00:03:40,199 --> 00:03:46,120 absent, and without other pretext than that you want to marry me. This, 52 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,520 then, being the prize that you are contending for, I will bring 53 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,879 out the mighty bow of Ulysses, and whomsoever of you shall string it most 54 00:03:53,919 --> 00:03:58,000 easily and send his arrow through each one of twelve axes him. Will I 55 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,719 follow and quit this house of my lawful husband, so goodly and so abounding 56 00:04:01,759 --> 00:04:06,000 in wealth. But even so I doubt not that I shall remember it in 57 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:11,960 my dreams. As she spoke, she told Eumaeus to set the bow and 58 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,960 the pieces of iron before the suitors, and Eumaeus wept as he took them 59 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,600 to do so, as she had bidden him hard by the stockman wept also 60 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:26,000 when he saw his master's bow. But Antonus scolded them, you country louts, 61 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,519 said he, silly simpletons, Why should you add to the sorrows of 62 00:04:30,519 --> 00:04:33,399 your mistress by crying in this way? She has enough to grieve her in 63 00:04:33,439 --> 00:04:38,240 the loss of her husband. Sit still, therefore, and eat your dinners 64 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,680 in silence, or go outside if you want to cry, and leave the 65 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,279 bow behind you. We, suitor, shall have to contend for it with 66 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:48,240 might and main, for we shall find it no light matter to string such 67 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,920 a bow as this is. There is not men of us all who is 68 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:57,480 such another as Ulysses. For I have seen him and remember him, though 69 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,439 I was then only a child. This was what he said. But all 70 00:05:01,439 --> 00:05:04,959 the time he was expecting to be able to string the bow and shoot through 71 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:10,000 the iron, whereas in fact he was to be the first that should taste 72 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,720 of the arrows from the hands of Udysses, whom he was dishonoring in his 73 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:18,160 own house, egging the others on to do so also. Then Telemachus spoke, 74 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:24,160 great heavens. He exclaimed, Jove must have robbed me of my senses. 75 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:28,560 Here is my dear and excellent mother, saying she will quit this house 76 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,720 and marry again. Yet I am laughing and enjoying myself as though there were 77 00:05:32,759 --> 00:05:38,759 nothing happening but suitors. As the contest has been agreed upon, let it 78 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,040 go forward. It is for a woman whose peer is not to be found 79 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,120 in Pylos Argos, or Mycene, nor yet in Ithaca, nor on the 80 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,519 mainland. You know this as well as I do. What need have I 81 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:55,199 to speak in praise of my mother? Come on, then, make no 82 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:59,040 excuses for delay, But let us see whether you can string the bow or 83 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:01,680 no, I too will make trial of it. For if I can string 84 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,199 it and shoot through the iron, I shall not suffer my mother to quit 85 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,839 this house with a stranger, not if I can win the prizes which my 86 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,319 father won before me. As he spoke, he sprang from his seat, 87 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,920 threw his crimson cloak from him, and took his sword from his shoulder. 88 00:06:17,639 --> 00:06:21,720 First he set the axes in a row in a long groove which he had 89 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:27,040 dug for them and had made straight by line. Then he stamped the earth 90 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,040 tied around them, and everyone was surprised when they saw him set them up 91 00:06:30,079 --> 00:06:34,600 so orderly, though he had never seen anything of the kind. Before this 92 00:06:34,759 --> 00:06:38,680 done, he went on to the pavement to make trial of the bow. 93 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,600 Thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw the 94 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,480 string, and thrice he had to leave off. Though he had hoped to 95 00:06:46,519 --> 00:06:49,639 string the bow and shoot through the iron. He was trying for the fourth 96 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:54,439 time and would have strung it had not Ulysses made a sign to check him. 97 00:06:54,439 --> 00:06:59,040 In spite of all his eagerness, So he said, Alas, I 98 00:06:59,079 --> 00:07:02,079 shall either be always feeble and of no prowess, or I am too young 99 00:07:02,399 --> 00:07:06,000 and have not reached my full strength so as to be able to hold my 100 00:07:06,079 --> 00:07:11,560 own if anyone attacks me. You others, therefore, who are stronger than 101 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,480 I, make trial of the bow and get this contest settled. On this, 102 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,720 he put the bow down, let it lean against the door that led 103 00:07:18,759 --> 00:07:23,120 into the house, with the arrow standing against the top of the bow. 104 00:07:23,879 --> 00:07:27,680 Then he sat down on the seat from which he had risen, and Antonas 105 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,399 said, come on, each of you, in his turn, going towards 106 00:07:30,399 --> 00:07:33,600 the right from the place at which the cup air begins when he is handing 107 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:39,000 round the wine. The rest agreed, and Leote's son of Enops, was 108 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:44,160 the first to rise he was sacrificial priest to the suitors and sat in the 109 00:07:44,199 --> 00:07:47,439 corner near the mixing bowl. He was the only man who hated their evil 110 00:07:47,519 --> 00:07:51,680 deeds and was indignant with the others. He was now the first to take 111 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,720 the bow and arrow, so he went on to the pavement to make his 112 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,639 trial. But he could not string the bow, for his hands were weak 113 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,800 and unused to hard work. They therefore soon grew tired, and he said 114 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,839 to the suitors, my friends, I cannot string it. Let another have 115 00:08:07,959 --> 00:08:11,600 it. This bow shall take the life and soul out of many a chief 116 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:16,519 among us, For it is better to die than to live after having missed 117 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,240 the prize that we have so long striven for, and which has brought us 118 00:08:20,279 --> 00:08:24,120 so long together. Some one of us is even now hoping and praying that 119 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,879 he may marry Penelope. But when he has seen this bow and tried it, 120 00:08:28,319 --> 00:08:31,799 let him woo and make bridal offerings to some other woman, and let 121 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,519 Penelope marry whoever makes her the best offer, and whose lot it is to 122 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:41,600 win her. On this he put the bow down, letting it bean against 123 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,279 the door, with the arrow standing against the top of the bow. Then 124 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,360 he took his seat again on the seat from which he had risen, and 125 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,480 Antonus rebuked him, saying, Leodes, what are you talking about? Your 126 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:56,600 words are monstrous and intolerable. It makes me angry to listen to you. 127 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:01,519 Shall, then this bow take the life of many a chief among us, 128 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:05,200 merely because you cannot bend it yourself. True, you were not born to 129 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,840 be an archer, but there are others who will soon string it. Then 130 00:09:09,919 --> 00:09:13,799 he said to Melantheus, the goatherd look sharp, Light a fire in the 131 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:18,360 court, and set a seat hard by with a sheepskin on it. Bring 132 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,720 us also a large ball of lard from what they have in the house. 133 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,720 Let us warm the bow and grease it. We will then make trial of 134 00:09:24,759 --> 00:09:30,679 it again and bring the contest to an end. Melantheus lit the fire and 135 00:09:30,759 --> 00:09:33,960 set a seat covered with sheepskins beside it. He also brought a great ball 136 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,159 of lard from what they had in the house, and the suitors warmed the 137 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,639 bow and again made trial of it. But they were none of them nearly 138 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:46,480 strong enough to string it. Nevertheless, there still remained Antonus and Eurymachus, 139 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,399 who were the ringleaders among the suitors, and much the foremost among them. 140 00:09:50,399 --> 00:09:56,080 All then the swineherd and the stockmen left the cloisters together, and Ulysses followed 141 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,919 them. When they had got outside the gates and the outer yard, ulys 142 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,039 he said to them quietly, stockman, and you swineherd, I have something 143 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,639 in my mind which I am in doubt whether to say or no, But 144 00:10:07,799 --> 00:10:11,600 I think I will say it. What manner of men would you be to 145 00:10:11,639 --> 00:10:16,320 stand by Ulysses if some god should bring him back here? All of a 146 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,840 sudden, say which of you are disposed to do to side with the suitors 147 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:26,480 or with Ulysses. Father Jove answered the stockman would indeed that you might so 148 00:10:26,639 --> 00:10:31,799 ordain it. If some god were but to bring Ulysses back, you should 149 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,519 see with what might and main I would fight for him. In like words, 150 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:41,200 you mayst pray to all the gods that Ulysses might return. When therefore 151 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,840 he saw for certain what mind they were of, Ulysses said, it is 152 00:10:45,879 --> 00:10:50,159 I Ulysses who am here. I have suffered much, but at last, 153 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,440 in the twentieth year, I am come back to my own country. I 154 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,639 find that you two alone of all my servants, are glad that I should 155 00:10:56,639 --> 00:11:00,720 do so, for I have not heard any of the others, praying for 156 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,200 my return to you two. Therefore, I will unfold the truth as it 157 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,240 shall be. If Heaven shall deliver the suitors into my hands, I will 158 00:11:09,279 --> 00:11:13,120 find wives for both of you, will give you house and holding close to 159 00:11:13,159 --> 00:11:16,320 my own, and you shall be to me as though you were brothers and 160 00:11:16,399 --> 00:11:20,679 friends of Telemachus. I will now give you convincing proofs that you may know 161 00:11:20,759 --> 00:11:26,360 me and be assured. See here is the scar from the boar's tooth that 162 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:30,200 ripped me when I was out hunting on Mount Parnassus with the sons of Autilochus. 163 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,679 As he spoke, he drew his rags aside from the great scar. 164 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,519 And when they had examined it thoroughly, they both of them wept about. 165 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:43,159 Ulysses threw their arms around him and kissed his head and shoulders, while Ulysses 166 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:48,559 kissed their hands and faces in return. The son would have gone down upon 167 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,919 their morning if Ulysses had not checked them and said, seas you're weeping, 168 00:11:52,279 --> 00:11:56,679 lest someone should come outside and see us and tell those who are within. 169 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:01,960 When you go in, do so separately. Both together. I will go 170 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,919 first, and do you follow afterwards. Let this moreover be the token between 171 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,799 us the suitors. Will all of them try to prevent me from getting hold 172 00:12:09,799 --> 00:12:13,879 of the bow and quiver? Do you, therefore, Eumaeus, place it 173 00:12:13,919 --> 00:12:18,200 in my hands when you are carrying it about, and tell the women to 174 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:22,679 close the doors of their apartment. If they hear any groaning or uproar as 175 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,200 the men fighting about the house, they must not come out. They must 176 00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:31,480 keep quiet and stay where they are at their work. And I charge you, 177 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,279 Felicius, to make fast the doors of the outer court and to bind 178 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,080 them securely at once. When he had thus spoken, he went back to 179 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,279 the house and took the seat that he had left presently. His two servants 180 00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:48,240 followed him inside. At this moment, the bow was in the hands of 181 00:12:48,279 --> 00:12:52,360 Eurymachus, who was warming it by the fire. But even so he could 182 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,000 not string it, and he was greatly grieved. He heaved a deep sigh 183 00:12:56,039 --> 00:13:01,039 and said, I grieve for myself and us all. I grieve that I 184 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,960 shall have to forego the marriage. But I do not care nearly so much 185 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,720 about this, for there are plenty of other women in Ithaca and elsewhere. 186 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,440 What I feel most is the fact of our being so inferior to Ulysses in 187 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:18,200 strength that we cannot string his bow. This will disgrace us in the eyes 188 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:24,320 of those who are yet unborn. It shall not be so, Urimicus, 189 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,000 said Antonus, and you know it yourself. Today is the feast of Apollo 190 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,519 throughout all the land. Who can string a bow on such a day as 191 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:37,399 this put it on one side. As for the axes, they can stay 192 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,559 where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and 193 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:43,559 take them away. Let the cup bearer go round with his cups, that 194 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,559 we may make our drink offerings, and drop this matter of the bow. 195 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,360 We will tell Melanthius to bring us in some goats tomorrow the best he has. 196 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:56,679 We can then offer thigh bones to Apollo, the mighty archer, and 197 00:13:56,799 --> 00:14:00,320 again make trial of the bow, so as to bring the contest to an 198 00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:05,320 end. The rest approved his words, and thereon men's servants poured water over 199 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,000 the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing bowls with wine and 200 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:13,759 water and handed it round after giving every man his drink offering. Then, 201 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:18,120 when they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he desired, 202 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:24,039 Ulysses craftily said suitors of the illustrious queen, listen that I may speak 203 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:30,399 even as I am minded. I appeal more especially to Eurymachus and to Antonus, 204 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,840 who has just spoken with so much reason. Cease shooting for the present, 205 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,240 and leave the matter to the gods. But in the morning, let 206 00:14:37,279 --> 00:14:41,679 Heaven give victory to whom it will. For the moment, however, give 207 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,759 me the bow, that I may prove the power of my hands among you 208 00:14:45,799 --> 00:14:48,240 all, and see whether I still have as much strength as I used to 209 00:14:48,279 --> 00:14:52,919 have, or whether travel and neglect have made an end of it. This 210 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,639 made them all very angry, for they feared he might string the bow. 211 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:03,679 Antonus therefore rebuked him fiercely, saying, wretched creature, you have not so 212 00:15:03,799 --> 00:15:07,240 much as a grain of sense in your whole body. You ought to think 213 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:11,799 yourself lucky in being allowed to dine unharmed among your betters, without having any 214 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,799 smaller portion served you than we others have had, and in being allowed to 215 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,639 hear our conversation. No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what 216 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,559 we say among ourselves. The wine must have been doing you a mischief, 217 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,679 as it does with all those who drink immoderately. It was wine that inflamed 218 00:15:28,679 --> 00:15:33,200 the centaur Urysian, when he was staying with Perithus among the Leapathy. When 219 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,840 the wine had got into his head, he went mad and did ill deeds 220 00:15:37,879 --> 00:15:41,000 about the house of Perithus. This angered the heroes who were there assembled, 221 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,840 so they rushed at him and cut off his ears and nostrils. Then they 222 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,559 dragged him through the doorway out of the house. So he went away crazed 223 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:54,120 and bore the burden of his crime, bereft of understanding. Henceforth, therefore 224 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,759 there was war between mankind and the centaurs. But he brought it upon himself 225 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,360 his own drunkenness in like manner. I can tell you that it will go 226 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,039 hardly with you. If you string the bow, you will find no mercy 227 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,000 from anyone here, for we shall at once ship you off to King Echetus, 228 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,360 who kills everyone that comes near him. You will never get away alive. 229 00:16:15,759 --> 00:16:19,679 So drink and keep quiet without getting into a quarrel with men younger than 230 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:26,120 yourself. Penelope then spoke to him. Antonus said she, it is not 231 00:16:26,279 --> 00:16:30,000 right that you should ill treat any guest of Telemachus who comes to this house. 232 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,759 If the stranger should prove strong enough to string the mighty bow of Ulysses. 233 00:16:36,279 --> 00:16:38,159 Can you suppose that he would take me home with him and make me 234 00:16:38,279 --> 00:16:42,919 his wife? Even the man himself can have no such idea in his mind. 235 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,720 None of you need let that disturb his feasting. It would be out 236 00:16:48,759 --> 00:16:53,759 of all reason. Queen Penelope answered, Eurymachus, we do not suppose that 237 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,879 this man will take you away with him. It is impossible, But we 238 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:03,360 are afraid less. Some of the baser sort men or women among the Achaeans 239 00:17:03,399 --> 00:17:07,319 should go gussiping about and say, these suitors are a feeble folk. They're 240 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,720 paying court to the wife of a brave man, whose bow not one of 241 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:15,680 them was able to string, and yet a beggarly trap who came to the 242 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,000 house strung at once and sent an arrow through the iron. This is what 243 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:26,240 will be said, and it will be a scandal against us. Eurymachus Penelope 244 00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:30,559 answered, people who persist in eating up the estate of a great chieftain and 245 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,599 dishonoring his house must not expect others to think well of them. Why then, 246 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,319 should you mind if men talk as you think they will. This stranger 247 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,839 is strong and well built, he says, moreover, that he is of 248 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,599 noble birth, give him the bow, and let us see whether he can 249 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:51,759 string it or no, I say, and it shall surely be that if 250 00:17:51,759 --> 00:17:55,920 Apollo vouchsaves him the glory of stringing it, I will give him a cloak 251 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,240 and a shirt of good wear, with a javelin to keep off dogs and 252 00:17:59,319 --> 00:18:03,640 robbers, sharp sword. I will also give him sandals, and will see 253 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,440 him set safely wherever he wants to go. Then, Telemachus said, mother, 254 00:18:10,039 --> 00:18:11,960 I am the only man, either in Ithaca or in the islands that 255 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,480 are over against Ellis, who has the right to let anyone have the bow 256 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,119 or to refuse it. No one shall force me one way or the other, 257 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,519 not even though I choose to make the stranger a present of the bow 258 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:26,680 outright, and let him take it away with him. Go then within the 259 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,759 house, and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, 260 00:18:30,799 --> 00:18:34,400 and the ordering of your servants. This bow is a man's matter, 261 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,279 and mine above all others, for it is I who am master. Here. 262 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,079 She went, wandering back into the house and laid her son, saying 263 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:48,839 in her heart. Then going upstairs with her handmaids into her room, she 264 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:55,519 mourned her dear husband till Minerva sent sweet sleep over her eyelids. The swineherd 265 00:18:55,559 --> 00:18:57,880 now took up the bow and was for taking it to Ulysses. But the 266 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:02,680 suitors clamored at him from all parts of the cloisters, and one of them 267 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,960 said, you idiot, where are you taking the bow to? Are you 268 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,000 out of your wits? If Apollo and the other gods will grant our prayer, 269 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,440 your own borehounds shall get you into some quiet little place and worry you 270 00:19:15,519 --> 00:19:19,200 to death. Eumaeus was frightened at the outcry they all raised, so he 271 00:19:19,279 --> 00:19:23,160 put the bow down then and there. But Telemachus shouted at him from the 272 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,640 other side of the cloisters and threatened him, saying, father, Eumaeus, 273 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,599 bring the bow on in spite of them, or young as I am, 274 00:19:30,759 --> 00:19:34,200 I will pelt you with stones back to the country. For I am the 275 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,359 better man of the two. I wish I was as much stronger than all 276 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,599 the other suitors in the house as I am than you. I would soon 277 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:47,319 send some of them off sick and sorry, for they mean mischief. Thus 278 00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:49,720 did he speak, and they all of them laughed heartily, which put them 279 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:55,359 in a better humor with Telemachus. So Eumaeus brought the bow on and placed 280 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:57,960 it in the hands of Ulysses. When he had done this, he called 281 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:03,799 Eurycleia apart and said to her, Eurycleia, Telemachus says, you are to 282 00:20:03,839 --> 00:20:07,519 close the doors of the women's apartments. If they hear any groaning or uproar 283 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:11,559 as of men fighting about the house, they are not to come out, 284 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,599 but are to keep quiet and stay where they are at their work. Eurycleia 285 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:21,599 did as she was told and closed the doors of the women's apartments. Meanwhile, 286 00:20:21,759 --> 00:20:25,960 Felicius slipped quietly out and made fast the gates of the outer court. 287 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,720 There was a ship's cable of biblis fiber lying in the gate house, so 288 00:20:30,759 --> 00:20:33,200 he made the gates fast with it, and then came in again, resuming 289 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,720 the seat that he had left, and keeping an eye on Ulysses, who 290 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,240 had now got the bow in his hands and was turning it every way about 291 00:20:41,559 --> 00:20:45,079 and proving it all over to see whether the worms have been eating into its 292 00:20:45,079 --> 00:20:49,039 two horns during his absence. Then would one turn towards his neighbor, saying 293 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:55,279 this is some tricky old bow. Fancier Either he has got one like it 294 00:20:55,319 --> 00:20:59,319 at home, or he wants to make one in such workmanlike style. Does 295 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:03,319 the old vague a bond handle it? Another said, I hope he may 296 00:21:03,319 --> 00:21:07,720 be no more successful in other things than he is likely to be in stringing 297 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,400 this bow. But Ulysses, when he had taken it up and examined it 298 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,279 all over, strung it as easily as a skilled bart strings a new peg 299 00:21:15,319 --> 00:21:19,599 of his lyre and makes the twisted gut fast at both ends. Then he 300 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,519 took it in his right hand to prove the string, and it sang sweetly 301 00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:27,920 under his touch, like the twittering of a swallow. The suitors were dismayed 302 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:33,559 and turned color as they heard it at that moment. Moreover, Jove thundered 303 00:21:33,599 --> 00:21:37,680 loudly as a sign, and the heart of Ulysses rejoiced as he heard the 304 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:42,319 omen that the son of scheming Saturn had sent him. He took an arrow 305 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:47,079 that was lying upon the table, for those which the Achaeans were so shortly 306 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,359 about to taste, were all inside the quiver. He laid it on the 307 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,880 centerpiece of the bow, and drew the notch of the arrow and the string 308 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,440 toward him, Still seated on his seat. When he had taken aim, 309 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:02,960 he let fly his arrow pierced every one of the handle holes of the axes 310 00:22:03,039 --> 00:22:06,960 from the first onwards till it had gone right through them and into the outer 311 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,559 courtyard. Then he said to Telemachus, your guest has not disgraced you. 312 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:15,400 Telemachus, I did not miss what I aimed at, and I was not 313 00:22:15,599 --> 00:22:19,880 long in stringing my bow. I am still strong, and not as the 314 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:25,160 suitors twit me with being. Now, however, it is time for the 315 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:30,039 Achaeans to prepare supper while there is still daylight, and then otherwise to disport 316 00:22:30,079 --> 00:22:33,880 themselves with song and dance, which are the crowning ornaments of a banquet. 317 00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:38,319 As he spoke, he made a sign with his eyebrows, and Telemachus girded 318 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:42,799 on his sword, grasped his spear, and stood armed beside his father's seat. 319 00:22:45,519 --> 00:22:48,440 End of Book twenty one.