WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:04.960 Book twenty one of the Odyssey by Homer, translated by 2 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:09.039 Samuel Butler. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.599 The Odyssey Book twenty one, the Trial of the Axes, 4 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:20.559 during which Ulysses reveals himself to Eumaeus and Felicius. Minerva 5 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:23.039 now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors 6 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:25.120 try their skill with the bow and with the iron 7 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.920 axes in contest among themselves, as a means of bringing 8 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:32.840 about their destruction. She went upstairs and got the storeroom key, 9 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.079 which was made of bronze and had a handle of ivory. 10 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:38.719 She then went with her maidens into the store room 11 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:41.679 at the end of the house, where her husband's treasures 12 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.920 of gold, bronze and wrought iron were kept, and where 13 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:48.320 was also his beau and the quiverful of deadly arrows 14 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:50.520 that had been given him by a friend whom he 15 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:55.039 had met in Lacedemon Ephatus, the son of Eurytus. The 16 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.479 two fell in with one another in Messini at the 17 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:00.880 house of Ortilicus, where Ulysses was still ying, in order 18 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:03.600 to recover a debt that was owing from the whole people, 19 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.799 for the Messenians had carried off three hundred sheep from Ithaca, 20 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:10.680 and had sailed away with them and with their shepherds. 21 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:14.000 In quest of these, Ulysses took a long journey while 22 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:17.200 still quite young, for his father and the other chieftains 23 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.400 sent him on a mission to recover them. Ephodus had 24 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:22.760 gone there also to try and get back twelve brood 25 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:25.439 mares that he had lost and the mule folds that 26 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.439 were running with them. These mares were the death of 27 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:30.480 him in the end, for when he went to the 28 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:34.640 house of Jove's son Mighty Hercules, who performed such prodigies 29 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.120 of valor, Hercules to shame him killed him, though he 30 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:41.719 was his guest, for he feared not Heaven's vengeance, nor 31 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:45.159 yet respected his own table, which he had set before Ephidus, 32 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.799 but killed him in spite of everything, and kept the 33 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:51.760 mares himself. It was when claiming these that Iphidus met 34 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.000 Ulysses and gave him the beau which Mighty Eurytus had 35 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:57.719 been used to carry, and which on his death had 36 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:01.560 been left by him to his son. Ulysses gave him 37 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:04.519 in return a sword and a spear, and this was 38 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.360 the beginning of a fast friendship. Although they never visited 39 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:12.439 at one another's houses for Jove's son, Hercules killed Iphidus 40 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.080 ere they could do so. This bow, then given him 41 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.960 by Ephodus, had not been taken with him by Ulysses 42 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:21.919 when he sailed for Troy. He had used it so 43 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.240 long as he had been at home, but had left 44 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:27.240 it behind as having been a keepsake from a valued friend. 45 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:31.560 Penelope presently reached the oak threshold of the store room. 46 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:34.719 The carpenter had planed this duly and had drawn a 47 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:36.759 line on it so as to get it quite straight. 48 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.560 He had then set the door posts into it and 49 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:42.719 hung the doors. She loosed the strap from the handle 50 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:44.800 of the door, put in the key, and drove it 51 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:47.759 straight home to shoot back the bolts that held the doors. 52 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:51.400 These flew open with a noise like a bull bellowing 53 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.800 in a meadow, and Penelope stepped upon the raised platform 54 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.719 where the chest stood, in which the fair linen and 55 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:02.120 clothes were laid by along the fragrance herbs. Reaching thence, 56 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:04.360 she took down the bow with its bow case from 57 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:07.039 a peg on which it hung. She sat down with 58 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.759 it on her knees, weeping bitterly as she took the 59 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.439 bow out of its case, and when the tears had 60 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:15.240 relieved her. She went to the cloister where the suitors 61 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:18.560 were carrying the bow and the quiver with the many 62 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:22.319 deadly arrows that were inside it. Along with her came 63 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:26.159 her maidens, bearing a chest that contained much iron and bronze, 64 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:29.639 which her husband had won as prizes. When she reached 65 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:32.319 the suitors, she stood by one of the bearing posts 66 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:35.240 supporting the roof of the cloister, holding a veil before 67 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.960 her face, and with a maid on either side of her. 68 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.680 Then she said, listen to me, you suitors, who persist 69 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.039 in abusing the hospitality of this house because its owner 70 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:49.319 has been long absent, and without other pretext than that 71 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.919 you want to marry me. This, then, being the prize 72 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:55.319 that you are contending for, I will bring out the 73 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:59.120 mighty bow of Ulysses, and whomsoever you shall string it 74 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.680 most easily, and send his arrow to each one of 75 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:05.039 twelve axes him. Will I follow and quit this house 76 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.759 of my lawful husband, so goodly and so abounding in wealth. 77 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.319 But even so I doubt not that I shall remember 78 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.560 it in my dreams. As she spoke, she told Eumaeus 79 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.759 to set the bow and the pieces of iron before 80 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.600 the suitors, and Eumaeus wept as he took them to 81 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.959 do so, as she had bidden him. Hard By the 82 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.360 stockman wept also when he saw his master's bow. But 83 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:33.759 Antonas scolded them, you country louts, said he, silly simpletons, 84 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.680 Why should you add to the sorrows of your mistress 85 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:39.720 by crying in this way? She has enough to grieve 86 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.759 her in the loss of her husband. Sit still, therefore, 87 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:45.759 and eat your dinners in silence, or go outside if 88 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.399 you want to cry, and leave the bow behind you. We, suitor, 89 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.639 shall have to contend for it with might and main, 90 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:54.519 for we shall find it no light matter to string 91 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:57.480 such a bow as this is. There is not men 92 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.600 of us all who is such another as Ulysses. For 93 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:03.480 I have seen him and remember him, though I was 94 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:07.680 then only a child. This was what he said. But 95 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.120 all the time he was expecting to be able to 96 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:12.879 string the bow and shoot through the iron, whereas in 97 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.519 fact he was to be the first that should taste 98 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:18.120 of the arrows from the hands of Ulysses, whom he 99 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.279 was dishonoring in his own house, egging the others on 100 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:27.240 to do so also. Then Telemachus spoke, great heavens, He exclaimed, 101 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.879 Jove must have robbed me of my senses. Here is 102 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.680 my dear and excellent mother saying she will quit this 103 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:37.959 house and marry again. Yet I am laughing and enjoying myself, 104 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.160 as though there were nothing happening but suitors. As the 105 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:46.120 contest has been agreed upon, let it go forward. It 106 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:48.199 is for a woman whose peer is not to be 107 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:52.120 found in Pylos Argos, or Mycene, nor yet in Ithaca, 108 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:55.040 nor on the mainland. You know this as well as 109 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:58.120 I do. What need have I to speak in praise 110 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.959 of my mother? Come on, there, make no excuses for delay. 111 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:04.399 But let us see whether you can string the bow 112 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.360 or no, I too will make trial of it. For 113 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.439 if I can string it and shoot through the iron, 114 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:12.240 I shall not suffer my mother to quit this house 115 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:15.000 with a stranger, not if I can win the prizes 116 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:18.680 which my father won before me. As he spoke, he 117 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.720 sprang from his seat, threw his crimson cloak from him, 118 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.160 and took his sword from his shoulder. First he set 119 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:28.000 the axes in a row in a long groove which 120 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:30.800 he had dug for them and had made straight by line. 121 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:34.199 Then he stamped the earth tied around them, and every 122 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:36.560 one was surprised when they saw him set them up 123 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.399 so orderly, though he had never seen anything of the 124 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:43.000 kind before this done, he went on to the pavement 125 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.800 to make trial of the bow. Thrice did he tug 126 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:48.519 at it, trying with all his might to draw the string, 127 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:51.639 and thrice he had to leave off, though he had 128 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.040 hoped to string the bow and shoot through the iron. 129 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:57.079 He was trying for the fourth time and would have 130 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.680 strung it had not Ulysses made a sign to check 131 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:04.160 him in. In spite of all his eagerness, so he said, Alas, 132 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:07.160 I shall either be always feeble and of no prowess, 133 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.040 or I am too young and have not reached my 134 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.519 full strength so as to be able to hold my 135 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:16.319 own if any one attacks me. You others, therefore, who 136 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.959 are stronger than I, make trial of the bow and 137 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:23.160 get this contest settled. On this, he put the bow down, 138 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.959 let it lean against the door that led into the house, 139 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:28.639 with the arrow standing against the top of the bow. 140 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:31.360 Then he sat down on the seat from which he 141 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.199 had risen, and Antonas said, come on, each of you, 142 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.959 in his turn, going towards the right from the place 143 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.120 at which the cup air begins. When he is handing 144 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:44.399 round the wine. The rest agreed, and Leotes's, son of Enops, 145 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.079 was the first to rise. He was sacrificial priest to 146 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.199 the suitors and sat in the corner near the mixing bow. 147 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.439 He was the only man who hated their evil deeds 148 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.560 and was indignant with the others. He was now the 149 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:59.839 first to take the bow and arrow, so he went 150 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:02.439 on to the pavement to make his trial. But he 151 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.160 could not string the bow, for his hands were weak 152 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.720 and unused to hard work. They therefore soon grew tired, 153 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:12.279 and he said to the suitors, my friends, I cannot 154 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:16.199 string it. Let another have it. This bow shall take 155 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.639 the life and soul out of many a chief among us, 156 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:21.480 for it is better to die than to live, after 157 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.279 having missed the prize that we have so long striven for, 158 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.319 and which has brought us so long together. Some one 159 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:30.800 of us is even now hoping and praying that he 160 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:33.759 may marry Penelope. But when he has seen this bow 161 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:36.679 and tried it, let him move and make bridal offerings 162 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:39.960 to some other woman, and let Penelope marry whoever makes 163 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.039 her the best offer, and whose lot it is to 164 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:46.399 win her. On this he put the bow down letting 165 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.960 it mean against the door, with the arrow standing against 166 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.600 the top of the bow. Then he took his seat 167 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.000 again on the seat from which he had risen, and 168 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:58.399 Antonus rebuked him, saying, Liodes, what are you talking about? 169 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:02.480 Your words are monstrous and intolerable. It makes me angry 170 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.440 to listen to you. Shall then this bow take the 171 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:08.240 life of many a chief among us, merely because you 172 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:11.720 cannot bend it yourself. True, you were not born to 173 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.360 be an archer. But there are others who will soon 174 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:19.320 string it. Then he said to Malanthius the goatherd look sharp, 175 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.600 Light a fire in the court, and set a seat 176 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:24.399 hard by with a sheepskin on it. Bring us also 177 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:26.799 a large ball of lard from what they have in 178 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:29.600 the house. Let us warm the bow and grease it. 179 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.320 We will then make trial of it again and bring 180 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:36.240 the contest to an end. Melanthius lit the fire and 181 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.600 set a seat covered with sheepskins beside it. He also 182 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.639 brought a great ball of lard from what they had 183 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.159 in the house, and the suitors warmed the bow and 184 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:46.639 again made trial of it. But they were none of 185 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.320 them nearly strong enough to string it. Nevertheless, there still 186 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:54.240 remained Antinas and Eurymicus, who were the ringleaders among the suitors, 187 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:58.120 and much the foremost among them. All. Then the swineherd 188 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:02.120 and the stockman left the cloisters together, and Ulysses followed them. 189 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:04.879 When the god outside the gates and the outer yard, 190 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:09.960 Ulysses said to them quietly, stockman and you swineherd, I 191 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.200 have something in my mind which I am in doubt 192 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:15.080 whether to say or know, But I think I will 193 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:18.120 say it. What manner of men would you be to 194 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.440 stand by Ulysses if some God should bring him back here? 195 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.440 All of a sudden, say which of you are disposed 196 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:27.720 to do to side with the suitors or with Ulysses. 197 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:32.799 Father Jove answered the stockman would indeed that you might 198 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.679 so ordain it. If some god were but to bring 199 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.840 Ulysses back, you should see with what might and main 200 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:42.759 I would fight for him. In like words, eu maayus 201 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:46.240 pray to all the gods that Ulysses might return. When 202 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:49.080 therefore he saw for certain what mind they were of, 203 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:53.879 Ulysses said, it is I Ulysses who am here. I 204 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.000 have suffered much, but at last, in the twentieth year, 205 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:00.320 I am come back to my own country. I find 206 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:02.639 that you two alone of all my servants, are glad 207 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.919 that I should do so, for I have not heard 208 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.399 any of the others praying for my return to you too. 209 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:11.159 Therefore I will unfold the truth as it shall be. 210 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:15.559 If Heaven shall deliver the suitors into my hands, I 211 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:18.200 will find wives for both of you, will give you 212 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:20.960 house and holding close to my own, and you shall 213 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:23.279 be to me as though you were brothers and friends 214 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.720 of Telemachus. I will now give you convincing proofs that 215 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.200 you may know me and be assured. See here is 216 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.759 the scar from the boar's tooth that ripped me when 217 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:35.039 I was out hunting on Mount Parnassus with the sons 218 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:39.240 of Attilicus. As he spoke, he drew his rags aside 219 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:42.440 from the great scar, And when they had examined it thoroughly, 220 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.600 they both of them wept about. Ulysses threw their arms 221 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.720 round him and kissed his head and shoulders, while Ulysses 222 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:53.200 kissed their hands and faces in return. The son would 223 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:55.879 have gone down upon their mourning if Ulysses had not 224 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.720 checked them and said, seize your weeping, lest someone should 225 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:02.200 come outside and see us and tell those who are within. 226 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.320 When you go in, do so separately, not both together. 227 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.639 I will go first, and do you follow afterwards. Let 228 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:14.120 this moreover be the token between us the suitors. Will 229 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.320 all of them try to prevent me from getting hold 230 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:20.279 of the bow and quiver. Do you, therefore, Eumaeus, place 231 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.759 it in my hands when you are carrying it about, 232 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:25.320 And tell the women to close the doors of their apartment. 233 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.639 If they hear any groaning or uproar as the men 234 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.360 fighting about the house, they must not come out. They 235 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:35.399 must keep quiet and stay where they are at their work. 236 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:39.200 And I charge you, Felicius, to make fast the doors 237 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:42.080 of the outer court, and to bind them securely at once. 238 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:45.759 When he had thus spoken, he went back to the 239 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.639 house and took the seat that he had left presently. 240 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.720 His two servants followed him inside. At this moment, the 241 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:55.399 bow was in the hands of Eurymicus, who was warming 242 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:58.039 it by the fire. But even so he could not 243 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.879 string it, and he was greatly greened. He heaved a 244 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:05.519 deep sigh and said, I grieve for myself and for 245 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:08.600 us all. I grieve that I shall have to forego 246 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:11.480 the marriage. But I do not care nearly so much 247 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:14.120 about this, for there are plenty of other women in 248 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:17.879 Ithaca and elsewhere. What I feel most is the fact 249 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:20.759 of our being so inferior to Ulysses in strength that 250 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:24.320 we cannot string his bow. This will disgrace us in 251 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:28.399 the eyes of those who are yet unborn. It shall 252 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:32.279 not be so, Euymicus, said Antonas, and you know it yourself. 253 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:35.879 To day is the feast of Apollo throughout all the land. 254 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.039 Who can string a bow on such a day as 255 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:42.200 this put it on one side. As for the axes, 256 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.759 they can stay where they are, for no one is 257 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:46.879 likely to come to the house and take them away. 258 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.039 Let the cup bearer go round with his cups, that 259 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:52.559 we may make our drink offerings, and drop this matter 260 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.559 of the bow. We will tell Melanthius to bring us 261 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:58.919 in some goats tomorrow the best he has. We can 262 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.639 then offer thibon to Apollo the mighty archer, and again 263 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:05.000 make trial of the beau, so as to bring the 264 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:09.639 contest to an end. The rest approved his words, and 265 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.960 thereon menservants poured water over the hands of the guests, 266 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:15.879 while pages filled the mixing bowls with wine and water 267 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:20.360 and handed it round after giving every man his drink offering. Then, 268 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:22.480 when they had made their offerings and had drunk eat 269 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:27.440 as much as he desired. Ulysses craftily said, suitors of 270 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:31.320 the illustrious Queen, listen, that I may speak, even as 271 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:35.279 I am minded. I appeal more especially to Eurymicus and 272 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:39.279 to Antonus has just spoken with so much reason. Cease 273 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:42.039 shooting for the present, and leave the matter to the gods. 274 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.120 But in the morning, let Heaven give victory to whom 275 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:48.720 it will. For the moment, however, give me the beau, 276 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:51.159 that I may prove the power of my hands among 277 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.759 you all, and see whether I still have as much 278 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.559 strength as I used to have, or whether travel and 279 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:59.840 neglect have made an end of it. This made them 280 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:02.840 all all very angry, for they feared he might string 281 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:08.120 the bow. Antonus therefore rebuked him fiercely, saying, wretched creature, 282 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.559 you have not so much as a grain of sense 283 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:13.559 in your whole body. You ought to think yourself lucky 284 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.840 in being allowed to dine unharmed among your betters, without 285 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.799 having any smaller portion served you than we others have had, 286 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:23.759 and in being allowed to hear our conversation. No other 287 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.320 beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we 288 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.519 say among ourselves, the wine must have been doing you 289 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:32.720 a mischief, as it does with all those who drink immoderately. 290 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.759 It was wine that inflamed the centaur urition when he 291 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.200 was staying with Parithas among the Lepathy. When the wine 292 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.759 had got into his head, he went mad and did 293 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:46.120 ill deeds about the house of Parithas. This angered the 294 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.840 heroes who were there assembled, so they rushed at him 295 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:51.840 and cut off his ears and nostrils. Then they dragged 296 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.039 him through the doorway out of the house. So he 297 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:57.080 went away crazed and bore the burden of his crime, 298 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:02.559 bereft of understanding. Henceforth, therefore there was war between mankind 299 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.440 and the Centaurs. But he brought it upon himself to 300 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:09.080 his own drunkenness in like manner. I can tell you 301 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:11.399 that it will go hardly with you. If you string 302 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:14.799 the bow, you will find no mercy from any one here, 303 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.519 for we shall at once ship you off to King Ecatus, 304 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:20.720 who kills every one that comes near him. You will 305 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:24.120 never get away alive. So drink and keep quiet without 306 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:28.879 getting into a quarrel with men younger than yourself. Penelope 307 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:32.679 then spoke to him. Antonus said she it is not 308 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:35.360 right that you should ill treat any guest of Telemachus 309 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:38.919 who comes to this house. If the stranger should prove 310 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:42.000 strong enough to string the mighty bow of Ulysses, Can 311 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:44.159 you suppose that he would take me home with him 312 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:47.480 and make me his wife. Even the man himself can 313 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:50.919 have no such idea in his mind. None of you 314 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:54.240 need let that disturb his feasting. It would be out 315 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:59.600 of all reason. Queen Penelope answered Eurymicus, we do not 316 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:02.159 suppose that this man will take you away with him. 317 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:05.759 It is impossible. But we are afraid lest some of 318 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:09.240 the baser sort men or women among the Achaeans should 319 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:13.039 go gossiping about and say these suitors are a feeble folk. 320 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:16.079 They are paying court to the wife of a brave man, 321 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:18.400 whose bow not one of them was able to string, 322 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.480 and yet a beggarly tramp who came to the house 323 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.799 strung at once and sent an arrow through the iron. 324 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.480 This is what will be said, and it will be 325 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:33.720 a scandal against us, Eurymicus. Penelope answered, people who persist 326 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:36.160 in eating up the estate of a great chieftain and 327 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.519 dishonoring his house must not expect others to think well 328 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:42.480 of them. Why then, should you mind if men talk 329 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:45.559 as you think they will. This stranger is strong and 330 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:49.160 well built, he says, moreover that he is of noble birth. 331 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.960 Give him the bow, and let us see whether he 332 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.759 can string it or no, I say, and it shall 333 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:59.319 surely be that if Apollo vouchsafes him the glory of 334 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.640 stringing it, I will give him a cloak and a 335 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:04.279 shirt of good wear, with a javelin to keep off 336 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:07.680 dogs and robbers, and a sharp sword. I will also 337 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:10.480 give him sandals, and will see him set safely wherever 338 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:15.839 he wants to go. Then, Telemachus said mother, I am 339 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.359 the only man, either in Ithaca or in the islands 340 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:20.640 that are over against Elis, who has the right to 341 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.720 let anyone have the bow or to refuse it. No 342 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:26.119 one shall force me one way or the other, not 343 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:28.599 even though I choose to make the stranger a present 344 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.039 of the bow outright, and let him take it away 345 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.440 with him. Go then within the house, and busy yourself 346 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.599 with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, and the 347 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.960 ordering of your servants. This bau is a man's matter, 348 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.920 and mine above all others, for it is I who 349 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.240 am master. Here. She went wandering back into the house 350 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.839 and laid her son, saying in her heart. Then going 351 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:55.000 upstairs with her handmaids into her room, she mourned her 352 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.240 dear husband till Minerva sent sweet sleep over her eyelids. 353 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:02.559 The swineherd now took up the bow and was for 354 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:05.640 taking it to Ulysses. But the suitors clamored at him 355 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.480 from all parts of the cloisters, and one of them said, 356 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:12.400 you idiot, where are you taking the bow to? Are 357 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.119 you out of your wits? If Apollo and the other 358 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.480 gods will grant our prayer, your own boarhound shall get 359 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.480 you into some quiet little place and worry you to death. 360 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:25.640 Eumaeus was frightened at the outcry they all raised, so 361 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:28.559 he put the bow down then and there. But Telemachus 362 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:31.000 shouted at him from the other side of the cloisters 363 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.960 and threatened him, saying, father, Eumaeus, bring the bow on 364 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:37.400 in spite of them, or young as I am, I 365 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.160 will pelt you with stones back to the country. For 366 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:43.359 I am the better man of the two. I wish 367 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:45.599 I was as much stronger than all the other suitors 368 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:47.880 in the house as I am than you, I would 369 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.440 soon send some of them off sick and sorry, for 370 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:54.119 they mean mischief. Thus did he speak, and they all 371 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.720 of them laughed heartily, which put them in a better 372 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.880 humor with Telemachus. So Eumaeus brought the bow and placed 373 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.680 it in the hands of Ulysses. When he had done this, 374 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:08.960 he called Euryclea apart and said to her, Eurycleia, Telemachu says, 375 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:11.240 you are to close the doors of the women's apartments. 376 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:14.640 If they hear any groaning or uproar as of men 377 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:17.119 fighting about the house, they are not to come out, 378 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.599 but are to keep quiet and stay where they are 379 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:23.440 at their work. Eurycleia did as she was told and 380 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:28.200 closed the doors of the women's apartments. Meanwhile, Felicius slipped 381 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.960 quietly out and made fast the gates of the outer court. 382 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.880 There was a ship's cable of bibliss fiber lying in 383 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:37.720 the gatehouse, so he made the gates fast with it, 384 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.400 and then came in again, resuming the seat that he 385 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:43.440 had left, and keeping an eye on Ulysses, who had 386 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.839 now got the bow in his hands, and was turning 387 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.480 it every way about and proving it all over to 388 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:51.279 see whether the worms have been eating into its two horns. 389 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:55.559 During his absence. Then would one turn towards his neighbor, saying, 390 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:00.160 this is some tricky old beau fancier. Either he has 391 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.359 got one like it at home, or he wants to 392 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.799 make one in such workmanlike style. Does the old vagabond 393 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:10.160 handle it? Another said, I hope he may be no 394 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.640 more successful in other things than he is likely to 395 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:16.519 be in stringing this bow. But Ulysses, when he had 396 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:19.279 taken it up and examined it all over, strung it 397 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:21.799 as easily as a skilled bart strings a new peg 398 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:24.240 of his lyre, and makes the twisted gut fast at 399 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:27.480 both ends. Then he took it in his right hand 400 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.839 to prove the string, and it sang sweetly under his touch, 401 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.440