Odyssey

Athena now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors try their skill with the bow and with the iron axes, in contest among themselves, as a means of bringing about their destruction. She went upstairs and got the store room key, which was made of bronze and had a handle of ivory; she then went with her maidens into the store room at the end of the house, where her husband's treasures of gold, bronze, and wrought iron were kept, and where was also his bow, and the quiver full of deadly arrows that had been given him by a friend whom he had met in Lacedaemon - Iphitos the son of Eurytos. The two fell in with one another in Messene at the house of Ortilokhos, where Odysseus was staying in order to recover a debt that was owing from the whole dêmos ; for the Messenians had carried off three hundred sheep from Ithaca , and had sailed away with them and with their shepherds. In quest of these Odysseus took a long journey while still quite young, for his father and the other chieftains sent him on a mission to recover them. Iphitos had gone there also to try and get back twelve brood mares that he had lost, and the mule foals that were running with them. These mares were the death of him in the end, for when he went to the house of Zeus’ son, mighty Herakles, who performed such prodigies of valor, Herakles to his shame killed him, though he was his guest, for he feared not heaven's vengeance, nor yet respected his own table which he had set before Iphitos, but killed him in spite of everything, and kept the mares himself. It was when claiming these that Iphitos met Odysseus, and gave him the bow which mighty Eurytos had been used to carry, and which on his death had been left by him to his son. Odysseus gave him in return a sword and a spear, and this was the beginning of a fast friendship, although they never visited at one another's houses, for Zeus’ son Herakles killed Iphitos ere they could do so. This bow, then, given him by Iphitos, had not been taken with him by Odysseus when he sailed for Troy ; he had used it so long as he had been at home, but had left it behind as having been a keepsake from a valued friend.

τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,

τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον

ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος, ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.

κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν προσεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,

εἵλετο δὲ κληῗδʼ εὐκαμπέα χειρὶ παχείῃ

καλὴν χαλκείην· κώπη δʼ ἐλέφαντος ἐπῆεν.

βῆ δʼ 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 δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί,

δῶρα τά οἱ ξεῖνος Λακεδαίμονι δῶκε τυχήσας

Ἴφιτος Εὐρυτίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισι.

τὼ δʼ 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 τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.

τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἐξεσίην πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθεν Ὀδυσσεὺς

παιδνὸς ἐών· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε πατὴρ ἄλλοι τε γέροντες.

Ἴφιτος αὖθʼ ἵππους διζήμενος, αἵ οἱ ὄλοντο

δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοί·

αἳ δή οἱ καὶ ἔπειτα φόνος καὶ μοῖρα γένοντο,

ἐπεὶ δὴ Διὸς υἱὸν ἀφίκετο καρτερόθυμον,

φῶθʼ Ἡρακλῆα, μεγάλων ἐπιίστορα ἔργων,

ὅς μιν ξεῖνον ἐόντα κατέκτανεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

σχέτλιος, οὐδὲ θεῶν ὄπιν ᾐδέσατʼ οὐδὲ τράπεζαν,

τὴν ἥν οἱ παρέθηκεν· ἔπειτα δὲ πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν,

ἵππους δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχε κρατερώνυχας ἐν μεγάροισι.

τὰς ἐρέων Ὀδυσῆϊ συνήντετο, δῶκε δὲ τόξον,

τὸ πρὶν μέν ῥʼ ἐφόρει μέγας Εὔρυτος, αὐτὰρ ὁ παιδὶ

κάλλιπʼ ἀποθνῄσκων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι.

τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ξίφος ὀξὺ καὶ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἔδωκεν,

ἀρχὴν ξεινοσύνης προσκηδέος· οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ

γνώτην ἀλλήλων· πρὶν γὰρ Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπεφνεν

Ἴφιτον Εὐρυτίδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν,

ὅς οἱ τόξον ἔδωκε. τὸ δʼ οὔ ποτε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἐρχόμενος πόλεμόνδε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν

ᾑρεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ μνῆμα ξείνοιο φίλοιο

κέσκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, φόρει δέ μιν ἧς ἐπὶ γαίης.

Penelope presently reached the oak threshold of the store room; the carpenter had planed this duly, and had drawn a line on it so as to get it quite straight; he had then set the door posts into it and hung the doors. She loosed the strap from the handle of the door, put in the key, and drove it straight home to shoot back the bolts that held the doors; these flew open with a noise like a bull bellowing in a meadow, and Penelope stepped upon the raised platform, where the chests stood in which the fair linen and clothes were laid by along with fragrant herbs: reaching thence, she took down the bow with its bow case from the peg on which it hung. She sat down with it on her knees, weeping bitterly as she took the bow out of its case, and when her tears had relieved her, she went to the room where the suitors were, carrying the bow and the quiver, with the many deadly arrows that were inside it. Along with her came her maidens, bearing a chest that contained much iron and bronze which her husband had won as prizes. When she reached the suitors, she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the room, holding a veil before her face, and with a maid on either side of her. Then she said:

ἡ δʼ 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 δʼ ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς,

αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,

ἐν δὲ κληῗδʼ ἧκε, θυρέων δʼ ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας

ἄντα τιτυσκομένη· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχεν ἠΰτε ταῦρος

βοσκόμενος λειμῶνι· τόσʼ ἔβραχε καλὰ θύρετρα

πληγέντα κληΐδι, πετάσθησαν δέ οἱ ὦκα.

ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῆς σανίδος βῆ· ἔνθα δὲ χηλοὶ

ἕστασαν, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τῇσι θυώδεα εἵματʼ ἔκειτο.

ἔνθεν ὀρεξαμένη ἀπὸ πασσάλου αἴνυτο τόξον

αὐτῷ γωρυτῷ, ὅς οἱ περίκειτο φαεινός.

ἑζομένη δὲ κατʼ αὖθι, φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θεῖσα,

κλαῖε μάλα λιγέως, ἐκ δʼ ᾕρεε τόξον ἄνακτος.

ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μέγαρόνδε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς

τόξον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην

ἰοδόκον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί.

τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον ὄγκιον, ἔνθα σίδηρος

κεῖτο πολὺς καὶ χαλκός, ἀέθλια τοῖο ἄνακτος.

ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,

στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,

ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.

ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.

αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρσι μετηύδα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·

"Listen to me you suitors, who persist in abusing the hospitality of this house because its owner has been long absent, and without other pretext than that you want to marry me; this, then, being the prize that you are contending for, I will bring out the mighty bow of Odysseus, and whomsoever of you shall string it most easily and send his arrow through each one of twelve axes, him will I follow and quit this house of my lawful husband, so goodly, and so abounding in wealth. But even so I doubt not that I shall remember it in my dreams."

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, οἳ τόδε δῶμα

ἐχράετʼ ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ

ἀνδρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο πολὺν χρόνον· οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλην

μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην ἐδύνασθε,

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ἱέμενοι γῆμαι θέσθαι τε γυναῖκα.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον.

θήσω γὰρ μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι

καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,

τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα

κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο,

τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.

As she spoke, she told Eumaios to set the bow and the pieces of iron before the suitors, and Eumaios wept as he took them to do as she had bidden him. Hard by, the stockman wept also when he saw his master's bow, but Antinoos scolded them. "You country louts," said he, "silly simpletons; why should you add to the sorrows of your mistress by crying in this way? She has enough to grieve her in the loss of her husband; sit still, therefore, and eat your dinners in silence, or go outside if you want to cry, and leave the bow behind you. We suitors shall have to contend [ athlos ] for it with might and main, for we shall find it no light matter to string such a bow as this is. There is not a man of us all who is such another as Odysseus; for I have seen him and remember him, though I was then only a child."

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ Εὔμαιον ἀνώγει, δῖον ὑφορβόν,

τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον.

δακρύσας δʼ Εὔμαιος ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκε·

κλαῖε δὲ βουκόλος ἄλλοθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἴδε τόξον ἄνακτος.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ 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 ὤλεσʼ ἀκοίτην.

ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι, ἠὲ θύραζε

κλαίετον ἐξελθόντε, κατʼ 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 δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.

This was what he said, but all the time he was expecting to be able to string the bow and shoot through the iron, whereas in fact he was to be the first that should taste of the arrows from the hands of Odysseus, whom he was dishonoring in his own house - egging the others on to do so also.

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει

νευρὴν ἐντανύσειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.

ἦ τοι ὀϊστοῦ γε πρῶτος γεύσεσθαι ἔμελλεν

ἐκ χειρῶν Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὃν τότʼ ἀτίμα

ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροις, ἐπὶ δʼ ὤρνυε πάντας ἑταίρους.

Then Telemakhos spoke. "Great heavens!" he exclaimed, "Zeus must have robbed me of my senses. Here is my dear and excellent mother saying she will quit this house and marry again, yet I am laughing and enjoying myself as though there were nothing happening. But, suitors, as the contest [ athlos ] has been agreed upon, let it go forward. It is for a woman whose peer is not to be found in Pylos , Argos , or Mycenae , nor yet in Ithaca nor on the mainland. You know this as well as I do; what need have I to speak in praise [ ainos ] of my mother? Come on, then, make no excuses for delay, but let us see whether you can string the bow or no. I too will make trial of it, for if I can string it and shoot through the iron, I shall not suffer my mother to quit this house with a stranger, not if I can win the prizes which my father won before me."

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·

ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα με Ζεὺς ἄφρονα θῆκε Κρονίων·

μήτηρ μέν μοί φησι φίλη, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα,

ἄλλῳ ἅμʼ ἕψεσθαι νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γελόω καὶ τέρπομαι ἄφρονι θυμῷ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον,

οἵη νῦν οὐκ ἔστι γυνὴ κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν,

οὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτʼ Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης·

οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης·

καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε γʼ ἴστε· τί με χρὴ μητέρος αἴνου;

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μὴ μύνῃσι παρέλκετε μηδʼ 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 ἅμʼ ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσʼ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην

οἷός τʼ ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλʼ ἀνελέσθαι.

As he spoke he sprang from his seat, threw his crimson cloak from him, and took his sword from his shoulder. First he set the axes in a row, in a long groove which he had dug for them, and had made straight by line. Then he stamped the earth tight round them, and everyone was surprised when they saw him set up so orderly, though he had never seen anything of the kind before. This done, he went on to the pavement to make trial of the bow; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw the string, and thrice he had to rest his strength [ biê ], though he had hoped to string the bow and shoot through the iron. He was trying forcefully [ biê ] for the fourth time, and would have strung it had not Odysseus made a sign to check him in spite of all his eagerness. So he said:

ἦ καὶ ἀπʼ ὤμοιϊν χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν

ὀρθὸς ἀναΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμων.

πρῶτον μὲν πελέκεας στῆσεν, διὰ τάφρον ὀρύξας

πᾶσι μίαν μακρήν, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,

ἀμφὶ δὲ γαῖαν ἔναξε· τάφος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας,

ὡς εὐκόσμως στῆσε· πάρος δʼ οὐ πώ ποτʼ ὀπώπει.

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ 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 δή ῥʼ ἐτάνυσσε βίῃ τὸ τέταρτον ἀνέλκων,

ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἀνένευε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱέμενόν περ.

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·

"Alas! I shall either be always feeble and of no prowess, or I am too young, and have not yet reached my full strength so as to be able to hold my own if any one attacks me. You others, therefore, who are stronger [ biê ] than I, make trial of the bow and get this contest [ athlos ] settled."

ὢ πόποι, ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κακός τʼ ἔσομαι καὶ ἄκικυς,

ἠὲ νεώτερός εἰμι καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα

ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο βίῃ προφερέστεροί ἐστε,

τόξου πειρήσασθε, καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.

On this he put the bow down, letting it lean against the door [that led into the house] with the arrow standing against the top of the bow. Then he sat down on the seat from which he had risen, and Antinoos said:

ὣς εἰπὼν τόξον μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο θῆκε χαμᾶζε,

κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,

αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,

ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

"Come on each of you in his turn, going towards the right from the place at which the cupbearer begins when he is handing round the wine."

ὄρνυσθʼ ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια πάντες ἑταῖροι,

ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει.

The rest agreed, and Leiodes son of Oinops was the first to rise. He was sacrificial priest to the suitors, and sat in the corner near the mixing-bowl. He was the only man to whom their evil deeds were hateful [ ekhthra ]and was indignant with the others. He was now the first to take the bow and arrow, so he went on to the pavement to make his trial, but he could not string the bow, for his hands were weak and unused to hard work, they therefore soon grew tired, and he said to the suitors, "My friends, I cannot string it; let another have it; this bow shall take the life and soul [ psukhê ] out of many a chief among us, for it is better to die than to live after having missed the prize that we have so long striven for, and which has brought us so long together. Some one of us is even now hoping and praying that he may marry Penelope, but when he has seen this bow and tried it, let him woo and make bridal offerings to some other woman, and let Penelope marry whoever makes her the best offer and whose lot it is to win her."

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

Λειώδης δὲ πρῶτος ἀνίστατο, Οἴνοπος υἱός,

ὅ σφι θυοσκόος ἔσκε, παρὰ κρητῆρα δὲ καλὸν

ἷζε μυχοίτατος αἰέν· ἀτασθαλίαι δέ οἱ οἴῳ

ἐχθραὶ ἔσαν, πᾶσιν δὲ νεμέσσα μνηστήρεσσιν·

ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ 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, οὗθʼ ἕνεκʼ αἰεὶ

ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.

νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ

γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,

ἄλλην δή τινʼ ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων

μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα

γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.

On this he put the bow down, letting it lean against the door, with the arrow standing against the tip of the bow. Then he took his seat again on the seat from which he had risen; and Antinoos rebuked him saying:

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν καὶ ἀπὸ ἕο τόξον ἔθηκε,

κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,

αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,

ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.

"Leiodes, what are you talking about? Your words are monstrous and intolerable; it makes me angry to listen to you. Shall, then, this bow take the life [ psukhê ] of many a chief among us, merely because you cannot bend it yourself? True, you were not born to be an archer, but there are others who will soon string it."

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

Λειῶδες, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,

δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, —νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τʼ ἀκούων—

εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει

θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.

οὐ γάρ τοί σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ

οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·

ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.

Then he said to Melanthios the goatherd, "Look sharp, light a fire in the court, and set a seat hard by with a sheep skin on it; bring us also a large ball of lard, from what they have in the house. Let us warm the bow and grease it; we will then make trial of it again, and bring the contest [ athlos ] to an end."

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν·

ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,

πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,

ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,

ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,

τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.

Melanthios lit the fire, and set a seat covered with sheep skins beside it. He also brought a great ball of lard from what they had in the house, and the suitors warmed the bow and again made trial of it, but they were none of them nearly strong [ biê ] enough to string it. Nevertheless there still remained Antinoos and Eurymakhos, who were the ringleaders among the suitors and much the foremost in aretê among them all.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αἶψʼ ἀνέκαιε Μελάνθιος ἀκάματον πῦρ,

πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,

ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος·

τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντʼ· οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο

ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔτʼ ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,

ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.

Then the swineherd and the stockman left the cloisters together, and Odysseus followed them. When they had got outside the gates and the outer yard, Odysseus said to them quietly:

τὼ δʼ ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμʼ ἄμφω

βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

ἐκ δʼ αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,

φθεγξάμενός σφε ἔπεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·

"Stockman, and you swineherd, I have something in my mind which I am in doubt whether to say or no; but I think I will say it. What manner of men would you be to stand by Odysseus, if some god should bring him back here all of a sudden? Say which you are disposed to do - to side with the suitors, or with Odysseus?"

βουκόλε καὶ σύ, συφορβέ, ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην,

ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.

ποῖοί κʼ εἶτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι

ὧδε μάλʼ ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;

ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτʼ ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;

εἴπαθʼ ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

"Father Zeus," answered the stockman, "would indeed that you might so ordain it. If some daimôn were but to bring Odysseus back, you should see with what might and main I would fight for him."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο τελευτήσειας ἐέλδωρ,

ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·

γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.

In like words Eumaios prayed to all the gods that Odysseus might return; when, therefore, he saw for certain what mind [ noos ] they were of, Odysseus said, "It is I, Odysseus, who am here. I have suffered much, but at last, in the twentieth year, I am come back to my own country. I find that you two alone of all my servants are glad that I should do so, for I have not heard any of the others praying for my return. To you two, therefore, will I unfold the truth [ alêtheia ] as it shall be. If heaven shall deliver the suitors into my hands, I will find wives for both of you, will give you house and holding close to my own, and you shall be to me as though you were brothers and friends of Telemakhos. I will now give you a convincing proof [ sêma ] that you may know me and be assured. See, here is the scar from the boar's tooth that ripped me when I was out hunting on Mount Parnassus with the sons of Autolykos."

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι

νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέʼ ἀνέγνω,

ἐξαῦτίς σφε ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

ἔνδον μὲν δὴ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας

ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

γιγνώσκω δʼ ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω

οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα

εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.

σφῶϊν δʼ, ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.

εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,

ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροις ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματʼ ὀπάσσω

οἰκία τʼ ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα

Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.

εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή, καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,

ὄφρα μʼ ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ με σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι

Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.

As he spoke he drew his rags aside from the great scar, and when they had examined it thoroughly, they both of them wept about Odysseus, threw their arms round him and kissed his head and shoulders, while Odysseus kissed their hands and faces in return. The sun would have gone down upon their mourning if Odysseus had not checked them and said:

ὣς εἰπὼν ῥάκεα μεγάλης ἀποέργαθεν οὐλῆς.

τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσιδέτην εὖ τʼ ἐφράσσαντο ἕκαστα,

κλαῖον ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι χεῖρε βαλόντε,

καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμενοι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Ὀδυσεὺς κεφαλὰς καὶ χεῖρας ἔκυσσε.

καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,

εἰ μὴ Ὀδυσσεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρύκακε φώνησέν τε·

"Cease your weeping, lest some one should come outside and see us, and tell those who are within. When you go in, do so separately, not both together; I will go first, and do you follow afterwards; Let this moreover be the sign [ sêma ] between us; the suitors will all of them try to prevent me from getting hold of the bow and quiver; do you, therefore, Eumaios, place it in my hands when you are carrying it about, and tell the women to close the doors of their apartment. If they hear any groaning or uproar as of men fighting about the house, they must not come out; they must keep quiet, and stay where they are at their work. And I charge you, Philoitios, to make fast the doors of the outer court, and to bind them securely at once."

παύεσθον κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε, μή τις ἴδηται

ἐξελθὼν μεγάροιο, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσι καὶ εἴσω.

ἀλλὰ προμνηστῖνοι ἐσέλθετε, μηδʼ ἅμα πάντες,

πρῶτος ἐγώ, μετὰ δʼ ὔμμες· ἀτὰρ τόδε σῆμα τετύχθω·

ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,

οὐκ ἐάσουσιν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην·

ἀλλὰ σύ, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, φέρων ἀνὰ δώματα τόξον

ἐν χείρεσσιν ἐμοὶ θέμεναι, εἰπεῖν τε γυναιξὶ

κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας,

ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ

ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε

προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.

σοὶ δέ, Φιλοίτιε δῖε, θύρας ἐπιτέλλομαι αὐλῆς

κληῗσαι κληῗδι, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἰῆλαι.

When he had thus spoken, he went back to the house and took the seat that he had left. Presently, his two servants followed him inside.

ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας·

ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη·

ἐς δʼ ἄρα καὶ τὼ δμῶε ἴτην θείου Ὀδυσῆος.

At this moment the bow was in the hands of Eurymakhos, who was warming it by the fire, but even so he could not string it, and he was greatly grieved. He heaved a deep sigh and said, "I grieve [ akhos ] for myself and for us all; I grieve that I shall have to forgo the marriage, but I do not care nearly so much about this, for there are plenty of other women in Ithaca and elsewhere; what I feel most is the fact of our being so inferior to Odysseus in strength [ biê ] that we cannot string his bow. This will disgrace us in the eyes of those who are yet unborn."

Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἤδη τόξον μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,

θάλπων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα σέλᾳ πυρός· ἀλλά μιν οὐδʼ ὣς

ἐντανύσαι δύνατο, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

ὢ πόποι, ἧ μοι ἄχος περί τʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ πάντων·

οὔ τι γάμου τοσσοῦτον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ·

εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες, αἱ μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ

ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, αἱ δʼ ἄλλῃσιν πολίεσσιν·

ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν

ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅ τʼ οὐ δυνάμεσθα τανύσσαι

τόξον· ἐλεγχείη δὲ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.

"It shall not be so, Eurymakhos," said Antinoos, "and you know it yourself. To-day is the feast of Apollo throughout all the dêmos ; who can string a bow on such a day as this? Put it on one side - as for the axes they can stay where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and take them away: let the cupbearer go round with his cups, that we may make our drink-offerings and drop this matter of the bow; we will tell Melanthios to bring us in some goats tomorrow - the best he has; we can then offer thigh bones to Apollo the mighty archer, and again make trial of the bow, so as to bring the contest [ athlos ] to an end."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται· νοέεις δὲ καὶ αὐτός.

νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο

ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτʼ; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι

κάτθετʼ· ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κʼ εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας

ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τινʼ ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,

ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,

ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·

ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,

αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγʼ ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,

ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ

τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.

The rest approved his words, and thereon men servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing-bowls with wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his drink-offering. Then, when they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he desired, Odysseus craftily said:

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,

κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,

νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.

οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,

τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

"Suitors of the illustrious queen, listen that I may speak even as I am minded. I appeal more especially to Eurymakhos, and to Antinoos who has just spoken with so much reason. Cease shooting for the present and leave the matter to the gods, but in the morning let heaven give victory to whom it will. For the moment, however, give me the bow that I may prove the power of my hands among you all, and see whether I still have as much strength as I used to have, or whether travel and neglect have made an end of it."

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης·

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·

Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα

λίσσομʼ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,

νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·

ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθʼ ὑμῖν

χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐστὶν

ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,

ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τʼ ἀκομιστίη τε.

This made them all very angry, for they feared he might string the bow; Antinoos therefore rebuked him fiercely saying, "Wretched creature, you have not so much as a grain of sense in your whole body; you ought to think yourself lucky in being allowed to dine unharmed among your betters, without having any smaller portion served you than we others have had, and in being allowed to hear our conversation. No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we say among ourselves; the wine must have been doing you a mischief, as it does with all those drink immoderately. It was wine that inflamed the Centaur Eurytion when he was staying with Peirithoos among the Lapiths. When the wine had got into his head he went mad and did ill deeds about the house of Peirithoos; this grieved [ akhos ] the heroes who were there assembled, so they rushed at him and cut off his ears and nostrils; then they dragged him through the doorway out of the house, so he went away crazed, and bore the burden [ atê ] of his crime, bereft of understanding. Henceforth, therefore, there was war between humankind and the centaurs, but he brought it upon himself through his own drunkenness. In like manner I can tell you that it will go hardly with you if you string the bow: you will find no mercy from any one in our dêmos , for we shall at once ship you off to king Echetos, who kills every one that comes near him: you will never get away alive, so drink and keep quiet without getting into a quarrel with men younger than yourself."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν,

δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἔνι τοι φρένες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί·

οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ 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 μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.

οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,

ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,

ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,

μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·

ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε

ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς

ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.

ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,

οἷ δʼ 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 δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.

Penelope then spoke to him. "Antinoos," said she, "it is not right [ dikaios ] that you should ill-treat any guest of Telemakhos who comes to this house. If the stranger should prove strong [ biê ] enough to string the mighty bow of Odysseus, can you suppose that he would take me home with him and make me his wife? Even the man himself can have no such idea in his mind: none of you need let that disturb his feasting; it would be out of all reason."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον

ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·

ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον

ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας,

οἴκαδέ μʼ ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;

οὐδʼ αὐτός που τοῦτό γʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·

μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γʼ εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων

ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικεν.

"Queen Penelope," answered Eurymakhos, "we do not suppose that this man will take you away with him; it is impossible; but we are afraid lest some of the baser sort, men or women among the Achaeans, should go gossiping about and say, ‘These suitors are a feeble folk; they are paying court to the wife of a brave man whose bow not one of them was able to string, and yet a beggarly tramp who came to the house strung it at once and sent an arrow through the iron.’ This is what will be said, and it will be a scandal against us."

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·

κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,

οὔ τί σε τόνδʼ ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθʼ· οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·

ἀλλʼ 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·

ἀλλʼ ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν

ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου.

ὣς ἐρέουσʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.

"Eurymakhos," Penelope answered, "people who persist in eating up the estate of a great chieftain and dishonoring his house must not expect others in the dêmos to think well of them. Why then should you mind if men talk as you think they will? This stranger is strong and well-built, he says moreover that he is of noble birth. Give him the bow, and let us see whether he can string it or no. I say - and it shall surely be - that if Apollo grants him the glory of stringing it, I will give him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a javelin to keep off dogs and robbers, and a sharp sword. I will also give him sandals, and will see him sent safely wherever he wants to go."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐϋκλεῖας κατὰ δῆμον

ἔμμεναι οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δʼ ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;

οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδʼ εὐπηγής,

πατρὸς δʼ ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.

ἀλλʼ 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 δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,

καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,

πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.

Then Telemakhos said, "Mother, I am the only man either in Ithaca or in the islands that are over against Elis who has the right to let any one have the bow or to refuse it. No one shall force me one way or the other, not even though I choose to make the stranger a present of the bow outright, and let him take it away with him. Go, then, within the house and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants. This bow is a man's matter, and mine above all others, for it is I who am master here."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο

κρείσσων, ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,

οὔθʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,

οὔθʼ ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·

τῶν οὔ τίς μʼ ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωμι

καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.

ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,

ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.

She went wondering back into the house, and laid her son's saying in her heart. Then going upstairs with her handmaids into her room, she mourned her dear husband till Athena sent sweet sleep over her eyelids.

ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·

παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.

ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ

κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον

ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

The swineherd now took up the bow and was for taking it to Odysseus, but the suitors clamored at him from all parts of the cloisters, and one of them said, "You idiot, where are you taking the bow to? Are you out of your wits? If Apollo and the other gods will answer our prayer, your own boarhounds shall get you into some quiet little place, and worry you to death."

αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

πῆ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,

πλαγκτέ; τάχʼ αὖ σʼ ἐφʼ ὕεσσι κύνες ταχέες κατέδονται

οἶον ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἔτρεφες, εἴ κεν Ἀπόλλων

ἡμῖν ἱλήκῃσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

Eumaios was frightened at the outcry they all raised, so he put the bow down then and there, but Telemakhos shouted out at him from the other side of the cloisters, and threatened him saying, "Father Eumaios, bring the bow on in spite of them, or young as I am I will pelt you with stones back to the country, for I am the stronger [ biê ] man of the two. I wish I was as much stronger than all the other suitors in the house as I am than you, I would soon send some of them off sick and sorry, for they mean mischief."

ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ, ὁ θῆκε φέρων αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ,

δείσας, οὕνεκα πολλοὶ ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν.

Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπειλήσας ἐγεγώνει·

ἄττα, πρόσω φέρε τόξα· τάχʼ οὐκ εὖ πᾶσι πιθήσεις

μή σε καὶ ὁπλότερός περ ἐὼν ἀγρόνδε δίωμαι,

βάλλων χερμαδίοισι· βίηφι δὲ φέρτερός εἰμι.

αἲ γὰρ πάντων τόσσον, ὅσοι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔασι,

μνηστήρων χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτερος εἴην·

τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς τινʼ ἐγὼ πέμψαιμι νέεσθαι

ἡμετέρου ἐξ οἴκου, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.

Thus did he speak, and they all of them laughed heartily, which put them in a better humor with Telemakhos; so Eumaios brought the bow on and placed it in the hands of Odysseus. When he had done this, he called Eurykleia apart and said to her, "Eurykleia, Telemakhos says you are to close the doors of the women's apartments. If they hear any groaning or uproar as of men fighting about the house, they are not to come out, but are to keep quiet and stay where they are at their work."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν

μνηστῆρες, καὶ δὴ μέθιεν χαλεποῖο χόλοιο

Τηλεμάχῳ· τὰ δὲ τόξα φέρων ἀνὰ δῶμα συβώτης

ἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι θῆκε παραστάς.

ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·

Τηλέμαχος κέλεταί σε, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,

κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.

ἢν δέ τις ἤ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ

ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε

προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.

Eurykleia did as she was told and closed the doors of the women's apartments.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,

κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.

Meanwhile Philoitios slipped quietly out and made fast the gates of the outer court. There was a ship's cable of papyrus fiber lying in the gatehouse, so he made the gates fast with it and then came in again, resuming the seat that he had left, and keeping an eye on Odysseus, who had now got the bow in his hands, and was turning it every way about, and proving it all over to see whether the worms had been eating into its two horns during his absence. Then would one turn towards his neighbor saying, "This is some tricky old bow-fancier; either he has got one like it at home, or he wants to make one, in such workmanlike style does the old vagabond handle it."

σιγῇ δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,

κλήϊσεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.

κεῖτο δʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης

βύβλινον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἐπέδησε θύρας, ἐς δʼ ἤϊεν αὐτός·

ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη,

εἰσορόων Ὀδυσῆα. ὁ δʼ ἤδη τόξον ἐνώμα

πάντη ἀναστρωφῶν, πειρώμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος.

ὧδε τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

ἦ τις θηητὴρ καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ἔπλετο τόξων·

ἤ ῥά νύ που τοιαῦτα καὶ αὐτῷ οἴκοθι κεῖται

ἢ ὅ γʼ ἐφορμᾶται ποιησέμεν, ὡς ἐνὶ χερσὶ

νωμᾷ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κακῶν ἔμπαιος ἀλήτης.

Another said, "I hope he may be no more successful in other things than he is likely to be in stringing this bow."

ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·

αἲ γὰρ δὴ τοσσοῦτον ὀνήσιος ἀντιάσειεν

ὡς οὗτός ποτε τοῦτο δυνήσεται ἐντανύσασθαι.

But Odysseus, when he had taken it up and examined it all over, strung it as easily as a skilled bard strings a new peg of his lyre and makes the twisted gut fast at both ends. Then he took it in his right hand to prove the string, and it sang sweetly under his touch like the twittering of a swallow. The suitors were dismayed [ akhos ], and turned color as they heard it; at that moment, moreover, Zeus thundered loudly as a sign [ sêma ], and the heart of Odysseus rejoiced as he heard the omen that the son of scheming Kronos had sent him.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν μνηστῆρες· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

αὐτίκʼ ἐπεὶ μέγα τόξον ἐβάστασε καὶ ἴδε πάντη,

ὡς ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ φόρμιγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς

ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ περὶ κόλλοπι χορδήν,

ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἰός,

ὣς ἄρʼ ἄτερ σπουδῆς τάνυσεν μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσεύς.

δεξιτερῇ ἄρα χειρὶ λαβὼν πειρήσατο νευρῆς·

ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισε, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη αὐδήν.

μνηστῆρσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἄχος γένετο μέγα, πᾶσι δʼ ἄρα χρὼς

ἐτράπετο· Ζεὺς δὲ μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε σήματα φαίνων·

γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

ὅττι ῥά οἱ τέρας ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·

He took an arrow that was lying upon the table - for those which the Achaeans were so shortly about to taste were all inside the quiver - he laid it on the center-piece of the bow, and drew the notch of the arrow and the string toward him, still seated on his seat. When he had taken aim he let fly, and his arrow pierced every one of the handle-holes of the axes from the first onwards till it had gone right through them, and into the outer courtyard. Then he said to Telemakhos:

εἵλετο δʼ ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, ὅ οἱ παρέκειτο τραπέζῃ

γυμνός· τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι κοίλης ἔντοσθε φαρέτρης

κείατο, τῶν τάχʼ ἔμελλον Ἀχαιοὶ πειρήσεσθαι.

τόν ῥʼ ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε,

αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος, ἧκε δʼ ὀϊστὸν

ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος, πελέκεων δʼ οὐκ ἤμβροτε πάντων

πρώτης στειλειῆς, διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἦλθε θύραζε

ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής· ὁ δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσέειπε·

Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ σʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐλέγχει

"Your guest has not disgraced you, Telemakhos. I did not miss what I aimed at, and I was not long in stringing my bow. I am still strong, and not as the suitors mock me for being. Now, however, it is time [ hôra ] for the Achaeans to prepare supper while there is still daylight, and then otherwise to disport themselves with song and dance which are the crowning ornaments of a banquet."

ἥμενος, οὐδέ τι τοῦ σκοποῦ ἤμβροτον οὐδέ τι τόξον

δὴν ἔκαμον τανύων· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν,

οὐχ ὥς με μνηστῆρες ἀτιμάζοντες ὄνονται.

νῦν δʼ ὥρη καὶ δόρπον Ἀχαιοῖσιν τετυκέσθαι

ἐν φάει, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄλλως ἑψιάασθαι

μολπῇ καὶ φόρμιγγι· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός.

As he spoke he made a sign with his eyebrows, and Telemakhos girded on his sword, grasped his spear, and stood armed beside his father's seat.

ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσεν· ὁ δʼ ἀμφέθετο ξίφος ὀξὺ

Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,

ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρα φίλην βάλεν ἔγχεϊ, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ

πὰρ θρόνον ἑστήκει κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.