Verse
Odyssey
Book 21, Line 118 by Samuel Butler (English)
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:
OdysseyBook 21, Line 118Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 21
HomerProseID odyssey-odyssey-butler-en-prose-21-118