Verse
Odyssey
Book 21, Line 256 by Samuel Butler (English)
"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."
OdysseyBook 21, Line 256Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 21
HomerProseID odyssey-odyssey-butler-en-prose-21-256