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Meantime the worthy swineherd bore the bow

440

In hand, and all along the palace-halls

The suitor-crew were chiding him aloud,

And thus an insolent youth among them spake : -

"Thou awkward swineherd, whither goest thou

With the curved bow? Thy own fleet dogs which thou

445

Hast reared shall soon devour thee, far from men

And midst thy herds of swine, if we find grace

With Phœbus and the other deathless gods."

Such were their words; the swineherd where he stood

Set down the bow in fear, for many a voice

450

Called to him in the hall. On the other side

Shouted Telemachus with threatening words : -

"Nay, father, carry on the bow, nor think

To stop at every man's command; lest I,

Though younger than thyself, cast stones at thee,

455

And chase thee to the fields, for I in strength

Excel thee. Would that I excelled as far

In strength of arm the suitors in these halls,

Then would I roughly through the palace-gates

Drive many who are plotting mischief now."

460

He spake, and all with hearty laughter heard

His words, and for their sake allowed their wrath

Against the prince to cool. The swineherd went

Forward, along the hall, and, drawing near

The wise Ulysses, gave into his hands

465

The bow; and then he called the nurse aside,

Dame Eurycleia, and bespake her thus:

"Sage Eurycleia, from Telemachus

I charge thee to make fast the solid doors,

And then, if any of the maids should hear

470

A groan or other noise of men within,

Let her not issue forth, but silently

Pursue the task in hand, and keep her place."

He spake, nor were his words in vain. The dame

Made fast the doors of that magnificent hall,

475

While silently Philætius hastened forth

And locked the portals of the high-walled court.

A cable of the bark of Byblos lay

Beneath the portico, - it once had served

A galley, - and with this the herdsman tied

480

The portals, and, returning, took the seat

Whence he had risen, but ever kept his eye

Fixed on his lord. Ulysses, meantime, held

The bow, and, turning it, intently eyed

Side after side, and tried each part in turn,

485

For fear that worms, while he was far away,

Had pierced the horn. At this, a youth among

The suitors, turning to his neighbor, said :

"Lo an inspector and a judge of bows!

Perhaps he has a bow like that at home,

490

Or else would make one like it. How he shifts

The thing with busy hands from side to side,

The vagabond, well trained in knavish tricks!"

Odyssey. Homer. Boston. 1873.

Current edition Experimental

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) (English) (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὀδύσσεια Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 21.354 focus

ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·

παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.

355

ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ

κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον

ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·

μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·

360

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.

365

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,

370

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.

375

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·

380

Τηλέμαχος κέλεταί σε, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,

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.

385

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,

κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.

σιγῇ δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,

κλήϊσεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.

κεῖτο δʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης

390

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.

395

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.

400

Translations (8)

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 21.354 focus

She then, seized with wonder, went back to her chamber, 355 for she laid to heart the wise saying of her son. Up to her upper chamber she went with her handmaids, and then bewailed Odysseus, her dear husband, until flashing-eyed Athena cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids. Now the goodly swineherd had taken the curved bow and was bearing it, 360 but the wooers all cried out in the halls. And thus would one of the proud youths speak: “Whither, pray, art thou bearing the curved bow, miserable swineherd, thou man distraught? Soon by thy swine, alone and apart from men, shall the swift hounds devour thee—hounds thyself didst rear—if but Apollo 365 be gracious to us, and the other immortal gods.” So they spoke, and he set down the bow, as he bore it, in that very place, seized with fear because many men were crying out aloud in the halls. But Telemachus on the other side called out threateningly: “Father, bear the bow onward—soon shalt thou rue giving heed to all— 370 lest, younger though I am, I drive thee to the field, and pelt thee with stones; for in strength I am the better. I would that I were even so much better in strength and might than all the wooers that are in the house; then would I soon send many a one 375 forth from our house to go his way in evil case; for they devise wickedness.” So he spoke, but all the wooers laughed merrily at him, and relaxed the bitterness of their anger against Telemachus. Howbeit the swineherd bore the bow through the hall, and came up to wise Odysseus, and put it in his hands. 380 Then he called forth the nurse Eurycleia, and said to her: “Telemachus bids thee, wise Eurycleia, to bar the close-fitting doors of the hall, and if any of the women hear within groanings or the din of men within our walls, let them not 385 rush out, but remain where they are in silence at their work.” So he spoke, but her word remained unwinged; and she barred the doors of the stately halls. But in silence Philoetius hastened forth from the house, and barred the gates of the well-fenced court. 390 Now there lay beneath the portico the cable of a curved ship, made of byblus plant, wherewith he made fast the gates, and then himself went within. Thereafter he came and sat down on the seat from which he had risen, and gazed upon Odysseus; now he was already handling the bow, turning it round and round, and trying it this way and that, 395 lest worms might have eaten the horns, while its lord was afar. And thus would one speak with a glance at his neighbor: “Verily he has a shrewd eye, and is a cunning knave with a bow. It may be haply that he has himself such bows stored away at home, or else he is minded to make one, that he thus 400 turns it this way and that in his hands, the rascally vagabond.”

Odyssey Perseus (Homer. The Odyssey: rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. Revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. London: A.C. Fifield, 1900.) — 21.359 focus

359 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."

366 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."

376 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."

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

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 21.354 focus

She went wondering back into the house, [355] and laid her son’s saying in her heart. Then going upstairs with her handmaids into her room, she mourned her dear husband till owl-vision Athena sent sweet sleep over her eyelids.

The swineherd now took up the bow and was for taking it to Odysseus, her beloved husband, [360] but the suitors clamored at him from all parts of the halls, and one of them said, “You idiot, where are you taking the bow to? Are you out of your wits? If Apollo [365] and the other gods will grant our prayer, your own boarhounds shall get you into some quiet little place, and worry you to death.”

Eumaios was frightened at the outcry they all raised, so he put the bow down then and there, but Telemachus shouted out at him from the other side of the halls, and threatened him saying, “Father Eumaios, bring the bow on in spite of them, [370] or young as I am I will pelt you with stones back to the country, for I am the stronger [ biē] 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, [375] for they mean mischief.”

Thus did he speak, and they all of them laughed heartily, which put them in a better humor with Telemachus; so Eumaios brought the bow on and placed it in the hands of high-spirited Odysseus. [380] When he had done this, he called Eurykleia apart and said to her, “Circumspect Eurykleia, Telemachus 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 [385] to come out, but are to keep quiet and stay where they are at their work.”

Eurykleia did as she was told and closed the doors of the women’s apartments. Meanwhile Philoitios slipped quietly out and made fast the gates of the outer court. [390] There was a ship’s cable of byblus 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 [395] 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 [400] does the old vagabond handle it.”

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 21.354 focus

Mature beyond his years, the queen admir'd

His sage reply, and with her train retir'd;

There in her chamber as she sate apart,

Revolv'd his words, and placed them in her heart.

On her Ulysses then she fix'd her soul;

385

Down her fair cheek the tears abundant roll,

Till gentle Pallas, piteous of her cries,

In slumber clos'd her silver-streaming eyes.

Now through the press the bow Eumaeus bore,

And all was riot, noise, and wild uproar.

390

"Hold! lawless rustic! whither wilt thou go?

To whom, insensate, dost thou bear the bow?

Exil'd for this to some sequester'd den,

Far from the sweet society of men,

To thy own dogs a prey thou shalt be made;

395

If Heaven and Phœbus lend the suitors aid."

Thus they. Aghast he laid the weapon down,

But bold Telemachus thus urged him on:

"Proceed, false slave, and slight their empty words;

What! hopes the fool to please so many lords?

400

Young as I am, thy prince's vengeful hand

Stretch'd forth in wrath shall drive thee from the land.

Oh! could the vigour of this arm as well

Th' oppressive suitors from my walls expel!

Then what a shoal of lawless men should go

405

To fill with tumult the dark courts below!"

The suitors with a scornful smile survey

The youth, indulging in the genial day.

Eumaeus, thus encouraged, hastes to bring

The strifeful bow, and gives it to the king.

410

Old Euryclea calling then aside,

"Hear what Telemachus enjoins" (he cried):

"At every portal let some matron wait,

And each lock fast the well-compacted gate;

And if unusual sounds invade their ear,

415

If arms, or shouts, or dying groans they hear,

Let none to call or issue forth presume,

But close attend the labours of the loom."

Her prompt obedience on his order waits;

Clos'd in an instant were the palace gates.

420

In the same moment forth Philaetius flies,

Secures the court, and with a cable ties

The utmost gate; (the cable strongly wrought

Of Byblos' reed, a ship from Egypt brought;)

Then unperceiv'd and silent at the board

425

His seat he takes, his eyes upon his lord.

And now his well-known bow the master bore,

Turn'd on all sides, and view'd it o'er and o'er;

Lest time or worms had done the weapon wrong,

Its owner absent, and untried so long.

430

While some deriding—"How he turns the bow!

Some other like it sure the man must know,

Or else would copy; or in bows he deals;

Perhaps he makes them, or perhaps he steals."—

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 21.354 focus

She mused on, and thought his counsel wise ;

And being in her chamber sore did weep

310

For the absence of her husband, till her eyes

By th' Goddess Pallas closed were with sleep.

Eumaeus now had brought the bow about,

And come it was to where Ulysses sat.

The suitors all at once then cried out,

315

Swineherd, rogue, lout, what meanest thou by that ?

If the Gods please to favour our design,

Thou shalt be slain and carried out of sight,

And there devoured be by thy own swine.

This put Eumaeus into a great fright.

320

Telemachus then roar'd on th' other part,

Bear on the bow (t' obey all is not best),

I'll pelt thee, though that thou my elder art,

With stones home to thy hogsties, like a beast;

For I the stronger am. O that I were

325

But so much stronger than these suitors all,

I soon of some of them the house should clear.

They laugh'd at this, and bated of their gall.

Eumaeus then took up the bow agen,

And gave it to Ulysses in his hand.

330

This done, Euryclea he called then.

It is, said he, Telemachus' command

To lock the doors all; and that if you hear

Noise in the house of blows, or groaning men,

Let none go forth, but at their work stay there.

335

This said, Euryclea went in agen,

And locked the doors. Philcetius likewise

Went silently and shut the utter gate,

And with a ship-rope that lay by, it ties,

And coming back sits where before he sate;

340

And look'd upon Ulysses, who, to know

What work the worms had in his absence made;

This way and that way turning was the bow.

At this the suitors one t' another said,

This beggar surely has no little skill

345

In bows or in bow-stealing, or of's own

He has one like 't, or make one like it will,

He doth examine it so up and down.

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 21.354 focus

She stood dismay'd at this, and in her mind

His wise words laid up, standing so inclined

As he had will'd, with all her women going

475

Up to her chamber, there her tears bestowing,

As every night she did, on her loved lord,

Till sleep and Pallas her fit rest restored.

The bow Eumæus took, and bore away;

Which up in tumult, and almost in fray,

480

Put all the Wooers, one enquiring thus:

"Whither, rogue, abject, wilt thou bear from us

That bow proposed? Lay down, or I protest

Thy dogs shall eat thee, that thou nourishest

To guard thy swine; amongst whom, left of all,

485

Thy life shall leave thee, if the festival,

We now observe to Phœbus, may our zeals

Grace with his aid, and all the Deities else."

This threat made good Eumæus yield the bow

To his late place, not knowing what might grow

490

From such a multitude. And then fell on

Telemachus with threats, and said: "Set gone

That bow yet further; 'tis no servant's part

To serve too many masters; raise your heart

And bear it off, lest, though your younger, yet

495

With stones I pelt you to the field with it.

If you and I close, I shall prove too strong.

I wish as much too hard for all this throng

The Gods would make me, I should quickly send

Some after with just sorrow to their end,

500

They waste my victuals so, and ply my cup,

And do me such shrewd turns still." This put up

The Wooers all in laughters, and put down

Their angers to him, that so late were grown

So grave and bloody; which resolved that fear

505

Of good Eumæus, who did take and bear

The King the bow; call'd nurse, and bade her make

The doors all sure, that if men's tumults take

The ears of some within, they may not fly,

But keep at work still close and silently.

510

These words put wings to her, and close she put

The chamber door. The court gates then were shut

By kind Philætius, who straight did go

From out the hall, and in the portico

Found laid a gable of a ship, composed

515

Of spongy bulrushes; with which he closed,

In winding round about them, the court gates,

Then took his place again, to view the fates

That quickly follow'd. When he came, he saw

Ulysses viewing, ere he tried to draw,

520

The famous bow, which every way he moved,

Up and down turning it; in which he proved

The plight it was in, fearing, chiefly, lest

The horns were eat with worms in so long rest.

But what his thoughts intended turning so,

525

And keeping such a search about the bow,

The Wooers little knowing fell to jest,

And said: "Past doubt he is a man profess'd

In bowyers' craft, and sees quite through the wood;

Or something, certain, to be understood

530

There is in this his turning of it still.

A cunning rogue he is at any ill."

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 21.354 focus

She heard astonish'd, and the prudent speech

Reposing of her son deep in her heart,

Withdrew; then mounting with her female train

425

To her superior chamber, there she wept

Her lost Ulysses, till Minerva bathed

With balmy dews of sleep her weary lids.

And now the noble swine-herd bore the bow

Toward Ulysses, but with one voice all

430

The suitors, clamorous, reproved the deed,

Of whom a youth thus insolent exclaim'd.

Thou clumsy swine-herd, whither bear'st the bow,

Delirious wretch? the hounds that thou hast train'd

Shall eat thee at thy solitary home

435

Ere long, let but Apollo prove, at last,

Propitious to us, and the Powers of heaven.

So they, whom hearing he replaced the bow

Where erst he stood, terrified at the sound

Of such loud menaces; on the other side

440

Telemachus as loud assail'd his ear.

Friend! forward with the bow; or soon repent

That thou obey'dst the many. I will else

With huge stones drive thee, younger as I am,

Back to the field. My strength surpasses thine.

445

I would to heaven that I in force excell'd

As far, and prowess, every suitor here!

So would I soon give rude dismission hence

To some, who live but to imagine harm.

He ceased, whose words the suitors laughing heard,

450

And for their sake, in part their wrath resign'd

Against Telemachus; then through the hall

Eumæus bore, and to Ulysses' hand

Consign'd the bow; next summoning abroad

The ancient nurse, he gave her thus in charge.

455

It is the pleasure of Telemachus,

Sage Euryclea! that thou key secure

The doors; and should ye hear perchance a groan

Or other noise made by the Princes shut

Within the hall, let none look curious forth,

460

But each in quietness pursue her work.

So he; nor flew his words useless away,

But she incontinent shut fast the doors.

Then noiseless sprang Philætius forth, who closed

The portals also of the palace-court.

465

A ship-rope of Ægyptian reed, it chanced,

Lay in the vestibule; with that he braced

The doors securely, and re-entering fill'd

Again his seat, but watchful eyed his Lord.

He now assaying with his hand the bow,

470

Made curious trial of it every way,

And turn'd it on all sides, lest haply worms

Had in its master's absence drill'd the horn.

Then thus a suitor to his next remark'd.

He hath an eye methinks exactly skill'd

475

In bows, and steals them; or perhaps at home

Hath such himself, or feels a strong desire

To make them; so inquisitive the rogue

Adept in mischief, shifts it to and fro!

English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (H. B. Cotterill, 1911)) — 21 focus

ODYSSEY BOOK XXI

NOW did a thought that was sent by the grey-eyed goddess Athene

Come to the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelopeia,

Bidding her carry the bow and the cold grey axes of iron

Into the hall for the contest—beginning of death for the suitors.

So by the stair that ascended aloft to her chamber she mounted.

Here with her fair strong hand she selected a well-curved door-key,

Beautiful, bronzen; and fitted thereon was an ivory handle.

Then to the room of the treasure she went with her maiden attendants,

Even the innermost room where stored was the wealth of her husband,

Many a rich-wrought treasure of bronze and of gold and of iron.

Here was the back-bent bow of Odysseus and here was the quiver

Holding the shafts, full many an arrow, the bringer of anguish,

Gifts of a friend he had met when he journeyed to fair Lacedaemon,

Iphitus, Eurytus' son, who was like the immortals of heaven.

Once in Messenian land they had lighted the one on the other,

E'en at the house of the wise prince Orsilochus for Odysseus

Thither had come for a debt that was owing from all of the people,

Since in their well-benched vessels Messenian robbers had carried

Off from the Ithacan isle three hundred sheep with the shepherds.

These to recover Odysseus had come from afar as an envoy.

Though but a lad he was sent by his sire and the rest of the elders.

Iphitus also was there; he had lost, and was seeking, his horses,

Twelve of them, mares, each one with a strong young mule at the udder.

(These same mares proved later his bane and the cause of his murder

While he was guest of the man who was son of Cronion, the dauntless

Hercules—wight that was guilty of many a terrible action;

Yea and he slew him, although as a friend he was there in his homestead,

Wickedly slew him despite of the wrath of the gods and the table

Spread by his hands for a stranger; and, after the man he had murdered,

Also the strong-hoof'd horses he kept for himself at his palace.)

Questing for these he had met with Odysseus, and gave him the weapon,

Even the bow that the great prince Eurytus carried, and later

Left to his son when he died in the high-roofed hall of his homestead.

Him with a sharp-edged sword and a powerful lance did Odysseus

Also present a beginning of intimate friendship; but neither

Shared of the bread of the other before by the son of Cronion

Murdered was Iphitus, Eurytus' son, who was like the immortals.

Such was the friend who had given the bow; but the godlike Odysseus

Never, when warring he went and aboard of his black-hulled vessels,

Took it, but aye it remained, of his well-loved friend a remembrance,

Lying at home, or alone in his native country he bare it.

Now when she came to the room of the treasure, that fairest of women,

Up to the threshold of oak she advanced, which once by the joiner

Smoothly was planed and was cut to the line with the skill of a master

(Posts he had fitted thereto and the glittering doors to the door-posts).

Straightway deftly she loosened the strap that was bound to the handle;

Then she inserted the key, and the bolt of the portal she shot back,

Pressing with accurate aim; and as grazing alone in a meadow

Bellows a bull, thus bellowed the doors of the beautiful portal,

Smit by the stroke of the key; and they both flew open before her.

Then on the high-built dais she stept, where many a coffer

Stood, in the which were lying her treasures of fragrant apparel.

Here outstretching her hand to the bow of Odysseus, she took it

Off from the peg where sheathed in its glittering case it was hanging.

Then did she seat her, and laying it down on her knees she beheld it

Bitterly weeping, and drew from its cover the bow of her husband,

Till, when at last she had sated her soul with her weeping and wailing,

Back to the hall she betook her and came to the arrogant suitors

Bearing the back-bent bow, and carrying also the quiver

Laden with shafts—full many an arrow, the bringer of anguish.

Maidens as well came after her bearing a basket with treasures,

Iron and bronze, full many a prize once gained by Odysseus.

So when at last she had come to the suitors, that fairest of women

Stood by the post of the door of the massively builded apartment,

Holding in front of her cheeks soft folds of her glistering head-dress.

There as she stood, with a trusty attendant on this and on that side,

Straightway unto the suitors she spake, and thus she addressed them :

"Listen, ye arrogant suitors incessantly haunting my homestead,

Vexing it ever and ever again with your bouts and your banquets

These long years that my lord was away—and never a pretext

Other in all that ye said did ye offer (nor could ye invent one)

Save that ye longed to possess me as wife and to force me to marry.

Come now, suitors! Behold, since such is the prize ye compete for,

Here is the bow of the godlike Odysseus! I lay it before you.

Who with his hands most easily stringeth the bow of my husband,

Should he be able to shoot clean through all twelve of the axes,

Him will I follow as wife, and shall bid farewell to this mansion,

Beautiful, beautiful home of my girlhood, abounding in comfort,

Home that I often in future, methinks, in my dreams shall remember."

Thus did she speak, and she bade Eumaeus, the good old swineherd,

Place for the suitors the bow and the cold grey axes of iron.

Bursting in tears Eumaeus received them and laid them in order.

Also the cowherd lamented, beholding the bow of his master.

Then spake Antinous and addressed them and rudely rebuked them:

“ Babies and boors, that regard but the things of the day as it passeth!

Wherefore, you couple of blubbering fools, thus trouble the lady,

Stirring the heart in her bosom again, when her spirit already

Lay o'erwhelmed in its grief at the loss of her well-loved husband?

Nay now, sit at the feast and be silent—or, must ye be weeping,

Get to the door and be gone!—But the bow .. ye can leave it behind you.

Fatal, methinks, 'twill prove as a test for the suitors. I trow not

Easy to bend and to string is the smooth-wrought bow that I see there.

Yea, for of all of us here there's never a man that is present

Such as of yore was Odysseus. I saw him myself and remember,

Well I remember, although I was only a child when I saw him."

Thus did he speak, while deep in his heart he was hoping to prove him

First of his fellows at stringing the bow and at piercing the axes.

Ay but as first of them all he was fated to taste of an arrow

Sped by the hands of the noble Odysseus, whom lately he flouted,

Sitting at meat in his hall and inciting the others against him.

100

Then spake Telemachus, young valiant prince, to the suitors :

"Heavens! it seemeth that Father Cronion has robbed me of reason!

Here is my own dear mother, although of a good understanding,

Saying she meaneth to follow a stranger and part from her homestead.

Yea and I laugh and rejoice when I hear it as reft of my senses!

105

Well now, suitors, behold! Since such is the prize ye compete for,

Even a lady unrivalled in all of the land of Achaea,

Also in Pylos the fair, and in Argive land and Mycene,

Nay on the Ithacan island itself and the dim dark mainland—

Ah, but ye know it yourselves, and my praise of my mother is needleess.

110

Come, and delay no more with excuses! Arise, and defer not

Longer the trial of stringing the bow! Let us see what shall happen!

Ay and myself were fain to attempt this bow of my father.

Should I be able to string it and pierce with an arrow the axes,

Then shall my mother the queen not leave me alone in my sorrow,

115

Quitting her home as the wife of a stranger, nor leave me behind her,

Should I be able to win me the glorious arms of my father."

E'en as he spake from his neck he unfastened his mantle of crimson,

Sprang to his feet, and unbuckled the sharp-edged sword from his shoulder.

Firstly the axes he fixed in the ground in a trench that he hollowed,

120

One long trench for them all, and straight in a line he arranged them,

Stamping around them the earth—And astonishment seized the beholders,

Seeing him set them in order, although he had learnt it from no one.

Then to the threshold he went and to master the bow he attempted.

Thrice did he make it to quiver in trying to pull it towards him,

125

Thrice did his strength give way; but he hoped natheless in his spirit

Still to be able to string it and pierce with an arrow the axes;

Yea he had strung it perhaps, for the fourth time mightily tugging,

Had not his eager attempt been checked by a nod from Odysseus.

Then did the valiant prince once more to the suitors address him:

130

"Heavens, methinks I shall prove in the end but a coward and weakling!

Else, maybe, I am still but a youth, nor as yet can I trust me

Unto the strength of my hands, should any assail me in anger.

Come now, ye that excel me in bodily strength and in manhood,

Make an essay of the bow! Let us hasten to finish the contest!"

135

These words spoken, the bow from his hands he surrender'd, and placed it

Leaning aslant on the door smooth-polished and finely compacted;

Also the shaft keen-pointed he propped by the beautiful bow-tip.

So he reseated himself on the chair from the which he had risen.

Then spake Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed them :

140

"Rise now, all of my mates! From the left hand make a beginning,

E'en from the place at the which he beginneth that filleth the wine-cups."

So spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.

First of them Oenops' son, Leiodes, rose at his bidding.

He was the priest and diviner, and nigh to the beautiful wine-bowl

145

Innermost ever he sat; and alone in his heart he detested

All the infatuate deeds of the suitors, and viewed them with anger.

Such was the man who was foremost to handle the bow and the arrow.

Up to the threshold he went, and to master the bow he attempted,

Nor was he able to string it, for ere it was bent he was weary

150

Straining his unworn delicate hands; and he said to the suitors:

"Friends, I am wholly unable to string it. I leave it to others.

Ay and this weapon shall rob full many a man, and a brave one,

Soon of his life and his spirit. Indeed far better I hold it

So to be slain than to live and for ever to fail in obtaining

155

All that we vainly expected resorting incessantly hither.

Many a man of us still has a hope in his heart and a longing

Penelopeia to marry, the wife of the godlike Odysseus

Yet I believe when he seeth the bow and essayeth to bend it

Then 'twere wiser a wife of the long-robed maids of Achaea

160

Other to seek and to win with his bride-gifts, letting the lady

Marry the wooer that giveth the most and is destined to wed her."

These words spoken, the bow from his hands he surrender'd and placed it

Leaning aslant on the door smooth-polished and finely compacted;

Also the shaft keen-pointed he propped by the beautiful bow-tip.

165

So he reseated himself on the chair from the which he had risen.

Then spake Antinous and addressed him and rudely rebuked him:

"Leiodes, what word from the door of thy lips hath escaped thee?

Grievous, insulting, I hold it. It rouses my anger to hear thee.

What! shall a bow like this rob many a man and a brave one

170

Soon of his life and his spirit because thou failest to bend it ?

Navy, at thy birth, I assure thee, the lady thy mother produced not

One that was meant for a drawer of bows or a shooter of arrows.

Others among the illustrious suitors will easily string it."

Thus did he speak, and he called to Melanthius master of goatherds:

175

"Ho there! kindle a flame on the hearth of the palace, Melantheus!

Station a good-sized settle anigh with a cover of sheepskin,

Fetch us moreover a ball of the fat that is stored in the larder;

Then shall the young men melt it, and oiling the bow with the unguent

Make an essay at the stringing and speedily finish the contest."

180

Quick at the word was rekindled the restless flame by Melantheus.

Nigh it a good-sized settle he placed with a cover of sheepskin;

Also he fetched them a ball of the fat that was stored in the larder.

This did the young men melt, and they made the attempt; but they could not

String it. The strength for the feat was in all of them utterly wanting.

185

Antinous held back and Eurymachus the heroic,

Chief of the suitors and stronger by far than the others and braver.

Now those twain had withdrawn them, the one by the side of the other,

Even the cowherd and also the swineherd of godlike Odysseus.

Following after them went from the palace Odysseus the hero,

190

Till, when at length they had passed outside of the gate and the courtyard,

Then he uplifted his voice and with words right gentle addressed them :

"Cowherd, and thou, Eumaeus, a thing I am wishing to tell you.

Or shall I hide it within me? My spirit commands me to say it.

What is it like you'd prove in assisting Odysseus, if haply

195

All of a sudden he came from afar and a deity brought him?

Would ye decide on defending the suitors or helping Odysseus?

Speak to me openly! Answer as heart and as spirit command you."

Him gave answer the man who as cowherd tended the cattle:

"Zeus, our Father! if only thou gav'st this prayer a fulfilment :

200

O for the master to come! to be brought by a deity hither!

Then thou'dst learn of my strength and behold how ready my hands be!"

Likewise spake Eumaeus, and calling on all the immortals

Prayed for Odysseus the wise to return once more to his homeland.

Now when we saw that the hearts of the men were steadfastly loyal,

205

Once more speaking he gave them an answer, and thus he addressed them :

"Lo, it is I that am here in my home! Great hardships I suffered.

Now in the twentieth year I am come to the land of my fathers.

Yea and I know that my coming is wished for by none of the others,

Only by you of my thralls; for I hear none other beside you

210

Offering prayer to the gods to restore me again to my homeland.

Only to you will I say what shall happen and truly disclose it.

Should God grant it indeed that I vanquish the arrogant suitors,

Each of you then I will give an estate, and a wife I shall give him;

Homes near mine ye shall have new-builded, and ever in future

215

Even as comrades and brothers of Telemachus I shall treat you.

Come now, also a proof I will give you infallibly certain,

So that ye surely shall know me and feel in your hearts an assurance.

Here is the wound which once by a boar's white tusk was inflicted

While with the sons I was hunting of Autolycus on Parnassus."

220

Spake, and withdrawing his rags from the wound's great scar he disclosed it.

Then those twain, when they looked at it well and had marked it for certain,

Sobbed as they fell on the neck of Odysseus the wise and embraced him,

Lovingly kissing his head and his shoulders in token of welcome.

So did Odysseus as well, and kissed them on hand and on forehead;

225

Yea and the light of the sun were set on the long lamentation

Had not Odysseus himself thus bid them refrain and addressed them :

"Cease ye from wailing and weeping, I pray, lest any perceive it

Issuing forth from the hall, and return to the house and inform them.

Now let us enter again, not going together, but singly,

230

Firstly myself, then you; and let this be arranged and agreed to :

None, I am sure, of the others (I mean of the arrogant suitors)

E'er will allow that the bow shall be placed in my hands, or the quiver.

Therefore, my good Eumaeus, when bearing it round in the palace

Manage to give me the bow in my hands; then order the women,

235

Carefully barring the doors fast-closed of the inner apartment,

There to remain ; and if any shall notice a din or a groaning

Here in the hall of the men, let her nowise venture to issue

Forth of her chamber, but still at her task keep silently working.

Thou, O honest Philoetius, see to the gate of the courtyard;

240

Shut it and bolt it and fasten a rope right firmly about it."

These words spoken, he entered the pleasant abodes of the palace;

There he reseated himself on the chair from the which he had risen.

Likewise entered the twain—those thralls of the godlike Odysseus.

Now it was Eurymachus that was trying the bow, and on all sides

245

Warming it, holding it close to the heat of the flame; but to string it

E'en thus wholly he failed; and he groaned in his valiant spirit

Sorely enraged, and aloud to the others he called and addressed them :

"Heavens! I truly am grieved for myself and for all of you others.

Not for my marriage so much I lament, though great is my sorrow;

250

Many a woman is yet to be found of the race of Achaea

Here in the sea-girt Ithacan isle and in many a city.

Rather I grieve that in strength we're wholly unable to vie with

Godlike Odysseus; for here is his bow, and we have not the power

Even to string it—a thing that with men unborn will disgrace us."

255

Then spake Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed him :

"No, no, Eurymachus! it shall never be thus—and thou know'st it.

Even to-day in the land is the feast of the Archer Apollo,

Festival solemn, on which none bendeth a bow. Let us calmly

Lay it aside; and the axes methinks 'twere better to leave them

260

Just so standing, for none, I am sure, will be likely to steal them,

Venturing nigh to the house of Odysseus the son of Laertes.

Come, let the bearer of wine now prime us the cups for libation.

After the wine we will stow us the well-cooked bow, and will order

Early the morrow Melanthius master of goatherds to bring us

265

Goats, prime beasts, from the whole of his flock as the fattest selected.

So we shall offer the meat of the thighs to the Archer Apollo,

Then once more of the bow make trial and finish the contest."

Thus spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.

Forthwith water was poured on the hands of the guests by the henchmen;

270

Then did the pages, upwreathing on high with the liquor the wine-bowls,

Bear it around to them all, first priming the cups for libation.

Now when at last they had poured and had drunk to their souls' satisfaction,

Thus with a crafty design deep-plotting Odysseus addressed them

"List to my words, O suitors of far-famed Penelopeia,

275

So that I utter a thing that the heart in my bosom commands me.

Chiefly to Eurymachus and to Antinous the heroic

Now I direct my request, for in this he has spoken with reason,

Bidding you cease the essay of the bow and to leave it to heaven;

God will to-morrow the victory grant to the man that he chooseth.

280

Give me however the weapon—the smooth-wrought bow. I will test me

Here in your presence my hands and my strength, if I still am possessed of

Power as once in the supple and well-knit limbs of my body,

Or if a wanderer's life with its beggarly fare hath destroyed it."

Thus did he speak; and they all were filled with unspeakable anger,

285

Fearing the smooth-wrought bow might haply be strung by the stranger.

Then spake Antinous and addressed him and loudly rebuked him:

"Wretched ridiculous stranger! thy wits seem utterly wanting.

Art not content to be sitting at ease midst nobles and princes

Here at the banquet and share in the feast? Wilt also be spying,

290

Listing to all that we say and converse? None other beside thee,

Being a stranger and beggar as thou, e'er ventured to listen.

Wine honey-sweet hath infected thy senses, as many a mortal

Often it harms if he drains it in greedy immoderate potions.

Wine was the bane that distracted the wits of the Centaur, the famous

295

Eurytion, in the palace of Peirithous great-hearted,

While in the Lapithan land; for when wine had confounded his senses

Roused to a fury he wrought foul deeds in the house of the monarch.

Wrath then fell on the band of the heroes: rising in anger

Out of the house by the portal they dragged him, his ears and his nostrils

300

Shorn by the pitiless steel; and with wits distracted he wandered

Bearing the load of his sin with a mind that was weakened by madness.

Hence the beginning was made of the quarrel of men with the Centaurs;

Yea and he first on himself brought ruin when maddened by drinking.

Also for thee great woe I predict if thou haply accomplish

305

Stringing the bow; for of none thou shalt gain thee protection and kindness

Here in the land, but anon in a black-hulled ship we shall send thee

Over to Echetus, king of the mainland and maimer of mortals,

Whence thou shalt never escape with thy life. So quietly sit there!

Drink an thou wilt, but incite not a quarrel with men that be younger!"

310

Him forthwith gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia :

"Antinous, 'twere truly a wrong and unfair to refuse him,

Being the guest of my son, like others that come to the palace.

Weenst thou perhaps, if the stranger in stringing the bow of Odysseus

Were to succeed, on his hands and his strength not vainly relying,

315

Me he shall lead to his home and shall make me his consort? I trow not!

Neither, methinks, doth he hope it himself in the depth of his bosom.

Wherefore none of you fret at the thought nor be troubled in spirit

While at the banquet ye sit. 'Twere possible never and nowise!"

Then spake Polybus' son, prince Eurymachus, and addressed her :

320

"Daughter of Icarius, O wise-souled Penelopeia,

Ne'er did we think of his leading thee home—may heaven forfend it!

Only we dreaded the talk and the tattle of men and of women,

Lest it be said some day by an evilly-minded Achaean

'Lo these fellows a-wooing the wife of a man that excels them

325

Greatly—for even his bow they're wholly unable to string it,

While that a stranger that came to the palace, a beggarly vagrant,

Easily strung it and pierced with an arrow the axes of iron.'

Thus will they speak, and for us such words would prove a dishonour."

Him forthwith gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia:

330

"Eurymachus, fair fame in the land would never be given

Unto the men that, affronting the chief of the people as ye do,

Ruin his home. Then why do ye deem such words a dishonour ?

Lo, this stranger is tall; well built is his body and stalwart ;

Also he claims as his father a man that was brave and was upright.

335

Give him the smooth-wrought bow! Navy, give! Let us see what will happen.

This one thing will I say—it will certainly find a fulfilment:

Should he be able to string it and win such fame of Apollo,

Then I shall clothe him in beautiful raiment, in mantle and tunic,

Give him moreover a lance that from men and from dogs shall protect him,

340

Ay and a two-edged sword, and shall also provide him with sandals.

Then I shall send him wherever his heart and his spirit shall call him."

Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:

"Mother, of all the Achaeans is none entitled as I be

Either to offer the bow to a man as I wish or refuse it.

345

No one—neither the chiefs that in rockbound Ithaca lord it,

Nor in the isles off Elian land, which pastureth horses—

None of them, none, shall compel me unwilling if even I purpose

Once and for all to bestow on the stranger the bow as a present.

Now to thy chamber return and attend to thy own occupation,

350

Even the loom and the distaff, and order thy maiden attendants

Keep to their tasks; we men will attend to the bow and the shooting,

All of us—chiefly myself; it is I that am lord of the household."

Full of amazement she turned her to go to the women's apartment,

Hiding the masterful words of her son deep down in her bosom.

355

So, to her upper apartment ascending with maiden attendants,

Here she lamented Odysseus, her well-loved husband, till gently

Slumber was poured on her lids by the grey-eyed goddess Athene.

Now when the good old swineherd had taken the bow to convey it

Unto the stranger a tumult was raised in the hall by the suitors,

360

Many an insolent youth in the midst of them loudly exclaiming:

"Where art thou taking the bow, thou detestable wretch of a swineherd?

Vagabond! Soon shall the dogs thou hast bred as a guard of thy pig-sties

Tear thee in pieces afar from the dwellings of man, if Apollo

Showeth us favour, as well as the other immortals in heaven."

365

Thus did they speak, and at once did the swineherd who carried it lay it

Down in alarm, since many with clamour assailed him ; but straightway

Telemachus, who was standing apart, spake threatening loudly :

"Come, dad, bring it along! Thou'lt find it unpleasant obeying

Every master that calls. Take care, or I surely shall chase thee

370

Out to the fields and shall pelt thee with stones. I am younger and stronger.

Ay and I would 'twere so with the suitors frequenting my homestead!

Would I excelled them as much in the strength of my arm and in manhood.

Soon were many a one sent forth on a road that he likes not

Out of my palace, for nought they imagine but evil against me."

375

Thus did he speak, but the whole of the suitors as soon as they heard him

Merrily laughed, and allayed was the grievous wrath that their bosoms

Harboured for Telemachus; and the swineherd approaching anigh him

Unto Odysseus the wise gave over the bow and the arrows.

Then did he call forth Eurycleia the nurse and address her :

380

"Telemachus commandeth thee, wise-souled Eurycleia,

Carefully barring the doors fast-closed of the inner apartment,

There to remain; and if any shall notice a din and a groaning

Here in the hall of the men, let her nowise venture to issue

Forth of her chamber, but still at her task keep silently working."

385

PATTEN WILSON.
THE STRINGING OF THE BOW

Thus did he speak, and the words that he uttered abode with her wingless.

Firmly she bolted the doors of the fair-built women's apartment.

Then right stealthily out of the mansion Philoetius hastened;

Firmly he bolted the gate of the well-fenced palace enclosure.

Under the portal was lying a rope of a twy-beaked galley

390

Made of papyrus; with this when the gates he had lashed he re-entered;

Here he reseated himself on the chair from the which he had risen,

Gazing intent at Odysseus, for now with the bow he was busy,

Turning it hither and thither, to test it on this and on that side,

Lest in his absence the worms peradventure had eaten the horn-tips.

395

Meantime many a suitor was muttering thus to his neighbour :

"Truly a judge of a bow and a cunning adept he appeareth!

Either perhaps he possesses a weapon as this in his homestead,

Else he intendeth to make him the like. How deftly he holds it,

Turning it hither and thither, the knowing and mischievous vagrant!"

400

Then would others again of the insolent youths make answer :

"O for this fellow to gain from the gods all profit and glory

Just in the selfsame measure wherein he succeeds with the stringing!"

Such words uttered the suitors. But now deep-plotting Odysseus,

After with care he had handled the great strong bow and had viewed it,

405

E'en as a man that is skilled with the lute and is practised in singing

Easily stretches the string on a new-made peg of his phorminx,

After attaching the ends of the chord tight-twisted of sheepgut,

Thus with the great strong bow did Odysseus, and easily strung it.

Then with his right hand seizing it firmly he tested the bowstring.

410

Under his touch full sweetly it sang, as the voice of a swallow.

Now fell mighty confusion and rage on the suitors: their visage

Changed; while Zeus from the sky crashed terribly, giving a warning.

Greatly exulting thereat long-suffering godlike Odysseus,

Knowing the signal was sent by the all-wise Father Cronion,

415

Seized on the keen-edged arrow that lay on the table beside him

Bare (in the hollow quiver anigh lay all of the others,

Ready—and soon it was fated for many Achaeans to taste them).

Laying the shaft on the bridge and pulling the notch with the bowstring,

E'en from the chair on the which he was sitting he shot, and the arrow

420

Sped with an accurate aim, and it pierced through all of the axes

Right from the first of the helves—straight through them; & out of the last one

Issued the bronze-tipped bolt; and to Telemachus he addressed him:

"Telemachus, thou art nowise shamed by the guest that is sitting

Here in thy palace. I missed not the mark that was set me and laboured

425

Little at stringing the bow, for my strength is as sound as aforetime,

Not as the suitors assert with a scornful despite, to insult me.

Now is the moment at hand! Let us serve the Achaeans their supper

While it is day!—and when supper is done find other amusement,

Singing and dancing—for these are ever the crown of a banquet."

430

Speaking, he nodded. At once, with his sharp sword girded about him,

Telemachus, dear son of the godlike hero Odysseus,

Laying his hand on a spear, sprang forth to the side of his father;

There by a chair on the threshold he stood with his glittering weapons.

Homer Odyssey 21.354

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ODYSSEY BOOK XXI

PATTEN WILSON.
THE STRINGING OF THE BOW

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ODYSSEY BOOK XXI

PATTEN WILSON. THE STRINGING OF THE BOW

Stable identifiers

PATTEN WILSON.
THE STRINGING OF THE BOW