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This said, she made Eumæus give it them.

He took and laid it by, and wept for woe;

And like him wept Philœtius, when the bow

Of which his king was bearer he beheld.

Their tears Antinous' manhood much refell'd,

120

And said: "Ye rustic fools! that still each day

Your minds give over to this vain dismay,

Why weep ye, wretches, and the widow's eyes

Tempt with renew'd thought, that would otherwise

Depose her sorrows, since her lord is dead,

125

And tears are idle? Sit, and eat your bread,

Nor whisper more a word; or get ye gone,

And weep without doors. Let this bow alone

To our out-match'd contention. For I fear

The bow will scarce yield draught to any here;

130

Here no such man lives as Laertes' son

Amongst us all. I knew him; thought puts on

His look's sight now, methinks, though then a child."

Thus show'd his words doubt, yet his hopes instill'd

His strength the stretcher of Ulysses' string,

135

And his steels' piercer. But his shaft must sing

Through his pierced palate first; whom so he wrong'd

In his free roof, and made the rest ill-tongued

Against his virtues. Then the sacred heat

That spirited his son did further set

140

Their confidence on fire, and said: "O friends,

Jove hath bereft my wits. The Queen intends,

Though I must grant her wise, ere long to leave

Court Ulysses' court, and to her bed receive

Some other lord; yet, notwithstanding, I

145

Am forced to laugh, and set my pleasures high

Like one mad sick. But, Wooers, since ye have

An object for your trials now so brave,

As all the broad Achaian earth exceeds,

As sacred Pylos, as the Argive breeds,

150

As black Epirus, as Mycena's birth,

And as the more famed Ithacensian earth,

All which, yourselves well know, and oft have said—

For what need hath my mother of my aid

In her advancement?—tender no excuse

155

For least delay, nor too much time profuse

In stay to draw this bow, but draw it straight,

Shoot, and the steels pierce; make all see how slight

You make these poor bars to so rich a prize.

No eag'rer yet? Come on. My faculties

160

Shall try the bow's strength, and the pierced steel.

I will not for my reverend mother feel

The sorrows that I know will seize my heart,

To see her follow any, and depart

From her so long-held home; but first extend

165

The bow and arrow to their tender'd end.

For I am only to succeed my sire

In guard of his games, and let none aspire

To their besides possession." This said,

Odyssey. Homer. ed. George Chapman. London. 1857.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) (English) (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857))

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.) — 21.80 focus

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.

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.

100

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.

105

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;

110

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

115

λείποι ἅμʼ ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσʼ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην

οἷός τʼ ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλʼ ἀνελέσθαι.

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.) — 21.80 focus

80 So she spoke, and bade Eumaeus, the goodly swineherd, set for the wooers the bow and the grey iron. And, bursting into tears, Eumaeus took them and laid them down, and in another place the neatherd wept, when he saw the bow of his lord. Then Antinous rebuked them, and spoke, and addressed them: 85 “Foolish boors, who mind only the things of the day! Wretched pair, why now do you shed tears, and trouble the soul in the breast of the lady, whose heart even as it is lies low in pain, seeing that she has lost her dear husband? Nay, sit and feast in silence, 90 or else go forth and weep, and leave the bow here behind as a decisive¹ contest for the wooers; for not easily, methinks, is this polished bow to be strung. For there is no man among all these here such as Odysseus was, and I myself saw him. 95 For I remember him, though I was still but a child.” So he spoke, but the heart in his breast hoped that he would string the bow and shoot an arrow through the iron. Yet verily he was to be the first to taste of an arrow from the hands of noble Odysseus, whom then he, 100 as he sat in the halls, was dishonoring, and urging on all his comrades. Then among them spoke the strong and mighty Telemachus: “Lo now, of a truth Zeus, son of Cronos, has made me witless. My dear mother, for all that she is wise, declares that she will follow another lord, forsaking this house; 105 yet I laugh, and am glad with a witless mind. Come then, ye wooers, since this is shewn to be your prize, a lady, the like of whom is not now in the Achaean land, neither in sacred Pylos , nor in Argos , nor in Mycene, nor yet in Ithaca itself, nor in the dark mainland. 110 Nay, but of yourselves you know this—what need have I to praise my mother? Come then, put not the matter aside with excuses, nor any more turn away too long from the drawing of the bow, that we may see the issue. Yea, and I would myself make trial of yon bow. If I shall string it and shoot an arrow through the iron, 115 it will not vex me that my honored mother should leave this house and go along with another, seeing that I should be left here able now to wield the goodly battle-gear of my father.”

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.) — 21.96 focus

96 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.

101 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."

118 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:

131 "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."

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 21.80 focus

As she spoke, she told Eumaios the noble swineherd 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. [85] “You country louts,” said he, “inept 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 [90] outside if you want to cry, and leave the bow behind you. We suitors shall have to engage in a contest [ āthlos] 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 [95] and remember him, though I was then only a child.”

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 blameless Odysseus, whom he was dishonoring [100] in his own house—egging the others on to do so also.

Then the hallowed prince Telemachus spoke. “Skies above!” he exclaimed, “Zeus, son of Kronos, must have robbed me of my senses. Here is my dear and excellent mother saying she will quit this house and marry again, [105] yet I am laughing and enjoying myself as though there were nothing happening. But, suitors, as the contest [ āthlos] 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. [110] 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, [115] 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.”

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 21.80 focus

She spake, and bade the master of the swine,

100

The good Eumæus, place the bow and rings

Of hoary steel before the suitor-train.

In tears he bore the bow and laid it down.

The herdsman also wept to see again

His master's bow. Antinoüs called to both

105

With a loud voice, and chid them angrily: -

"Ye silly rustics, who can never see

Beyond the hour, why trouble with your tears

The lady who had grief enough besides

For her lost husband? Sit and share the feast

110

In silence, or go forth and leave the bow;

A difficult contest it will be for us,

Nor, as I think, will this fair bow be bent

With ease, since surely there is no man here

Such as Ulysses was. I saw him once,

115

While but a child, and still remember him."

He spake, yet in his secret heart believed

That he should bend the bow, and send a shaft

Through all the rings. And yet he was the first

To taste the steel, - an arrow from the hand

120

Of the great chief Ulysses, whom he wronged

In his own palace, and to equal wrong

Encouraged others. Then Telemachus

Rose in his sacred might, and thus began :-

"Alas! it must be that Saturnian Jove

125

Has made me lose my wits. Wise as she is,

My mother promises to leave her home

And follow some one else, and yet I laugh,

And am delighted in my foolish heart.

Come then, since such a contest is proposed,

130

Ye suitors! and for such a woman too.

The like is not in all the lands of Greece,

Argos, Mycenæ, or the hallowed shore

Of Pylos, or in Ithaca itself,

Or the dark mainland coast. Ye know it well;

135

Why should I praise my mother? Come then, all;

Let there be no excuses for delay,

Nor longer leave the bow untried, that we

May see the event. I too am moved to try;

And if I bend the bow, and send a shaft

140

Through all the rings, my gracious mother then

Will not, to my great grief, renounce her home,

And, following another, leave me here,

Although my prowess even now might win

The glorious prizes that my father won."

145

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 21.80 focus

Graceful she said, and bade Eumaeus show

The rival peers the ringlets and the bow.

From his full eyes the tears unbidden spring,

Touch'd at the dear memorials of his king.

Philaetius too relents, but secret shed

The tender drops. Antinoüs saw, and said:

"Hence to your fields, ye rustics! hence away,

Nor stain with grief the pleasures of the day:

Nor to the royal heart recal in vain

The sad remembrance of a perish'd man.

Enough her precious tears already flow:

Or share the feast with due respect, or go

To weep abroad, and leave to us the bow:

No vulgar task! Ill suits this courtly crew

That stubborn horn which brave Ulysses drew.

I well remember, (for I gazed him o'er

While yet a child,) what majesty he bore!

And still (all infant as I was) retain

The port, the strength, the grandeur of the man."

He said, but in his soul fond joys arise,

100

And his proud hopes already win the prize.

To speed the flying shaft through every ring,

Wretch! is not thine: the arrows of the king

Shall end those hopes, and fate is on the wing!

Then thus Telemachus: "Some god I find

105

With pleasing frenzy has possess'd my mind;

When a lov'd mother threatens to depart,

Why with this ill-timed gladness leaps my heart?

Come then, ye suitors! and dispute a prize

Richer than all th' Achaian state supplies,

110

Than all proud Argos or Mycaena knows,

Than all our isles or continents inclose:

A woman matchless, and almost divine,

Fit for the praise of every tongue but mine.

No more excuses then, no more delay;

115

Haste to the trial—Lo! I lead the way.

I too may try, and if this arm can wing

The feather'd arrow through the destin'd ring,

Then, if no happier knight the conquest boast,

I shall not sorrow for a mother lost;

120

But, bless'd in her, possess these arms alone,

Heir of my father's strength, as well as throne."

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 21.80 focus

This said, Eumseus th' axes and the bow

By her command unto the suitors bears;

And as he went, his eyes for grief o'erflow,

Nor could Philœtius abstain from tears;

For which Antinous gave them this reproof:

You foolish clowns, what ails you to shed tears ?

Has she not for her husband grief enough?

That you must add your sorrow unto hers.

Sit silently, eat and drink quietly;

Or if you needs must weep, go weep without.

Leave the bow here, the suitors' strength to try,

And that it may be carried round about.

Not that I think there's any man among

Us all can bend it as Ulysses could:

For I remember him though I were young.

So said he; though he thought he bend it should,

And also shoot through th' axes every one,

Though he were only the first to be shot.

For he the other suitors had set on,

And was the first contriver of the plot.

Telemachus then to the suitors spake:

Sure Jove, said he, bereav d me has of sense;

My mother tells me she'll a husband take,

And, leaving me, depart with him from hence;

And I here merry am that should be sad.

But be't as ’t will, the game must now begin,

For such a wife as ne'er Achaia had,

Nor in Mysen or Argos was e'er seen,

Nor Pyle, nor Ithaca, nor in Epire.

But what need I set forth my mother's praise ?

You know't yourselves. Therefore I you desire

To put off all excuses and delays.

And I myself will be the first to try

This mighty bow, whether I can or no,

And through the axes make the arrow fly.

'Twill grieve me less to let my mother go ;

100

Since I have strength to bend my father's bow,

Why should I doubt of governing his state ?

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 21.80 focus

So saying, she bade Eumæus lay the bow

Before them, and the twice six rings of steel.

He wept, received them, and obey'd; nor wept

The herdsman less, seeing the bow which erst

His Lord had occupied; when at their tears

Indignant, thus, Antinoüs began.

Ye rural drones, whose purblind eyes see not

Beyond the present hour, egregious fools!

100

Why weeping trouble ye the Queen, too much

Before afflicted for her husband lost?

Either partake the banquet silently,

Or else go weep abroad, leaving the bow,

That stubborn test, to us; for none, I judge,

105

None here shall bend this polish'd bow with ease,

Since in this whole assembly I discern

None like Ulysses, whom myself have seen

And recollect, though I was then a boy.

He said, but in his heart meantime the hope

110

Cherish'd, that he should bend, himself, the bow,

And pass the rings; yet was he destined first

Of all that company to taste the steel

Of brave Ulysses' shaft, whom in that house

He had so oft dishonour'd, and had urged

115

So oft all others to the like offence.

Amidst them then the sacred might arose

Of young Telemachus, who thus began.

Saturnian Jove questionless hath deprived

Me of all reason. My own mother, famed

120

For wisdom as she is, makes known to all

Her purpose to abandon this abode

And follow a new mate, while heedless I

Trifle and laugh as I were still a child.

But come, ye suitors! since the prize is such,

125

A woman, like to whom none can be found

This day in all Achaia; on the shores

Of sacred Pylus; in the cities proud

Of Argos or Mycenæ; or even here

In Ithaca; or yet within the walls

130

Of black Epirus; and since this yourselves

Know also, wherefore should I speak her praise?

Come then, delay not, waste not time in vain

Excuses, turn not from the proof, but bend

The bow, that thus the issue may be known.

135

I also will, myself, that task essay;

And should I bend the bow, and pass the rings,

Then shall not my illustrious mother leave

Her son forlorn, forsaking this abode

To follow a new spouse, while I remain

140

Disconsolate, although of age to bear,

Successful as my sire, the prize away.

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.

Notes on the current edition

Odyssey

1. Profuse—pour forth, waste. The verb is uncommon.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

Toward the end of Rhapsody 21, Odysseus will pass an all-important test set by Penelope: he will string his famous bow—which none of the suitors could string, no matter how hard they tried—and he will shoot an arrow straight through all the holes of twelve axe-heads lined up in a row for this one-time occasion, designed to be viewed as the contest to end all contests in the skills of archery. This contest will determine, once and for all, who is really eligible, among all the Achaeans, to be recognized as the husband of the queen. But the winning of this ultimate contest by Odysseus is not enough: the king must now kill, with the same bow, all the would-be husbands of the queen. So, once Odysseus passes the test set by Penelope, as narrated toward the end of Rhapsody 21, the killing of the rival Achaeans can begin in Rhapsody 22. And the overall occasion for both the passing of Penelope’s test and the killing of the suitors is the beginning of a grand festival celebrating the god Apollo and the arrival of spring.

draft js image error Hēraklēs stringing a bow. Silver stater, c. 450–440 BCE, Thebes (Boeotia). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

source

Here we see that Odysseus is a paragon of biē ‘force, violence, strength’ in his own right. He and only he has the strength to string his own bow, while all the suitors fail to show any matching strength. So, Odysseus here is a paragon not only of mētis ‘mind, intelligence’ but also of biē ‘force, violence, strength’.

source

Leonard Muellner

analysis of thuoskoos as not a particularly prestigious occupation, in the context of analyzing Odysseus’ response to Leodes in O.22.321

source

Homer Odyssey 21.80

ed. George Chapman

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ODYSSEY BOOK XXI

PATTEN WILSON.
THE STRINGING OF THE BOW

Notes on the current edition

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ODYSSEY BOOK XXI

PATTEN WILSON. THE STRINGING OF THE BOW

Notes on the current edition

New Alexandria Commentaries

Stable identifiers

PATTEN WILSON.
THE STRINGING OF THE BOW