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Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: “Eurymachus, this shall not be so, and thou of thyself too knowest it. For to-day throughout the land is the feast of the god¹—a holy feast. Who then would bend a bow? Nay, quietly 260 set it by; and as for the axes—what if we should let them all stand as they are? No man, methinks, will come to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them off. Nay, come, let the bearer pour drops for libation into the cups, that we may pour libations, and lay aside the curved bow. 265 And in the morning bid Melanthius, the goatherd, to bring she-goats, far the best in all the herds, that we may lay thigh-pieces on the altar of Apollo, the famed archer; and so make trial of the bow, and end the contest.” So spoke Antinous, and his word was pleasing to them. 270 Then the heralds poured water over their hands, and youths filled the bowls brim full of drink, and served out to all, pouring first drops for libation into the cups. But when they had poured libations, and had drunk to their heart's content, then with crafty mind Odysseus of many wiles spoke among them: 275 “Hear me, wooers of the glorious queen, that I may say what the heart in my breast bids me. To Eurymachus most of all do I make my prayer, and to godlike Antinous, since this word also of his was spoken aright, namely that for the present you cease to try the bow, and leave the issue with the gods; 280 and in the morning the god will give the victory to whomsoever he will. But come, give me the polished bow, that in your midst I may prove my hands and strength, whether I have yet might such as was of old in my supple limbs, or whether by now my wanderings and lack of food have destroyed it.” 285 So he spoke, and they all waxed exceeding wroth, fearing lest he might string the polished bow. And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke and addressed him: “Ah, wretched stranger, thou hast no wit, no, not a trace. Art thou not content 290 that thou feastest undisturbed in our proud company, and lackest naught of the banquet, but hearest our words and our speech, while no other that is a stranger and beggar hears our words? It is wine that wounds thee, honey-sweet wine, which works harm to others too, if one takes it in great gulps, and drinks beyond measure. 295 It was wine that made foolish even the centaur, glorious Eurytion, in the hall of greathearted Peirithous, when he went to the Lapithae: and when his heart had been made foolish with wine, in his madness he wrought evil in the house of Peirithous. Then grief seized the heroes, 300 and they leapt up and dragged him forth through the gateway, when they had shorn off his ears and his nostrils with the pitiless bronze, and he, made foolish in heart, went his way, bearing with him the curse of his sin in the folly of his heart. From hence the feud arose between the centaurs and mankind; but it was for himself first that he found evil, being heavy with wine. 305 Even so do I declare great harm for thee, if thou shalt string the bow, for thou shalt meet with no kindness at the hands of anyone in our land, but we will send thee straightway in a black ship to king Echetus, the maimer of all men, from whose hands thou shalt in no wise escape alive. Nay, then, be still, 310 and drink thy wine, and do not strive with men younger than thou.”

Odyssey. Homer. A. T. Murray (Translator). London. 1919.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

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.) — 21.256 focus

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·

Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται· νοέεις δὲ καὶ αὐτός.

νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο

ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτʼ; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι

κάτθετʼ· ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κʼ εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας

260

ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τινʼ ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,

ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,

ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·

ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,

265

αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγʼ ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,

ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ

τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.

τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,

270

κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,

νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.

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

τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης·

275

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·

Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα

λίσσομʼ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,

νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·

ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.

280

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθʼ ὑμῖν

χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐστὶν

ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,

ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τʼ ἀκομιστίη τε.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν,

285

δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.

Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἔνι τοι φρένες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί·

οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ἡμῖν

δαίνυσαι, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς ἀμέρδεαι, αὐτὰρ ἀκούεις

290

μύθων ἡμετέρων καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.

οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους

βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.

οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,

295

ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,

ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,

μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·

ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε

ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

300

ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς

ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.

ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,

οἷ δʼ αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.

ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον

305

ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις

ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ

εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,

πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.

310

Translations (8)

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.) — 21.269 focus

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

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

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

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

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 21.256 focus

“It shall not be so, Eurymakhos,” said Antinoos, son of Eupeithes, “and you know it yourself. To-day is the feast of Apollo throughout all the district [ dēmos]; who can string a bow on such a day as this? Put it on one side— [260] as for the axes they can stay where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and take them away: let the cupbearer go round with his cups, that we may make our drink-offerings and drop this matter of the bow; [265] we will tell Melanthios the goatherd to bring us in some goats tomorrow—the best he has; we can then offer thigh bones to Apollo, the mighty archer, and again make trial of the bow, so as to bring the contest [ āthlos] to an end.”

The rest approved his words, [270] and then men servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing-bowls with wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his drink-offering. Then, when they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he desired, resourceful Odysseus craftily said: [275] “Suitors of the illustrious queen, listen that I may speak even as I am minded. I appeal more especially to Eurymakhos, and to godlike Antinoos who has just spoken with so much reason. Cease shooting for the present and leave the matter to the gods, [280] but in the morning let the gods give victory to whom they will. For the moment, however, give me the bow that I may prove the power of my hands among you all, and see whether I still have as much strength as I used to have, or whether travel and neglect have made an end of it.”

[285] This made them all very angry, for they feared he might string the bow; Antinoos therefore rebuked him fiercely saying, “Wretched creature, you have not so much as a grain of sense in your whole body; you ought to think yourself lucky in being allowed to dine unharmed among your betters, [290] without having any smaller portion served you than we others have had, and in being allowed to hear our conversation. No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we say among ourselves; the wine must have been doing you a mischief, as it does with all those who drink immoderately. [295] It was wine that inflamed the Centaur, famous Eurytion, when he was staying with great-hearted Perithoös among the Lapiths. When the wine had got into his head he went mad and did ill deeds about the house of Perithoös; this gave grief [ akhos] to the heroes who were there assembled, so they rushed at him [300] and cut off his ears and nostrils; then they dragged him through the doorway out of the house, so he went away crazed, and bore the burden [ atē] of his crime, bereft of understanding. Henceforth, therefore, there was war between humankind and the centaurs, but he brought it upon himself through his own drunkenness. [305] In like manner I can tell you that it will go hardly with you if you string the bow: you will find no mercy from any one in our district [ dēmos], for we shall at once ship you off to king Ekhetos, who kills every one that comes near him: you will never get away alive, so drink and keep quiet [310] without getting into a quarrel with men younger than yourself.”

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1873)) — 21.256 focus

So spake Antinoüs, and they all approved.

Then heralds came, and on the suitors' hands

330

Poured water; youths filled up the cups with wine,

Beginning at the right, and gave to each

His share; and when they all had poured a part,

And each had drunk, the shrewd Ulysses thus

With artful speech bespake the suitor-train : -

335

"Hearken, ye suitors of the illustrious queen,

To what my heart is prompting me to say;

But chiefly to Eurymachus I make

My suit, and to Antinoüs, who so well

Hath counselled to lay by the bow and trust

340

The gods. To-morrow Phœbus will bestow

The needed strength on whomsoe'er he will;

But let me take that polished bow, and try

Among you, whether still the power that dwelt

In these once pliant limbs abides in them,

345

Or whether happily it has passed from me

Amid my wanderings and a life of want."

He spake, and all were vehemently moved

With anger, for they feared that he would bend

The bow, and thus Antinoüs, railing, spake :-

350

"Thou worthless vagabond, without a spark

Of reason, art thou not content to sit

And banquet with the proudest, where no part

Of all the feast escapes thee, hearing all

That we are saying, which no other man,

355

Stranger and beggar, is allowed to hear!

This good wine makes thee foolish, as wine oft

Makes those who swallow it too greedily,

And drink not with due stint. It maddened once

Eurytion, the famed Centaur, in the halls

360

Of the large-souled Pirithoüs. He had come

Among the Lapithæ, and when inflamed

With wine to madness, in those very halls

Did lawless deeds. The heroes were incensed.

They rushed upon him, dragged him through the porch

365

And out of doors, and there cut off his nose

And ears, and he departed, frenzied still,

Land bearing in bewilderment of mind

His punishment, whence war arose between

Centaurs and men; yet surely he had brought

370

The evil on himself, when overcome

With wine. Such fearful mischief I foretell

Will light on thee, if thou shouldst bend this bow,

Nor canst thou hope for favor here among

The people. We will send thee speedily,

375

In a black galley, to King Echetus,

The enemy of human kind, from whom

Thou shalt find no escape. Drink, then, in peace

Thy wine, and seek no strife with younger men."

English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1726, ed. Watson, 1858)) — 21.256 focus

"Not so, Eurymachus: that no man draws

The wondrous bow, attend another cause.

Sacred to Phœbus is the solemn day,

Which thoughtless we in games would waste away;

275

Till the next dawn this ill-tim'd strife forego,

And here leave fix'd the ringlets in a row.

Now bid the sewer approach, then let us join

In due libations, and in rites divine;

So end our night; before the day shall spring,

280

The choicest offerings let Melanthius bring;

Let then to Phœbus' name the fatted thighs

Feed the rich smokes, high curling to the skies.

So shall the patron of these arts bestow

(For his the gift) the skill to bend the bow."

285

They heard well pleas'd; the ready heralds bring

The cleansing waters from the limpid spring;

The goblet high with rosy wine they crown'd,

In order circling to the peers around.

That rite complete, uprose the thoughtful man,

290

And thus his meditated scheme began;

"If what I ask your noble minds approve,

Ye peers and rivals in the royal love!

Chief, if it hurt not great Antinoüs' ear,

(Whose sage decision I with wonder hear,)

295

And if Eurymachus the motion please,

Give Heaven this day, and rest the bow in peace.

To-morrow let your arms dispute the prize,

And take it he, the favour'd of the skies!

But, since till then this trial you delay,

300

Trust it one moment to my hands to-day:

Fain would I prove, before your judging eyes,

What once I was, whom wretched you despise;

If yet this arm its ancient force retain;

Or if my woes (a long-continued train)

305

And wants and insults, make me less than man."

Rage flash'd in lightning from the suitors' eyes,

Yet mix'd with terror at the bold emprise.

Antinoüs then: "O miserable guest!

Is common sense quite banish'd from thy breast?

310

Sufficed it not, within the palace placed,

To sit distinguish'd, with our presence graced,

Admitted here with princes to confer,

A man unknown, a needy wanderer?

To copious wine this insolence we owe,

315

And much thy betters wine can overthrow:

The great Eurytion¹ when this frenzy stung,

Pirithoüs' roofs with frantic riot rung;

Boundless the Centaur raged; till one and all

The heroes rose, and dragg'd him from the hall:

320

His nose they shorten'd, and his ears they slit,

And sent him sober'd home, with better wit.

Hence with long war the double race was curs'd

Fatal to all, but to th' aggressor first.

Such fate I prophesy our guest attends,

325

If here this interdicted bow he bends:

Nor shall these walls such insolence contain;

The first fair wind transports him o'er the main;

Where Echetus!² to death the guilty brings,

(The worst of mortals, ev'n the worst of kings.)

330

Better than that, if thou approve our cheer,

Cease the mad strife, and share our bounty here."

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 21.256 focus

Antinous gave him language very bad.

255

Thou wretched stranger, is it not enough

That of our feast thou hast an equal part,

And that of our discourse (and none but thou,

Stranger and beggar) made a bearer art ?

'Tis wine that makes thee not thyself to know ;

260

For wine serves all men so that drink too much.

Wine hurt Eurytion, the centaur great;

His carriage in Perithous' house was such,

Among the Lapithae sitting at meat,

That angry with 't they were, and all arose,

265

And with sharp iron cut off both his ears,

And with the same they pared off his nose.

Away the cause of his own harm he bears.

From that day on, centaurs and men are foes.

Themselves men hurt by wine immoderate.

270

So if you bend the bow, your ears you’ll lose ;

For you'll find here no prating advocate ;

But to king Takim forthwith you shall go,

And he will of you make a cruel end.

Therefore sit still, and let alone the bow;

275

Nor with men younger than yourself contend.

Then, said Penelope, I'd have you know,

Antinous, that you did very ill

To wrong Telemachus his guest. What though

He bend the bow, d'ye think I take him will

280

For husband ? I am sure you think not so.

Let none of you be sad with fear of that.

Then to her said Eurymachus, No, no;

That's not the thing that we be troubled at.

'Tis of our honour that we jealous be :

285

For how will men and women, think you, prate;

But that such suitors woo Penelope

As could not bend Ulysses' bow, but that

A beggar that pass'd by by chance could bend it ?

Which unto us will be no little shame.

290

English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1667, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 21.256 focus

Antinous answer'd: "That there could ensue

335

No shame at all to them; for well he knew

That this day was kept holy to the Sun

By all the city, and there should be done

No such profane act, therefore bade lay by

The bow for that day; but the mastery

340

Of axes that were set up still might stand,

Since that no labour was, nor any hand

Would offer to invade Ulysses' house,

To take, or touch with surreptitious

Or violent hand, what there was left for use.

345

He, therefore, bade the cup-bearer infuse

Wine to the bowls, that so with sacrifice

They might let rest the shooting exercise,

And in the morning make Melanthius bring

The chief goats of his herd, that to the King

350

Of bows and archers they might burn the thighs

For good success, and then attempt the prize."

The rest sat pleased with this. The heralds straight

Pour'd water on their hands; each page did wait

With his crown'd cup of wine, served every man

355

Till all were satisfied. And then began

Ulysses' plot of his close purpose thus:

"Hear me, ye much renown'd Eurymachus,

And king Antinous, in chief, who well,

And with decorum sacred, doth compell

360

This day's observance, and to let lay down

The bow all this light, giving Gods their own.

The morning's labour God the more will bless,

And strength bestow where he himself shall please.

Against which time let me presume to pray

365

Your favours with the rest, that this assay

May my old arms prove, trying if there lie

In my poor powers the same activity

That long since crown'd them; or if needy fare

And desolate wand'ring have the web worn bare

370

Of my life's thread at all parts, that no more

Can furnish these affairs as heretofore."

This het their spleens past measure, blown with fear

Lest his loathed temples would the garland wear

Of that bow's draught; Antinous using speech

375

To this sour purpose: "Thou most arrant wretch

Of all guests breathing, in no least degree

Graced with a human soul, it serves not thee

To feast in peace with us, take equal share

Of what we reach to, sit, and all things hear

380

That we speak freely, which no begging guest

Did ever yet, but thou must make request

To mix with us in merit of the Queen.

But wine inflames thee, that hath ever been

The bane of men whoever yet would take

385

Th' excess it offers and the mean forsake.

Wine spoil'd the Centaur great Eurytion,

In guest-rites with the mighty-minded son

Of bold Ixion, in his way to war

Against the Lapithes; who, driven as far

390

As madness with the bold effects of wine,

Did outrage to his kind host, and decline

Other heroës from him feasted there

With so much anger that they left their cheer,

And dragg'd him forth the fore-court, slit his nose,

395

Cropp'd both his ears, and, in the ill-dispose

His mind then suffer'd, drew the fatal day

On his head with his host; for thence the fray

Betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes

Had mortal act. But he for his excess

400

In spoil of wine fared worst himself; as thou

For thy large cups, if thy arms draw the bow,

My mind foretells shalt fear; for not a man

Of all our consort, that in wisdom can

Boast any fit share, will take prayers then,

405

But to Echetus, the most stern of men,

A black sail freight with thee, whose worst of ill,

Be sure, is past all ransom. Sit, then, still,

Drink temperately, and never more contend

With men your youngers."

410

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 21.256 focus

To whom Antinoüs, thus, Eupithes' son.

Not so; (as even thou art well-assured

305

Thyself, Eurymachus!) but Phœbus claims

This day his own. Who then, on such a day,

Would strive to bend it? Let it rather rest.

And should we leave the rings where now they stand,

I trust that none entering Ulysses' house

310

Will dare displace them. Cup-bearer, attend!

Serve all with wine, that, first, libation made,

We may religiously lay down the bow.

Command ye too Melanthius, that he drive

Hither the fairest goats of all his flocks

315

At dawn of day, that burning first the thighs

To the ethereal archer, we may make

New trial, and decide at length the strife.

So spake Antinous, and his counsel pleased.

The heralds then pour'd water on their hands,

320

While youths crown'd high the goblets which they bore

From right to left, distributing to all.

When each had made libation, and had drunk

Till well sufficed, then, artful to effect

His shrewd designs, Ulysses thus began.

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Hear, O ye suitors of the illustrious Queen,

My bosom's dictates. But I shall entreat

Chiefly Eurymachus and the godlike youth

Antinoüs, whose advice is wisely given.

Tamper no longer with the bow, but leave

330

The matter with the Gods, who shall decide

The strife to-morrow, favouring whom they will.

Meantime, grant me the polish'd bow, that I

May trial make among you of my force,

If I retain it still in like degree

335

As erst, or whether wandering and defect

Of nourishment have worn it all away.

He said, whom they with indignation heard

Extreme, alarm'd lest he should bend the bow,

And sternly thus Antinoüs replied.

340

Desperate vagabond! ah wretch deprived

Of reason utterly! art not content?

Esteem'st it not distinction proud enough

To feast with us the nobles of the land?

None robs thee of thy share, thou witnessest

345

Our whole discourse, which, save thyself alone,

No needy vagrant is allow'd to hear.

Thou art befool'd by wine, as many have been,

Wide-throated drinkers, unrestrain'd by rule.

Wine in the mansion of the mighty Chief

350

Pirithoüs, made the valiant Centaur mad

Eurytion, at the Lapithean feast.

He drank to drunkenness, and being drunk,

Committed great enormities beneath

Pirithoüs' roof, and such as fill'd with rage

355

The Hero-guests, who therefore by his feet

Dragg'd him right through the vestibule, amerced

Of nose and ears, and he departed thence

Provoked to frenzy by that foul disgrace,

Whence war between the human kind arose

360

And the bold Centaurs - but he first incurred

By his ebriety that mulct severe.

Great evil also if thou bend the bow,

To thee I prophecy; for thou shalt find

Advocate or protector none in all

365

This people, but we will dispatch thee hence

Incontinent on board a sable bark

To Echetus, the scourge of human kind,

From whom is no escape. Drink then in peace,

And contest shun with younger men than thou.

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Him answer'd then Penelope discrete.

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.

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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,

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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.

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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.

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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

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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. 1

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

The wording of Antinoos here refers to an act of sacrifice that the Achaeans are expected to perform in worshipping Apollo on the occasion of his festival. See the anchor comment at O.20.276–280 on the festival of Apollo; also the comment at O.21.429–430.

source

The story about the drunken and reckless behavior of the Centaur Eurytion when he was a guest of Perithoos and his Lapiths is embedded in a morally flawed mental exercise here. The narrator of the story is Antinoos, whose behavior as a bad guest is comparable to that of the Centaur, but the suitor is perversely comparing the behavior of the Centaur to that of Odysseus. Antinoos is feeling outraged that a lowly beggar would dare to compete with the suitors as Odysseus prepares to string the bow, and so the suitor warns the disguised king at O.21.305–306, threatening that Odysseus will receive the same cruel punishment that was once upon a time received by the Centaur at the hands of his outraged hosts. On the horrific details of this punishment, see the anchor comment at O.18.085–087 on extreme cruelty in Homeric narrative.

source

Leonard Muellner

Apollo’s name-epithet formulas which have the same metrical shape as the divine names in the dative in the eukhomai + dative formulas, but which are not used in this system because, unlike the others, they begin with a vowel (here, words occurring before Apollo’s two dative formulas that always end with a consonant)

source

Homer Odyssey 21.256

A. T. Murray (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

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 Perseus

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