ODYSSEY BOOK XVIII
NOW there came to the palace a well-known beggar, who alway
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Begged in the Ithacan town. He was famed for his ravenous belly.
Endless his eating and drinking; but no great strength had the fellow,
Neither endurance, although right big was the bulk of his body.
Once was his name Arnaeus. The lady his mother had called him
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So from his birth; but the youths all gave him the title of Irus,
Since that he willingly went on a message whene'er he was bidden.
He now came, and attempted to drive from his palace Odysseus,
Uttering threats and abuse, and with swift-winged words he addressed him :
"Get thee agone, old man—or be dragged by the feet—from the doorway!
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Canst thou not see that they all are nodding and winking to bid me
Drag thee away? Natheless I am half unwilling to do so.
Up with thee! up! or the quarrel is like to be settled by fighting.”
Glaring askance at the man deep-plotting Odysseus addressed him :
"Navy, good sir, I am harming thee nothing by word or by action.
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Ne'er will I grudge it if any shall give thee a dole—and a large one.
Sure there's room for us both on the threshold, and surely thou needst not
Envy the luck of another. Thou seemest a beggar and vagrant,
E'en as myself; and we look to the gods to vouchsafe us a blessing.
Challenge me not to a fray too hotly, nor rouse me to anger,
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Lest that in spite of my age on thy breast and thy lips I shall paint thee
Red with thy blood. And indeed 'twould save me from further annoyance
Now and to-morrow, for truly methinks thou'dst dream of returning
Never again to the house of Odysseus the son of Laertes."
Then to a fury aroused thus answered him Irus the vagrant :
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"Navy by the gods, how glibly he talks, this gluttonous porker!
Like to a crone that attends to an oven! I'll work him a mischief—
Slog him with both of my fists, and the whole of his teeth I will knock clean
Out of his jaws as the tusks of a hog that has ravaged a cornfield.
Gird thee! and all of the men here present shall judge of the matter,
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Viewing us fight. I will teach thee to box with a man that is younger!"
Thus these twain in the front of the high hall door of the mansion,
Over the smooth-worn threshold, provoked each other to anger.
Now when the powerful prince, lord Antinous, had perceived it,
Sweetly and loudly he laughed, and he spake to the suitors around him:
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"Comrades, here is a thing that has happened never aforetime!
Such an amusement as never before God sent to the palace!
Look at the stranger and Irus! The one is inciting the other
Unto a contest of fists! Come! Quick! Let us set them a-fighting."
Scarce had he uttered the words, all leapt to their feet and with laughter
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Gathered around and encircled the raggedly raimented beggars.
Then spake Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed them :
"Listen, ye high-born suitors, I pray ! I will make a proposal.
There on the hearth are lying the stomachs of goats, that for supper
Ready we laid, well filled with the blood of the beasts and the caul-fat.
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Now of the twain whichever shall conquer and prove him the better,
He shall advance and shall take of the stomachs the one that he chooseth;
He too alway shall join us at feasts, nor shall ever another
Beggar be present or e'er be permitted to sue for a pittance."
Thus spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.
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Then with a crafty intent deep-plotting Odysseus addressed them:
"Friends, it is hopeless, I know, to contest with a man that is younger,
Since I am old and outworn with my woes; but the belly compels me,
Maker of mischief that bringeth upon me defeat and a flogging.
Come now, all of you swear me an oath and a solemn assurance
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None shall in favour of Irus, uplifting a hand to assail me,
Wantonly strike me a blow and oblige me to yield to the fellow."
Thus did he speak, and they all of them swore to refrain, as I bade them.
Then, when at length they had given the oath and had finished the plighting,
Once more spake in the midst prince Telemachus and addressed him :
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"Stranger, if truly thy heart and thy valiant spirit command thee
Thus to defend thee against him, be fearful of none of the nobles,
Since not only with one shall he fight, whoever shall strike thee.
Host of the banquet am I; these chieftains also approve it,
Antinous and Eurymachus—both noted for wisdom."
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Thus did he speak, and they all consented thereto; and Odysseus
Gilded his loins with his rags, and his sinewy thighs he uncovered
Goodly and great; and the vast broad shoulders appeared, and the mighty
Chest and the arms. (At his side once more was the goddess Athene
Giving again their strength to the limbs of the prince of the people.)
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Forthwith every suitor was filled with exceeding amazement,
While that the one, as he gazed, spake thus to another beside him:
"Irus, un-Irus'd, will soon be imbibing the broth he was brewing!
PATTEN WILSON
ODYSSEUS AND IRUS
Look at the old man's thigh that is showing from under his tatters!"
Thus did they speak, and the spirit of Irus was seized by a panic.
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Yet e'en so he was girt by the servants and brought with compulsion
Utterly cowed, with the flesh on his limbs all quaking in terror.
Then spake Antinous and reproached him and loudly rebuked him:
"Better it were thou hadst died—nay, ne'er been living—thou bully,
Since thou art terribly fear'd by the fellow and quakest to meet him,
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Though he is old and outworn with the misery fallen upon him.
Now will I tell thee a thing that will certainly find a fulfilment :
Should this fellow prevail in the combat and prove him the better,
Into a black-hulled ship I shall cast thee at once and shall send thee
Over to Echetus, lord of the mainland and maimer of mortals;
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Then with the merciless steel he will shear thee thy nose and thy ears off,
Tear from thy body thy vitals and cast them to dogs to be fought for."
So as he spake still more did the man's limbs tremble in terror.
Thus to the ring he was brought, and with hands uplifted they stood there.
Now at the first was in doubt long-suffering godlike Odysseus
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Whether to smite him a stroke to deprive him of life as it felled him,
Or with a moderate blow of the fist on the earth to extend him.
Thus as he pondered thereon this plan seemed surely the better,
Lightly to strike—for he feared to be known to the princely Achaeans.
So they uplifted their hands. First Irus a blow on the shoulder
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Planted; but under the ear on the neck he was smitten, and inward
Crushed was the bone, and at once from his mouth red blood was a-spouting.
Moaning he fell in the dust and, his teeth tight-clenching together,
Drummed with his heels on the ground as he lay; and the arrogant suitors
Dying for laughter uplifted their hands in delight; but Odysseus
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Hauled him away by the feet from the doorway and into the courtyard,
Right to the gates of the porch, and there by the wall of the courtyard
Set him and propped him, and placed in the hands of the fellow a cudgel.
Then upraising his voice these swift-winged words he addressed him:
"Sit now here as a scare for the pigs and the dogs! I advise thee
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Never again to attempt o'er strangers and beggars to lord it,
Meddlesome fool, lest haply befall thee a greater misfortune."
These words spoken, he slung on his shoulders the beggarly wallet,
Terribly tattered and torn ; and thereon was a cord to suspend it.
Then to the threshold returning he sat him adown; and the suitors
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Merrily laughing re-entered the palace and gave him a welcome:
"Zeus vouchsafe, O stranger, and other immortals, to grant thee
All of thy dearest desires—yea, all that thy spirit can long for,
Since thou hast stopped this insatiate fellow from playing the vagrant
Here in the Ithacan land. So now right soon we shall ship him
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Over to Echetus, king of the mainland and maimer of mortals."
Thus did he speak, and the godlike Odysseus rejoiced at the omen.
Antinous now laid at his side of the stomachs a great one
Filled with the blood and the fat of the goats, while Amphinomus too
Lifted a couple of loaves from the basket and placed them beside him,
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Then from a goblet of gold drank welcome and weal to him, saying:
"Hail to thee, stranger and father! I wish thee for ever in future
Happier days—since now thou art holden of many misfortunes."
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:
"Amphinomus, as it seems, thou art verily gifted with wisdom,
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E'en as thy father—for oft did I hear of his high reputation,
Nisus of Dulichium, as a man that was brave and was wealthy.
Being, they say, his son thou art like him in good understanding.
So I will tell thee the truth: attentively listen and mark me.
Nothing is nourished by earth more utterly feeble than man is,
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Nothing of all that is breathing on earth and is creeping upon it.
'Verily never,' he saith to himself, 'shall I suffer misfortune
While God granteth me manhood and still are supple my knee-joints.'
Ay but whenever affliction is sent by the blesséd immortals
All, though sorely unwilling, he bears with a heart of endurance.
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Such forsooth is the mind of an earth-born mortal: it changes
E'en as the Father of men and of gods sends seasons of fortune.
I too once had the hope to be blest in the world, but committed
Many infatuate deeds in the pride of my arrogant temper,
Trusting moreover my father and also my brothers to help me.
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Wherefore ne'er is it wise for a man to be lawless, but rather
Quietly all to enjoy, whatsoe'er the immortals shall give him.
Thus an infatuate deed I behold these suitors committing,
Wantonly wasting the wealth of a man and insulting his consort,
Yea and a man that, I ween, not afar from his friends and his homeland
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Long shall remain. He is even at hand! Some deity lead thee
Safely away to thy home, lest here in his palace thou haply
Meet him whene'er he returns to the well-loved land of his fathers,
Since not bloodless (or much I mistake) will they part from the combat,
He and the suitors, whene'er he shall enter the halls of his homestead."
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These words spoken, he poured of the wine honey-sweet a libation,
Emptied the goblet and handed it back to the warrior chieftain.
He thro' the palace returned, with his heart sore troubled within him,
Bowing his head; for in sooth in his spirit he boded of evil.
Yet e'en so he escaped not his doom: him too did Athene
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Destine to death by the hands and the spear of the son of Odysseus.
Then did he seat him again on the chair from the which he had risen.
Now was a thought vouchsafed by the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Unto the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelopeia,
E'en to appear to the suitors and make all hearts at her beauty
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Open with rapture as never before—since thus she was minded
Still more honour to win from her lord and her son than aforetime.
So with a lightsome laugh to her woman she called and addressed her :
"Eurynomé, in my heart is a longing as ne'er I remember,
Under the gaze of the suitors to stand, though truly I hate them.
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Also a rede to my son will I give that will tend to his welfare—
Not to consort too oft with the band of the arrogant suitors,
Seeing they speak fair words while secretly brooding on evil."
Then did the house-dame Eurynomé thus answer her saying:
"Ay, it is verily wisely and well thou hast spoken, my daughter.
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Go to thy child and impart him thy wish, nor attempt to conceal it;
Not howbeit before thou hast bathed and thy face is anointed;
Not like this, with thy cheeks all stained by thy tears, I beseech thee!
Go! for it profiteth little to mourn thus ever and alway.
Yea and thy son, he is now of an age to be wise—and of heaven
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This was thy dearest demand, with a beard on his chin to behold him."
Her then in turn gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia :
"Eurynomé, I beseech thee, refrain, though urged by affection,
Giving me comfort and bidding me bathe and anoint me with unguents.
All of the pride of my beauty the gods who inhabit Olympus
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Withered as soon as my lord in the hollow ships had departed.
Seek now Autonoë and Hippodameia, and bid them
Hither to come; in the hall I am wishful to have them beside me;
Never alone to the men will I go, since shyness forbids it."
Thus did she speak, and her woman departing from out of the chamber
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Went to the maidens, to give them the message and hasten their coming.
Now did a new thought come to the grey-eyed goddess Athene.
Over the daughter of Icarius sweet slumber diffusing
Backward she made her to sink, and with joints all loosened she lay there
Stretched on her couch. Meanwhile, as she slumbered, the beautiful goddess
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Gifts ambrosial gave her, to dazzle the eyes of the princes.
First, to her features fair new beauty and brighter she added,
Such as the bloom immortal with which fair-crowned Cytherea
Gleameth whenever she goes to the beautiful dance of the Graces.
Taller moreover she made her in stature and larger in person,
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Whiter she made her of skin than is fresh-sawn ivory's whiteness.
After that thus she had wrought she departed, the beautiful goddess.
Then did the white-armed maidens approach from the women's apartment,
Talking aloud as they came; and at once sweet slumber released her.
Rubbing her cheeks with her hands, these words half wakened she murmured:
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"Sure in my weary affliction a deep soft trance overcame me!
Would that as gentle a death pure Artemis willed to vouchsafe me
Now on the spot! No more would mourning and grief in my spirit
Wither the days of my life, as I wail for my well-loved husband's
Manifold courage and skill, who was peerless among the Achaeans."
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Spake, and began to descend from her glistering upper apartment;
Neither alone did she go: two handmaids followed behind her.
Now 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,
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While to the right and the left stood one of her faithful attendants.
Straight were loosened the knees of the men, and enraptured by passion
Each one uttered a prayer to the gods to possess her in marriage.
Then to her well-loved son, prince Telemachus, she addressed her:
"Telemachus, no more is thy mind and thy thought to be trusted.
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E'en as a boy in thy thoughts thou wast guided with greater discretion.
Now thou art grown so tall and art come to the measure of manhood,
So that a stranger beholding thy beauty of person and stature
Sure would deem thee a son of a wealthy and fortunate father;
Yet no more is thy mind and thy judgment right as aforetime.
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Lo, what deed thou hast caused to be wrought in the hall of thy palace,
Thus permitting a stranger to suffer injurious usage!
How if the stranger, who here as a guest in the home of thy fathers
Quietly sat, some damage received from his grievous maltreatment?
Thine were wholly the shame and disgrace in the judgment of all men."
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Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
"Mother, I take it amiss nowise that herein thou art angered.
Well am I able within me to reason, and well to distinguish
Better from worse. Ere now it was merely unreasoning childhood.
Still, all things to contrive as is wise I am wholly unable,
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Ever distraught by the presence of those who on this and on that side
Urge me with evil intent; nor is any at hand to assist me.
Touching howbeit the fight of the stranger with Irus, it happened
Not by the will of the suitors; and also he proved him the stronger.
Ay and by Father Zeus and Athena and Phoebus Apollo,
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Would that the suitors themselves e'en thus in the halls of my homestead
Utterly crushed were wagging the head—some out in the courtyard,
Others inside of the house—with the joints all loosed in their bodies,
Even as Irus the beggar anigh to the gate of the courtyard
Sitteth and waggeth his head, just like to a man that is drunken ;
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Neither erect on his feet is he able to stand, nor betake him
Homeward (if home he possess) since every joint is unloosened."
Thus did the mother and son hold converse the one with the other.
Then spake Eurymachus and addressed him to Penelopeia :
"Daughter of Icarius, O wise-souled Penelopeia,
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Could now all the Achaeans in Iasan Argos behold thee,
Far more suitors, I trow, would feast in the hall of thy palace
E'en from the dawn of the morrow—for verily far thou excellest
Every woman in beauty and stature and inward discernment."
Him straightway gave answer the wise-souled Penelopeia:
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"Eurymachus, if indeed I excelled in the beauty of person,
All was destroyed by the gods when the Argives, sailing for Troyland,
Mounted the vessels with whom went also Odysseus my husband.
O that he came once more and had care of my life as aforetime!
Thus were fairer my fame, and my lot more happy; for alway
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Now am I sad; such woes hath a deity sent to assail me.
Yae and I mind, on the day that he went and was leaving his homeland,
Tenderly clasping my hand by the wrist these words he addressed me :
'Listen, my wife! for I trow of the well-greaved sons of Achaea
Nowise all shall return unscathed from the land of the Trojans,
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Seeing they say that the Trojans themselves are famous as fighters,
Whether at hurling the spear or at launching a bolt from the bowstring,
Yea and as chariot-drivers of fleet-paced horses—and war-cars
Ever decide most swiftly the turn of a dubious conflict.
Therefore I know not if heaven will save me, or dooms me to perish
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There in the country of Troy. So, carefully see to the household.
Mindfully tend in the halls of the palace my father and mother
Even as now—nay, still more mindfully while I am absent.
Cometh the day that thy son as a bearded man thou beholdest,
Then shalt thou marry whomever thou willst, and relinquish thy homestead.'
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Such was the word that he spake, and it all now findeth fulfilment.
Come shall the night that will force me to face a detestable marriage,
Ah unfortunate one, whose happiness heaven hath ruined!
Also a grief right sore hath befallen my heart and my spirit :
This was a habit, I trow, ne'er practised by suitors aforetime.
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Those that will sue for a woman of worth and a rich man's daughter
Wishing to woo her to wife and competing the one with another,
Ever themselves bring cattle and fat-fed sheep for a banquet
Unto the friends of the maiden, and offer her glorious love-gifts;
Nor do they eat with impunity thus the possessions of others."
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So did she speak, and it joyed long-suffering godlike Odysseus
While she was coaxing a gift from the men and beguiling their spirits
Thus with her winsome words, though things far other she longed for.
Then spake Antinous, Eupeithes' son, and addressed her :
"Daughter of Icarius, O wise-souled Penelopeia,
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Truly if any Achaean is willing to send for a present,
Gifts thou shalt have—and indeed 'twere wrong to refuse to receive them.
Yet—not a man of us all shall depart to his homestead or elsewhere
Ere thou art wed to the man who is best of the noble Achaeans."
Thus spake Antinous, and his words pleased all of the others.
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Forthwith each commanded a henchman to go for a present.
Antinous had a robe both ample and beautiful brought him,
Richly embroidered; with brooches, a dozen in all, it was fastened,
Fashioned of gold, and with clasps well-bent were fitted the brooches.
Eurynomus soon after they brought a magnificent necklace,
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Golden and beaded with amber that shone as the sun in his glory.
Then prince Eurydamas two earrings received by his henchman
Triple with pendants of mulberry colour and wonderful lustre.
Back from the house of Pisander the chieftain, the son of Polyctor,
Carried his servant a necklet—a jewel of exquisite beauty.
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Likewise all of the others received some beautiful present.
Then to her upper apartment ascended the fairest of women,
While at her side were borne by her maidens the glorious love-gifts.
Now did the suitors again to the pleasure of dancing and singing
Turn to delight them, intending to stay till the coming of even;
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Nor was the rout at an end when the darkness of even descended.
Then forthwith to the hall three braziers bringing they set them
There as a light, and around them they laid dry faggots of fuel,
Long since seasoned and ready to blaze, new split with the hatchet.
Pine-brands too they inserted, and maidens alternately fed them,
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Thralls of the patient Odysseus himself; and to these he addressed him,
Even the Zeus-born prince, their master, the wily Odysseus:
"Maids, whose lord is Odysseus—although so long he is absent—
Go to the chamber wherein your honoured lady abideth,
There by her side ye can twist with the spindle the yarn, or delight her
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Sitting together within her apartment and carding the sheep-wool.
Leave me alone—I will see to the lights for the whole of the party.
E'en if they wish to remain till the coming of fair-throned Morning
None shall be able to beat me, I trow. I am full of endurance."
Thus did he speak; but they laughed, as they looked each one at the other.
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Then right shamefully chid him the fair-cheeked maiden Melantho,
Dolius' daughter—but Penelopeia had nourished and reared her
E'en as her child, and had given her toys to her soul's satisfaction;
Yet was her heart untouched by the sorrows of Penelopeia,
Yea and to Eurymachus she had given her love and her honour.
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This was the one that with words of abuse accosted Odysseus :
"Wretched, impertinent tramp, thou art surely bereft of thy senses.
Get thee away from the palace, and go to a smithy and sleep there,
Or to a tavern, instead of annoying us here with thy prating!
Ay, in the presence of princes thou prat'st, with thy impudent spirit
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All unabashed. Is it wine that has got to thy wits? or, it may be,
Such is the bent of thy mind, to be always foolishly blabbing.
Crazy methinks thou art gone through conquering Irus the vagrant.
Have but a care for I fear that a better than Irus arising
Soon will be cuffing thy pate with his sinewy hands and will hunt thee
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Out of the bounds of the palace, with blood all richly bedabbled."
Glaring askance at the maid deep-plotting Odysseus addressed her :
"Forthwith Telemachus shall be told what thou sayest, thou hussy!
Straight I shall go to him—straight; and at once he will cut thee in pieces."
Thus did he speak. At his words in alarm fled all of the women
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Hurrying out of the hall, their knee-joints loosened with terror,
Quaking affrighted because they believed he had spoken in earnest.
Then to the lights he attended, and nigh to the glow of the braziers
Stationed himself, and he gazed at the rout; but the heart in his bosom
Pondered on things far other, nor destined to fail of fulfilment.
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Nowise willed it Athena to suffer the arrogant suitors
Still to refrain from insulting contempt, for she wished the resentment
Deeper to sink in the heart of Odysseus the son of Laertes.
Then made Eurymachus, prince Polybus' son, a beginning,
Jeering in scorn at Odysseus and setting his fellows a-laughing:
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"List to my words, O suitors of far-famed Penelopeia,
While that I utter a thing that the heart in my bosom enjoins me!
Sure it was heaven that guided this tramp to the house of Odysseus !
Leastways so it appeareth to me, for a beacon of pine-brands
There on his head is alight! He hath never a hair—not the least one!"
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Spake, and withal to Odysseus, the sacker of cities, he turned him :
"Stranger, in case thou art willing to serve, come say, shall I take thee
Up to an inland farm (I can offer thee wages sufficient),
There to collect me the stones for the walls and to plant me the fruit-trees?
There, too, bread I am willing to give in unfailing abundance,
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Also to keep thee in dress and with shoes for thy feet to provide thee.
Since however a right bad trade thou hast learnt, thou wilt never
Willingly set thee to work, for the tramping and begging is doubtless
More to thy mind, and to batten on doles his insatiate belly."
Him then in answer addressed these words deep-plotting Odysseus:
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“Eurymachus, would only we twain had a trial of labour,
Late in the season of spring, when the days grow longer and longer,
Even a trial of grass, I holding a well-bent sickle,
Thou with a like, that we each might vie with the other at mowing,
Fasting till late in the gloom, with a crop right heavy before us.
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Else let them give us a team to be driven—the strongest of oxen,
Tawny of colour and mighty in bulk, well sated with fodder,
Equal in age and in bearing the yoke, and of strength unexhausted—
Give us a field four-acred with soil that will yield to the ploughshare,
Then thou'dst see if the furrow I cut is a clean and a straight one.
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Else let a war be awakened by Zeus whencever he willeth
Even to-morrow, and give me a shield and a couple of lances,
Give me a helmet of bronze, well-fitted to cover my temples,
Then thou'dst see me amidst of the foremost ranks of the fighters,
Neither again thou'dst talk with a scornful contempt of my belly.
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Yea, in thy pride thou art utterly wanton—thy heart is unfeeling—
While in thy folly thou deemest thyself some mighty and great one,
Since it is only with men right weak thou consortest and cowards.
O that Odysseus returned! that he came once more to his homeland!
Soon thou'dst find that the doors, though verily broad is the doorway,
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Prove too strait for thy flight, as thou hurriest out of the portal."
Thus did he speak; but the man with a heart more maddened to fury
Glared at Odysseus askance and with swift-winged words he addressed him :
"Ah, thou impertinent wretch, I'll punish thee soon for thy prating!
Ay, in the presence of princes thou prat'st, with thy impudent spirit
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All unabashed. Is it wine that has got to thy wits? or, it may be,
Such is the bent of thy mind to be always foolishly blabbing.
Crazy methinks thou art gone through conquering Irus the vagrant."
Loudly he uttered the words, and he seized on a stool—but Odysseus
Turning to Amphinomus sank down by the knees of the chieftain,
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Fearing the blow; and he cast and the footstool smote on the right hand
One that was bearing the wine, and the bowl to the ground with a clatter
Crash'd, and the youth with a groan on his back in the dust was extended.
Straight in the shadowy halls was a clamour aroused by the suitors,
While each looked in the face of another anigh him exclaiming:
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"Would that this tramp of a stranger had elsewhere met his perdition
Ere he had come to the palace to cause such tumult and uproar.
Lo, we're quarrelling over a tramp; all joy in the banquet
Now will be utterly spoilt, for nought but unpleasantness reigneth."
Then spake Telemachus and with words right royal addressed them:
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"Sirs, ye appear to be mad. No more your conduct conceals it
How ye partook of the food and the wine. Some demon excites you.
Now, if enough he has feasted, let each go sleep at his homestead—
Nay, he shall go when he wills; I will drive no guest from my palace."
Thus did he speak, and the men all biting their lips in amazement
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Marvelled at Telemachus and the dauntless words he had uttered,
Till prince Amphinomus made answer and thus he addressed them
(Famed was the prince, and his father was son of Aretias, Nisus):
"Listen, my friends: when the word that is spoken is spoken with justice,
None should surely be wroth with the speaker and answer in anger.
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Neither maltreat, I beseech you, the stranger or other soever,
None of the drudges that serve in the palace of godlike Odysseus.
Come, let the bearer of wine now prime for libation the goblets,
Then let us pour and return for the night each one to his homestead.
Touching the stranger, I vote in the halls of Odysseus to leave him.
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Telemachus can befriend him, for his was the house that he came to."
Thus did he speak, and his word seemed pleasant to all of the others.
So was a bowl made ready of wine; lord Mulius mixed it,
Herald of Dulichium, who on Amphinomus was attendant.
Then to them all he dispensed it in turn, and they made a libation
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Unto the blesséd immortals and drank of the wine honey-hearted.
After libation and drinking as much as their spirits enjoined them
Straight they departed to lay them to sleep each one in his homestead.
“Ulysses Preparing to Fight with Irus” (1805). John Flaxman (English, 1755–1826) Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996.