BOOK XXII.
ARGUMENT.
But much-planning Ulysses stripped himself of his rags,[1] and leaped upon the large threshold, holding the bow, and the quiver full of arrows: and he poured out the swift arrows there before his feet; and addressed the suitors:
"This decisive[2] contest has at length been accomplished: but now I will see whether I can hit[3] another mark, which no man as yet has struck, but may Apollo give me glory."
He spoke, and directed the bitter arrow against Antinous. He indeed was about to take up a beautiful cup, golden, with two ears; and he was now handling it with his hands, that he might drink of wine: but slaughter was not a care to him in his mind; (who, forsooth, would think amongst men banqueting, that one alone amongst greater numbers, although very strong, would prepare evil death and black fate for him?) But Ulysses catching him on the throat, struck him with the shaft: and the point came right through his tender neck. And he was rolled to the other side, and the cup fell from the hand of him stricken: and immediately a thick channel of human gore came through his nostrils; and quickly he thrust the table from him, striking it with his foot, and he poured the viands to the ground: both bread and roasted flesh were polluted. But the suitors made a tumult in the house, when they beheld the man fallen. And they leaped out of their thrones, aroused throughout the house, looking about on all sides to the well-built walls: nor was there any where a shield, or doughty spear, to lay hold of. And they chided Ulysses with wrathful words:
