The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 21

by Homer

BOOK XXI.

 

ARGUMENT.

Penelope proposes to the suitors to contend for her hand with the bow and arrows of Ulysses. They make vain attempts to bend the bow, but Ulysses, calling Eumæus and Philætius aside, orders them to shut the doors, and desires Eumæus to give the bow to him. After some opposition from the suitors, he obtains it, and shoots an arrow through the twelve rings erected for the occasion.

And then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva put it in the mind of prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, to place the bow and the hoary steel for the suitors in the palace of Ulysses as a subject of contest and a beginning of slaughter.^[1] And she ascended the lofty stairs of the house; and in her plump^[2] hand took a well-bent key, beautiful, of brass: and upon it was a handle of ivory: and she hastened to the farthest chamber with her women attendants; where lay the treasures of the king, both brass, and gold, and much-wrought steel. There lay the unstrung^[3] bow, and an arrow-containing quiver, and there were many grievous shafts in it: presents, which a stranger meeting him in Lacedæmon gave him, Iphitus, son of Eurytus, like unto the immortals. But they met one another in Messene, in the house of warlike Orsilochus: Ulysses indeed came after a debt, which the whole people owed to him: for Messenian men had taken away from Ithaca three hundred sheep, and their shepherds, in many-benched ships. On account of these Ulysses came a long voyage, on a public mission,^[4] being yet a boy: for his father and the other chiefs sent him on. But Iphitus [came] to seek the horses which he had lost, twelve mares, and under them hard-working mules, which soon became death and fate for him: since he came to the noble-minded son of Jove, the hero Hercules, skilled in mighty deeds; who slew him, although being his guest in his own house; wretched one, nor did he reverence the anger of the gods, nor the table, which he placed near him: but afterwards he also killed himself: and himself kept the solid-hoofed steeds in his palace. Asking for them he met Ulysses, and gave him a bow which mighty Eurytus before bore, but he, dying in his lofty house, left it to his son. But to him Ulysses gave a sharp sword and a strong spear, a beginning of kindly hospitality, nor did they know one another's table: for the son of Jove first slew Iphitus, son of Eurytus, like unto the immortals; he gave him the bow; but divine Ulysses did not take it, when going to the war on the black ships; but there it lay as a memorial of the kind stranger in the palace: and he carried it over his own land.

But when the divine one of women now reached the chamber, and came to the oaken threshold, which once an artificer polished skilfully, and made straight according to the rule, and in it fitted pillars, and upon it placed shining doors: immediately then she quickly loosed the thong of the ring, and put in the key, and struck back the bolts of the door, taking aim opposite to them: and they resounded, like as a bull pasturing in a meadow: so many beautiful doors stricken with the key resounded, and they were quickly opened to her. And she then went upon the lofty floor, where stood the chests, and in them lay perfumed garments. From thence stretching out, she took down the bow from the peg, with the bow-case itself, which shining surrounded it. And then sitting down there, placing it on her knees, she wept very shrilly; and she took out the bow of the king. But when she was satiated with tearful grief, she proceeded to the palace, to the illustrious suitors, holding the unstrung bow in her hand, and the arrow-containing quiver; and in it there were many grievous shafts. And her handmaidens brought a chest with her; wherein lay much steel and brass, prizes of her king. But when the divine one of women came to the suitors, she stood near the pillar of the stoutly-made roof, holding up a slender veil before her cheeks: [and a prudent handmaiden stood near her on each side:] and she immediately addressed the suitors, and spoke:

"Hear me, ye noble suitors, who press heavily upon this house to eat and drink without ceasing, my husband being absent for a long time; nor have ye been able to make any other pretext for your sedition,^[5] but as desiring to marry me, and make me your wife. But come, suitors, since this contest has appeared; for I will put down the great bow of divine Ulysses, and whoever shall most easily stretch the bow in his hands, and shall dart an arrow through the whole twelve hatchets, him will I follow, leaving this house which I entered when a virgin, very beautiful, full of the means of livelihood: which I think I shall sometime remember, even in a dream."

Thus she spoke; and she ordered the divine swineherd, Eumæus, to place the bow and the hoary steel for the suitors. But weeping Eumæus received it and laid it down: and the herdsman wept from the other side, when he beheld the bow of his master, but Antinous chided [them], and spoke and addressed them:

"Foolish countrymen, who think upon things of a day, ye wretched pair, why now do ye shed a tear, and excite the lady's mind in her breast? whose mind even otherwise lies in grief, since she has lost her dear husband. But feast in silence, sitting down, or going out of doors, weep, leaving the bow there, no despicable^[6] contest for the suitors: for I do not think they will easily stretch this well-polished bow. For there is not such a man amongst all these, as Ulysses was; and I myself saw him,—for I am able to remember,—but I was still a child."

Thus he spoke; but his mind hoped in his breast, that he would [be able to] stretch the string, and dart an arrow through the steel. He however was the first to taste the arrow from the hands of blameless Ulysses, whom he once dishonoured, sitting in the palace, and excited all his companions against him. And the sacred might of Telemachus addressed them:

"Alas! truly hath Jove, the son of Saturn, made me foolish. My dear mother, although she is prudent, says, that she will follow another, leaving this house: but I laugh, and am delighted in my foolish mind. But come, suitors, since this contest has appeared, there is not such a woman now in the Grecian land, nor in sacred Pylos, nor in Argos, nor Mycene, [nor Ithaca itself, nor black Epirus,] and ye yourselves know this; why need I praise my mother? But come, do not draw aside with pretext, nor turn any more away a long time from the stretching of the bow, that we may see you. And I myself would try the bow; but if I shall stretch it, and dart an arrow through the steel, my venerable mother, going with another, should not leave this house for me sorrowing, when I am left behind, able even now to obtain the glorious prizes of my sire."

He spoke; and rushing upright, he put his purple cloak off his shoulders; and put his sharp sword from off his shoulders. First indeed he placed the hatchets, digging one long trench for all, and he directed it according to a rule; and he stamped in^[7] the earth about them: but astonishment possessed all, seeing how orderly he placed them; and he never before had seen them. And he stood, going upon the threshold, and tried the bow: thrice he bent it, anxious to draw it, but thrice he let go the bow, hoping this in his mind, that he would [be able to] stretch the string, and dart an arrow through the steel. And now he would have stretched it by force, drawing it a fourth time, but Ulysses nodded to restrain him, although eager. And the sacred might of Telemachus addressed them:

"Alas! I shall either hereafter be a coward and weak, or I am younger, and do not yet trust in my hands to ward off a man, when any one first provokes me. But come, you who are better than me in strength, try the bow, and let us end the contest."

Thus having spoken, he laid the bow from him upon the ground, reclining it against the well-polished glued panels: and he reclined the swift weapon there against its beautiful tip.^[8] And he sat down again on the throne, from whence he arose. But Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed them:

"Rise in order to the right, all of you, beginning from the place from whence the wine-pourer begins."

Thus spoke Antinous, and his words pleased them. But Leiodes, son of Ænops, rose first, who was their soothsayer, and sat always inmost near the golden bowl: but wicked deeds were hateful to him alone, and he was indignant at all the suitors: he then first took the bow and the sharp shaft; and he stood, going on the threshold, and tried the bow; nor did he stretch it; for he first wearied his hands, drawing it, they being unpractised and tender, and he addressed the suitors:

"O friends, I cannot stretch it; but let another also take it; for this bow will deprive many chieftains of their mind and soul: since it is much better to die, than living to fail of [the prize], on account of which we are always assembled here, waiting all our days. Now indeed some one hopes in his mind and meditates to marry Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, but when he shall try the bow, and see it, then let him woo some other of the well-clad Grecian women, seeking her with bridal gifts; and let her then marry whoever gives her most [bridal gifts], and comes destined to her."

Thus he spoke, and placed the bow from him, reclining it against the well-polished glued panels, and he reclined the swift weapon there against its beautiful tip; and he sat down again on his seat, from whence he arose. But Antinous chided him, and spoke a word and addressed him:

"O Leiodes, what word has escaped thy lips, terrible and grievous? I am indignant at hearing it, if this bow shall in truth deprive the chieftains of their mind and soul; since thou canst not stretch it. For thy venerable mother did not bring thee forth such a one as to be a drawer of the bow and arrows; but other noble suitors will soon stretch it."

Thus he spoke; and he commanded Melanthius the goatherd: "Hasten now, light a fire in the palace, O Melanthius, and near it place both a large seat, and skins upon it, and bring out a large roll of suet, which is within, that we young men, warming it,^[9] anointing it with fat, may try the bow, and end the contest."

Thus he spoke; and Melanthius immediately lighted the unwearied fire; and bringing a seat, he placed it near, and skins upon it, and he brought out a large roll of suet, which was within, with which the young men, having warmed it, tried it: nor could they stretch it, for they were very deficient in strength. But Antinous still persisted, and godlike Eurymachus, chiefs among the suitors: and they were far the best in excellence. But the herdsman and the swineherd of divine Ulysses went out of the house, both going together. And after them divine Ulysses went out of the house. But when they were now out of the gates, and the court, addressing them he spoke to them in mild words:

"O herdsman, and thou, swineherd, shall I tell some news, or shall I myself conceal it? but my mind incites me to speak. What kind of men would ye be to defend Ulysses, if he should come from any where very suddenly, and some god should bring him? would ye assist the suitors of Ulysses? Tell me, in what way your heart and mind commands you."

But him the herdsman of oxen addressed in turn: "O father Jove, would that thou wouldst accomplish this wish, so should that man come, and the deity should bring him, thou shouldst know what my power and hands are."

In like manner Eumæus prayed to all the gods, that wise Ulysses should return to his own home. But when he knew their true disposition, immediately answering them with words, he addressed them:

"Within indeed here am I myself, having suffered many evils, I have come in the twentieth year to my paternal land. And I know how I am come welcome to you only of the servants: but I have not heard any one of the others praying that I should again come returning home. But to you I will tell the truth, how it shall be. If God subdues the noble suitors under me, I will bring wives for both of you, and will bestow possessions, and houses built near mine; and afterwards ye shall be the two companions and brothers of Telemachus. Come, I will now show you some other plain sign, (that ye may know me well, and be confirmed by a testimony in your mind,) the scar which once a boar inflicted on me with its white tusk, when I went to Parnassus, with the sons of Autolychus."

Thus having spoken, he drew back the rags from the great scar. But they, when they had beheld it, and had well ascertained every thing, wept, throwing their hands around wise Ulysses, and embracing him, they kissed both his head and shoulders. In like manner Ulysses kissed their heads and hands. And the sun would have set whilst they were weeping, had not Ulysses himself restrained them and spoke:

"Cease from weeping and mourning; lest any one coming out of the palace should see us, and should tell it also within. But enter one after another, not all together; first I, and afterwards you: but let this sign be made; all the others indeed, as many as are noble suitors, will not suffer you to give me the bow and quiver; but do thou, O divine Eumæus, bringing the bow through the palace, place it for me in my hands: and tell the women to lock the closely-fitted doors of the palace. But if any one should hear either a groaning or a noise within, of the men in our courts, let them not advance out of doors, but remain there in silence at their work. But to thee, O divine Philætius, I give in charge to lock with a key the gates of the court, and quickly put the chain over it."^[10]

Thus having spoken, he entered the well-built house: then he went and sat down upon the seat, from whence he had arisen: and the servants of divine Ulysses also went in. But Eurymachus was now moving the bow about in his hands, warming it on both sides with the flame of fire; but even so he could not stretch it; and his glory-seeking heart groaned greatly, and mourning he then spoke and said:

"Alas! truly there is grief for me both about myself, and about all: I do not so much lament concerning the marriage, although sorrowing: there are also many other Grecian women, both in sea-girt Ithaca itself, and in other cities; but if we are indeed so much inferior in strength to godlike Ulysses, that we cannot stretch the bow; a disgrace even for posterity to hear."

But him Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed in turn: "O Eurymachus, it will not be so; and thou thyself also knowest it. For now there is a holy feast of the god^[11] amongst the people; and who could stretch the bow? but lay it aside quietly: and let us also suffer all the hatchets to stand, for I think not that any one will take them away, entering the palace of Ulysses, son of Laertes. But come, let the wine-pourer make the first offerings with the cups, that having made libations we may lay aside the crooked bow. But in the morning desire Melanthius the goatherd, to bring goats, far the best in all the flocks, that offering thighs to bow-renowned Apollo, we may try the bow, and end the contest."

Thus spoke Antinous; and his discourse pleased them. And the heralds poured water upon their hands, and youths crowned the bowls with wine; and they distributed to all, having made the first offerings with the cups. But when they had made libations, and drunk as much as their mind wished, much-planning Ulysses, devising a stratagem, addressed them:

"Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen, [while I speak the things which the mind in my breast desires me]. But I especially beseech Eurymachus and godlike Antinous, since he has spoken this word rightly: now indeed cease from the bow, and commit it to the gods: but in the morning the deity will give strength to whom he is willing. But come, give me the well-polished bow, that I may try my hands and strength with you, if I have still the strength, such as I before had in my bending limbs, or whether now my wandering and want of care has destroyed it for me."

Thus he spoke; but they all were exceedingly indignant, dreading lest he should stretch the well-polished bow. And Antinous chided him, and spoke a word, and addressed him:

"Ah wretched one of strangers! thou hast not even a little understanding; art thou not content, that thou feastest quietly amongst us most^[12] noble men? nor art thou at all deprived of the banquet, but thou hearest our words and conversation: nor does any other stranger and beggar hear our discourse. Sweet wine hurts thee, which harms others also, whoever takes it too abundantly, nor drinks properly. Wine also inspired the illustrious Centaur Eurytion in the palace of magnanimous Pirithous, when he came to the Lapithæ: but he, when he had injured his mind with wine, in madness did wicked deeds in the house of Pirithous: but grief seized upon the heroes, and rushing upon them, they dragged them out of doors through the vestibule, having cut off their ears and nostrils with the sharp brass; but he, injured in his feelings, went about, enduring that calamity with a frantic mind, from whence there was strife between the Centaurs and men, for overcome with wine he brought the evil upon himself first. So also I declare great mischief to thee, if thou stretchest the bow: for thou wilt not meet with any defence in our house, but we will soon send thee in a black ship to king Echetus, who injures all mortals; and thou wilt not be saved from thence. But drink quietly, nor contend with younger men."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "O Antinous, it is not indeed honourable or just to vex the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house. Dost thou expect, if the stranger should bend the great bow of Ulysses, trusting in his hands and his own might, that he would lead me home, and make me his wife? He did not himself ever hope this in his breast. Nor let any one of you, on that account grieving his mind, banquet here; since indeed it is not fit."

But her Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered in turn: "O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, we do not think that he will carry thee home; nor is it likely: but being ashamed of the rumour of men and women, lest at some time some other of the Grecians who is worse should say, Very inferior men indeed woo the wife of a blameless man; since they cannot bend the well-polished bow. But some other beggar man coming as a wanderer, easily bent the bow, and sent [the arrow] through the steel. Thus they will speak; but these things would be reproaches to us."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "O Eurymachus, it is not possible that they should be glorious amongst the people, who consume the property of an excellent man, doing him wrong. Why do ye bring these reproaches upon yourselves? But this stranger is very mighty [in stature] and well-compacted, and in race he boasts himself to be the son of a good man. But come, give to him the well-polished bow, that we may see: for thus I tell you, and this shall be performed; if he should bend it, and Apollo should give him glory, I will put a cloak on him, and a tunic, beautiful garments. And I will give to him a sharp javelin, to ward off dogs and men, and a double-edged sword: and I will give him sandals under his feet, and will send him, wherever his heart and mind desires him."

But her prudent Telemachus answered in turn; "O my mother, no one of the Grecians is better than me, to give and refuse the bow, to whom I am willing: neither as many as rule over rugged Ithaca, nor as many as [rule] in the islands of horse-feeding Elis. Of these no one shall force me against my will, if I choose even to give the bow altogether to the stranger, to take away. But going into the house, take care of thine own works, the web, and the distaff, and desire thy handmaidens to hasten their work: but the bow shall be a care to all men, but especially mine: for the power in the house is mine."

She indeed astonished went back again into the house; for she laid up in her mind the prudent discourse of her son. And ascending to the upper room, with her women attendants, she then bewailed Ulysses, her dear husband; until blue-eyed Minerva shed sweet sleep over her eye-lids. But the divine swineherd taking the bow, carried it; and all the suitors in the palace chided him; and thus some one of the proud youths spoke:

"Where now art thou bearing the crooked bow, O unenviable swineherd, wandering fellow? The swift dogs which thou hast nourished over thy swine shall soon consume thee away from men, if Apollo and the other immortal gods are propitious to us."

Thus they spoke; but he taking them, laid them in their place, fearing, because many in the palace chided him. But Telemachus from the other side cried out threatening:

"Friend, bear the bow forward; (perchance thou wilt not obey all with advantage;) lest I, although younger, should drive you to the country, pelting thee with stones; for I am thy superior in strength. For would that I were so much superior to all the suitors, as many as are in the house, in my hands and strength; then would I soon send some one in a sad way to depart from my house; since they devise evil things."

Thus he spoke, but all the suitors laughed pleasantly at him; and relaxed their severe anger against Telemachus: but the swineherd taking the bow through the house, standing near to warlike Ulysses, placed it in his hands. And calling her aside he addressed the nurse Euryclea:

"Telemachus desires thee, O prudent Euryclea, to lock the closely-fitted doors of the palace. And if any one should hear a groaning or a noise within in our courts, let them not advance out of doors, but keep there in silence at their work."

Thus he spoke; but the word was unwinged: and she locked the doors of the well-built palace. And Philætius leaped out of doors in silence from the house, and then he locked the gates of the well-enclosed court. But there lay under the portico a rope of a ship rowed on both sides, made of the tree Byblos, with which he secured the gates, and himself went in. Then going he sat down upon the seat from whence he had arisen, looking at Ulysses: but he was now handling the bow, turning it up on all sides, trying it on one side and the other, for fear worms had eaten the horn, whilst the king was absent. And thus some one said, looking at another near him:

"Surely he is some admirer or stealer of bows, or he has such a one of his own at home, or he desires to make it: so much does the wanderer, skilled in evils, turn it in his hands on this side and that."

But another of the proud youths spoke in turn: "Would that he may meet with so much profit, as he will some time or other be able to bend this."^[13]

Thus spoke the suitors; but much-planning Ulysses, as soon as he handled the large bow, and looked at it upon all sides, as when a man skilled in the harp and in song easily stretches a cord upon a new pin, joining on both sides the well-twisted entrail of a sheep; so did Ulysses bend the great bow without difficulty. But with his right he laid hold of the string and tried it; and it twanged beautifully, like unto a swallow in voice. But great grief came upon the suitors, and the colour of all changed: but Jove thundered loudly, showing forth signs. Then much-enduring divine Ulysses rejoiced, because the son of wily-counselling Saturn had sent him an omen. And he took a swift arrow, which lay near him on the table, naked; but the others lay within the hollow quiver, which the Grecians were soon about to experience. Taking it upon his elbow, he drew the string, and the notch [of the arrow], from thence, sitting on his seat; and he sent forth the arrow, aiming opposite; but he did not miss all the hatchets from the first ring,^[14] and the brass-tipped arrow came entirely through the door; but he addressed Telemachus:

"O Telemachus, the stranger sitting in the palace does not disgrace thee; I have not at all missed the mark, nor did I labour for a long time stretching the bow: still is my strength firm; not even thus do the suitors, dishonouring me, blame me. But now it is time for the Grecians to prepare a supper in the light, but then also to be otherwise rejoiced^[15] with the song and harp: for these are the adornments of a feast."

He spoke, and nodded with his brows; but Telemachus, the dear son of divine Ulysses, girt his sharp sword around him: and he threw his hand round his spear; and stood by him near his seat, armed with shining brass.

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1. "Not so from the design of Penelope, but of Minerva, ut inde fieret cædis occasio et initium." Ernesti.
2. Not "thick" or "crassa," but "plump, well-fleshed," in opposition to "macilenta." See Ernesti.
3. Literally, "bent back," i. e. by the relaxation of the string.
4. ἐξεσία, ἡ δημοσια πρεσβεία, Eustathius, who compares ἔξεσις in Herodotus v. 40. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. i. p. 1286.
5. I am unwilling to desert the authority of Eustathius, Apoll. Lex. p. 464. Hesych. t. ii. p. 628. Etym. Magn. s. v. μῦθος, Cyrill. Lex. MS., (quoted by Alberti on Hesych. v. μυθητῆρες, στασιασταί,) and the Scholiast, in interpreting μῦθος in this passage. I am, however, willing to admit, with Loewe, that Barnes' explanation, making μῦθος here equivalent to πρᾶγμα, is more simple.
6. I have followed Buttmann, Lexil. p. 4, 7, whose discussion of the meanings of ἀάατος deserves the attention of the student.
7. See Ernesti.
8. Eustathius interprets κρώνη, either by τὸ τοῦ τόξου ἄκρον, or τὸ τῆς θύρας ἐπίσπαστροη, preferring, however, the former.
9. i. e. the bow.
10. "The δεσμὸς seems to have been a strap designed to close the only aperture by which the bolt could be displaced, and the door opened." Cowper.
11. Apollo.
12. Observe this sense of ὑπερφιάλοισι. See Buttm. Lex. p. 414.
13. i. e. as there is chance of his doing so, spoken ironically.
14. Στειλειὴ signifies that part of a hatchet in which the handle is inserted, and through which the arrow was then to be shot. Old Transl.
15. But see Eustathius apud Loewe.