The Odyssey, Page 67

  320-70: There was a silence. Then Agelaos said: Fair enough. No one can contest that! So, no more violence against the stranger or to any servant in Odysseus' house! And a friendly word to Telemachos and his mother, if they'll listen! While there was still hope that Odysseus would return, it was reasonable for you to hold on and restrain the suitors. But now it's plain he will never come back, tell your mother she must marry the best suitor, and leave you to enjoy your remaining patrimony, while she leaves to run another man's house. Telemachos replied: No, I wouldn't stop my mother remarrying any man she chose: indeed, I'd give her rich presents were she to do so! But I can't and won't drive her out against her will: heaven forfend! (320-44). Athene now aroused helpless laughter, that seemed not their own, among the suitors, and fuddled their wits. Their eyes streamed with tears, they seemed to be wailing, thought that the walls were blood-bedabbled. Theoklymenos said: Wretched men, what's happening to you? Wrapped in darkness are your heads and knees, there's wailing, you're weeping, the walls are bloodstained, the forecourt's crowded with ghosts making for Erebos, sunlight's vanished from the sky (345-57). So he said, but they just laughed. Eurymachos said: This newly arrived stranger is crazy! Boys, take him down to the assembly, since he finds it dark in here! Theoklymenos said: I don't need guides while I'm here! My eyes, ears, feet, and mind are all sound! Using them, I'm off! I see trouble coming on you abusers of Odysseus' house, that none of you will be able to avoid (358-70).

  371-94: With that he left, and went to Peiraios, who welcomed him. The suitors tried to annoy Telemachos by laughing at his guests, one of them saying: Telemachos, you're so unlucky in your guests! Here you have this dirty vagrant, always after food and wine, and unskilled in the arts of both warfare and of peace, a mere freeloader! And now there's this other fellow, spouting prophecies! If you take my advice, you'll ship these guests to the Sikels; at least you'd have cash for them then! Telemachos took no notice: he was watching his father for the sign to attack the suitors, while Penelope had put her chair where she could hear everyone in the hall. Amid their laughter, they had got a good dinner. But no dinner could have been less enjoyable than the one a goddess and a strong man were soon to offer them for having done wrong first.

  BOOK 21

  1-83: Athene now made Penelope think of setting the suitors the contest of the bow and the axes, that would be the beginning of death for them. She took the key and went with her handmaids to the storeroom in the back of the house where her husband's treasures were: gold, bronze, wrought iron--and his bow and quiver and arrows, a gift from Iphitos, whom he'd met in Messene, when on an embassy as a youth to collect a debt from the community. Iphitos too was there to recover some brood mares and suckling mules (which caused his death later, when Herakles killed him for them, guest though he was). The bow had belonged to Iphitos' father, Eurytos: Odysseus never took it to Troy (1-41). Penelope now unlocked the creaking storeroom doors, went to where the bow hung in its case, and took it down, and the quiver, and the arrows. Then she carried these back to the hall, and one of the handmaids carried a chest with the axes. To the suitors she said: Listen now, you who in the absence of my lord are devouring our resources without cease, with no better excuse than wanting to wed me! Now here's your prize in plain view: whoever strings the bow and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes, him I will marry, and leave this home of my first marriage. So saying, she told Eumaios to set out the axes. He did, weeping; and the cowherd, watching, wept too, at the sight of his master's bow (1-83).

  84-129: Antinoos rebuked them, saying: Why cry now, and disturb your mistress? She's sad enough already at the loss of her husband! Either sit quiet or go outside to cry and leave the bow for the contest--and it won't be easy to string: there's no man here now as strong as Odysseus was, and I saw him myself, when I was a child. So he spoke, but secretly still hoped to win the contest. Yet he would be in fact the first victim of the Odysseus whom he was now dishonoring. Then Telemachos said: Remarkable! Zeus must have addled my wits. My sensible mother says she'll remarry and leave this house, and here am I, laughing like an idiot! All right, you suitors, here's your prize--a lady unmatched in Pylos, Argos, Mykenai, or here on Ithake ! I think I'll try for it myself. If I win, I'll not mind her going--I'll be left here with the reputation of winning my father's contests! (84-117). With that he stripped off his cloak, dug a long trench, and stood the line of axes upright in it, tamped into the earth. Then he tried to string the bow. At the fourth attempt he was on the point of stringing it, but his father shook his head (118-29).

  130-85: Telemachos said: Maybe I'm just a weakling, can't trust myself against any angry opponent! So, you stronger fellows, proceed with the contest! With that he put down the bow, and sat down again. Antinoos said: Go to it from left to right, starting from where the cupbearer pours wine. All agreed. First came Leiodes, the soothsayer, who disapproved of the suitors' wanton behavior. But his unworn delicate hands were too weak. He said: Many princes will this bow kill! Better to die than live on and fail at that for which we're here. Still, those who fail can then court some other Achaian woman, while Penelope marries the suitor who offers her most (130-62). He then sat down. Antinoos said: What a thing to predict, that the bow will kill many because you can't string it! You can't, but others here soon will. He then asked Melanthios to light a fire and bring out a large wheel of tallow, for the contestants to rub and warm the bow with. This Melanthios did. But even so none was strong enough to string the bow (162-85).

  186-244: Meanwhile the swineherd, the cowherd, and Odysseus had all left the hall, and when they were outside the courtyard, Odysseus said: If Odysseus were to return now, would you side with him or the suitors? The cowherd said: Zeus grant that! Then you'd see how strong I was! Eumaios echoed him. At this Odysseus said: I am he, back home in the twentieth year! Of all my servants you're the only ones I've heard wanting me back! If a god lets us overcome the suitors, I'll give you wives, land, and homes, you'll be to me like brothers of Telemachos! And as proof, see the scar I got from a boar on Parnassos! (186-220). They looked, and saw, and embraced Odysseus, weeping. He stopped them, saying: Don't let anyone see us! We'll go back in separately, me first. The suitors will be against letting me have the bow. But you, Eumaios, as you carry it through the hall, give it to me, and tell the women to shut themselves in their quarters, and not to come out when they hear shouts and groans, but sit quiet. And you, Philoitios, are to close the courtyard gate, and rope it tight shut. With that he went back in to his seat, and the other two followed him (221-44).

  245-310: Eurymachos now tried, but even when the bow was warm he could not string it. Angrily he said: It's not so much for the lost marriage I'm sorry--there are other women. It's that we're so much weaker than Odysseus! This is something that'll be held against us in time to come! Antinoos said: That's not true, and you know it! Look, today's a feast day--no time for bow-bending! Let's leave the bow and the axes for now. Let's rather pour libations, and drink! Tomorrow morning Melanthios will bring us goats for sacrifice. We'll burn thigh-pieces to Apollo, the archer god, and then finish the contest (245-68). All agreed. They poured libations and drank. When they'd drunk all they wanted, Odysseus said: To Eurymachos and Antinoos--who's right to tell you all to postpone the contest till tomorrow--I now say: let me try the bow, and see if I still have the strength I used to have! They were all angry, scared he might string the bow. Antinoos said: Isn't it enough for you to feast in our company and, like no other beggar, hear our discourse? Your trouble is you've had too much wine! Like the Centaur Eurytion when he got drunk at Peirithoos' wedding feast. So sit still, and drink, and don't try to vie with your youngers and betters, or we'll ship you out to King Echetos, who'll maim and kill you! (269-310).

  311-434: Penelope now said to Antinoos: It's not good to deprive Telemachos' guests of their due ! Do you really suppose that even if this stranger strings Odysseus' bow, he means to cart me off and wed me? I doubt if this improper thought's so much as occurred to him! Don't let
that disturb your feasting! Eurymachos replied: We don't think he'd carry you off--that would be improper--but we feel embarrassed at the low gossip that might go round, like, these suitors are a feeble lot, they're courting the wife of a strong man, yet can't even string his bow, yet here comes some vagrant beggar, strings the bow and shoots an arrow through the axes! That would really put us to shame! Penelope replied: Can there be any good report on men who abuse and devour a nobleman's house? Why pick on this one thing? This stranger is tall and sturdy, and he says he's well-born. Give him a shot at it! And if he strings the bow, I'll give him fine clothes, and sandals, and a sword and javelin, and send him wherever he wants to go (311-42). Telemachos said: No man has a better right to give or withhold the bow than I do! No one will stop me, even if I choose to give it to the stranger as a gift. But you go to your room and do your own work, you and your women. The bow is men's business, and mine in particular. Amazed, she obeyed him. Meanwhile Eumaios had picked up the bow, and the suitors were in an uproar, threatening that dogs would devour him, so that he put the bow down, alarmed. But Telemachos told him to pick it up again, or he'd chase him with stones. If only, he added, he was a match for the suitors! They all now laughed at Telemachos, thinking him a joke rather than an enemy. So Eumaios took the bow and gave it to Odysseus. Then he called Eurykleia and gave her Telemachos' instructions: She and the women were to stay in their quarters, and not to come out when they heard cries and groans, but stick to their work. She said nothing, but went, shutting and barring the doors behind her (343-87). Now Philoitios hurried out, barred the courtyard gates, and roped them together with a ship's cable. Then he came back and watched Odysseus, who was checking the bow. Suitors, watching, commented: He must be a dealer, or an archer, the way he handles the bow. And: May he get as much profit from it as the likelihood he'll ever string it! (388-403). When Odysseus finished checking the bow, he strung it as easily as a musician adds a string to his lyre, tested it, and the string sang, sweet as a swallow. The suitors were alarmed. Zeus thundered. Odysseus took an arrow, aimed carefully, and shot it clean through the twelve axes. To Telemachos he said: The stranger hasn't embarrassed you! Nor is his strength broken, as these men think! Now it's time for supper for the Achaians, while it's still light, with song and dance to follow. He nodded to Telemachos, who took his sword and spear, and stood beside him (404-34).

  BOOK 22

  1-115: Odysseus now sprang to the threshold with the bow and a quiverful of arrows, exclaiming: The contest's over, and now I'll try for another target, hitherto untouched! He aimed at Antinoos, who, all unawares, was drinking from a gold cup. The arrow pierced his throat clean through. He fell, kicking over his table, and there was uproar in the hall. The suitors looked to the walls for weapons, but all were gone. They shouted at Odysseus: No more contests for you! You've killed the best young Achaian! You'll be food for vultures! They did not know their fate was sealed. Odysseus cried out: You thought I'd never return! You devoured my goods, seduced my maidservants, and came courting my wife while I was still alive! Now your fate's certain! (1-41). They quaked with fear, looked round for some way of escape. Eurymachos said: If you're really Odysseus come home, what you say about outrage in your home is true. But the man responsible for that, Antinoos, who wanted to kill your son and be king, is dead! Look, spare your own people! We'll repay you for all that was squandered here, in bronze and gold, twenty oxen's worth for each man! Short of that, no one could blame you for your rage! Odysseus replied: Not even in return for every man's patrimony would I hold back from killing every one of you! You can fight or run. I doubt that will save you! (42-68). They were all terrified. Eurymachos spoke again: The man has the bow. He won't stop till he's killed us all. So, draw your swords, and go for him, holding up the tables as shields! Get him away from the doorway, and we can get to town and raise the alarm. He'll soon have shot his last arrow then! He drew his own sword, rushed at Odysseus, who shot him at close range: the shaft pierced his liver. He dropped in agony. Amphinomos also charged, but Telemachos was too quick for him and speared him from behind. The spear drove right through to his breast, and Telemachos left it stuck in him, fearing a blow from behind as he tried to retrieve it. To his father he said: I'll get armor from the storeroom for you and me and the two herdsmen! Odysseus said: Yes, and quickly, while I still have arrows to hold them off! Telemachos hurried to the storeroom, returned with armor. They armed and lined up beside Odysseus (69-115).

  116-240: While he had arrows, Odysseus kept shooting: the suitors fell thick and fast. When the arrows were finished, he put down the bow, and armed. He also ordered Eumaios to guard the corridor leading out from a side-postern: it could only let through one man at a time. Someone should get out by it and raise the alarm, Agelaos suggested, but Melanthios pointed out that this wouldn't work: one good fighter could hold it against all comers. But he'd go to the storeroom and fetch armor for them, and he did so, enough for a dozen fighters (116-46). Odysseus, seeing them arming, guessed Melanthios was responsible. Telemachos apologized to his father, said he'd accidentally left the storeroom door open, and told Eumaios to go check for Melanthios. Eumaios saw Melanthios going back for more armor, and said: Shall I kill him or bring him back here? Odysseus said: Telemachos and I will hold them! You two go catch him, tie him up, hang him up there near the roof, hands behind his back. That'll hurt. Leave him there. They went, trapped Melanthios, tied him up, and swung him aloft. Eumaios said: A nice soft bed for you! Then he and the cowherd armed and rejoined Odysseus and Telemachos, four against many (147-204). Athene now approached in the likeness of Odysseus' friend Mentor, and Odysseus, knowing it was she, called out: Mentor, help us! But the suitors saw only Mentor, and Agelaos cried out to Athene: Mentor, don't let Odysseus trick you into joining him against the suitors! When we've killed him and his son, we'll kill you too, and get all your possessions to share, as well as those of Odysseus! And we'll not let your sons and daughters live on in Ithake ! (205-23). Athene said angrily to Odysseus: Where's the courage you displayed at Troy? How is it, now you're back home, you weep at the thought of showing your strength against these suitors? Come stand by me, and witness my deeds, and know what kind of man Mentor is, how he repays kindness! She still wasn't giving him full strength, was still testing him and his son. Now she flew up to the roof as a swallow, and sat there (224-40).

  241-329: The suitors were now led by Agelaos, Eurynomos, Amphimedon, Demoptolemos, Peisandros, and Polybos--the best of the suitors still surviving: most had succumbed to arrows. Agelaos said: We have him now! Mentor's gone, they're alone up there. So don't attack all at once--you six throw your spears first, and Zeus grant you get Odysseus! Once he's down, it's over. So they threw, but Athene made every shot miss. Odysseus then ordered an attack. Between them they knocked out Demoptolemos, Euryades, Elatos, and Peisandros: the suitors retreated to the back of the hall, while Odysseus and his men advanced and retrieved their spears from the corpses. Then the suitors threw again, and again Athene made them miss, except for two that grazed Telemachos and Eumaios, respectively. But when Odysseus and his men threw again, they downed Eurydamas, Amphimedon, Polybos, and Ktesipppos (241-84). Philoitios boasted over Ktesippos, saying his downfall was a return gift for the ox hoof he'd thrown at Odysseus. Odysseus now wounded Agelaos, and Telemachos, Leokritos. At this point Athene displayed her aegis, and the suitors fled like gadfly-plagued cattle in spring. Odysseus and his men now charged, striking them down right and left, and blood ran everywhere (285-309). Leiodes now supplicated Odysseus, saying that he, their soothsayer, had done no wrong. But Odysseus said: You must have prayed that I'd never return! and severed Leiodes' head from his shoulders while he was still talking (285-329).

  330-80: The minstrel, Phemios, also supplicated Odysseus, saying everyone would be sorry if deprived of his songs, and Telemachos could testify that he'd only played for the suitors under compulsion. Telemachos confirmed this, and also put in a plea for Medon, the herald, who heard him and emerged from hidi
ng, clasped his knees, and urged him to tell his father to spare him. Odysseus said: All right, he's saved you, now you and Phemios go outside and sit in the courtyard till I've finished this business. The two of them obeyed him, and went out, still scared they'd be killed (330-80).

  381-445: Odysseus looked round to see if any suitors were left alive. But they were all dead, lying in heaps like netted fish. So then he told Telemachos to fetch in Eurykleia. Telemachos went and summoned her, saying his father had something to tell her. In she came, and there was Odysseus, all bloodstained and filthy, like a lion after feeding. When she saw the dead and the blood, she started to ululate in triumph, but Odysseus stopped her, saying it was wrong to gloat over corpses, and these men had died through their own wanton folly (381-409). Then he asked her for the names of women guilty of misconduct. She said: Of the fifty here, twelve have erred, with no respect for me or Penelope. And Telemachos is only lately full-grown: his mother wouldn't give him authority over the women servants. Now let me break the news to your wife, who's asleep! Odysseus said: Don't wake her yet, but send me the misbehaving women! She went out and did this. Meanwhile, Odysseus told his son and Eumaios and Philoitios: Start carrying out the bodies. Get the women to help you. Then clean off the chairs and tables. When all is done, take the women out to the yard, and put them to the sword: let them forget the sex they enjoyed with the suitors (410-45).