begging。〃
〃Eurymachus；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃if you and I were to work one
against the other in early summer when the days are at their
longest… give me a good scythe； and take another yourself； and let
us see which will fast the longer or mow the stronger； from dawn
till dark when the mowing grass is about。 Or if you will plough
against me； let us each take a yoke of tawny oxen； well…mated and of
great strength and endurance： turn me into a four acre field； and
see whether you or I can drive the straighter furrow。 If； again； war
were to break out this day； give me a shield； a couple of spears and a
helmet fitting well upon my temples… you would find me foremost in the
fray； and would cease your gibes about my belly。 You are insolent
and cruel； and think yourself a great man because you live in a little
world； ind that a bad one。 If Ulysses comes to his own again； the
doors of his house are wide； but you will find them narrow when you
try to fly through them。〃
Eurymachus was furious at all this。 He scowled at him and cried；
〃You wretch； I will soon pay you out for daring to say such things
to me； and in public too。 Has the wine been getting into your head
or do you always babble in this way？ You seem to have lost your wits
because you beat the tramp Irus。 With this he caught hold of a
footstool； but Ulysses sought protection at the knees of Amphinomus of
Dulichium； for he was afraid。 The stool hit the cupbearer on his right
hand and knocked him down： the man fell with a cry flat on his back；
and his wine…jug fell ringing to the ground。 The suitors in the
covered cloister were now in an uproar； and one would turn towards his
neighbour； saying； 〃I wish the stranger had gone somewhere else； bad
luck to hide； for all the trouble he gives us。 We cannot permit such
disturbance about a beggar； if such ill counsels are to prevail we
shall have no more pleasure at our banquet。〃
On this Telemachus came forward and said； 〃Sirs； are you mad？ Can
you not carry your meat and your liquor decently？ Some evil spirit has
possessed you。 I do not wish to drive any of you away； but you have
had your suppers； and the sooner you all go home to bed the better。〃
The suitors bit their lips and marvelled at the boldness of his
speech； but Amphinomus the son of Nisus； who was son to Aretias； said；
〃Do not let us take offence； it is reasonable； so let us make no
answer。 Neither let us do violence to the stranger nor to any of
Ulysses' servants。 Let the cupbearer go round with the
drink…offerings； that we may make them and go home to our rest。 As for
the stranger； let us leave Telemachus to deal with him； for it is to
his house that he has come。〃
Thus did he speak； and his saying pleased them well； so Mulius of
Dulichium； servant to Amphinomus； mixed them a bowl of wine and
water and handed it round to each of them man by man； whereon they
made their drink…offerings to the blessed gods： Then； when they had
made their drink…offerings and had drunk each one as he was minded；
they took their several ways each of them to his own abode。
BOOK XIX。
ULYSSES was left in the cloister； pondering on the means whereby
with Minerva's help he might be able to kill the suitors。 Presently he
said to Telemachus； 〃Telemachus； we must get the armour together and
take it down inside。 Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you
have removed it。 Say that you have taken it to be out of the way of
the smoke； inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses went
away； but has become soiled and begrimed with soot。 Add to this more
particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel
over their wine； and that they may do each other some harm which may
disgrace both banquet and wooing； for the sight of arms sometimes
tempts people to use them。〃
Telemachus approved of what his father had said； so he called
nurse Euryclea and said； 〃Nurse； shut the women up in their room；
while I take the armour that my father left behind him down into the
store room。 No one looks after it now my father is gone； and it has
got all smirched with soot during my own boyhood。 I want to take it
down where the smoke cannot reach it。〃
〃I wish； child；〃 answered Euryclea； 〃that you would take the
management of the house into your own hands altogether； and look after
all the property yourself。 But who is to go with you and light you
to the store room？ The maids would have so； but you would not let
them。
〃The stranger；〃 said Telemachus； 〃shall show me a light； when people
eat my bread they must earn it； no matter where they come from。〃
Euryclea did as she was told； and bolted the women inside their
room。 Then Ulysses and his son made all haste to take the helmets；
shields； and spears inside； and Minerva went before them with a gold
lamp in her hand that shed a soft and brilliant radiance； whereon
Telemachus said； 〃Father； my eyes behold a great marvel： the walls；
with the rafters； crossbeams； and the supports on which they rest
are all aglow as with a flaming fire。 Surely there is some god here
who has come down from heaven。〃
〃Hush；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃hold your peace and ask no questions； for
this is the manner of the gods。 Get you to your bed； and leave me here
to talk with your mother and the maids。 Your mother in her grief
will ask me all sorts of questions。〃
On this Telemachus went by torch…light to the other side of the
inner court； to the room in which he always slept。 There he lay in his
bed till morning； while Ulysses was left in the cloister pondering
on the means whereby with Minerva's help he might be able to kill
the suitors。
Then Penelope came down from her room looking like Venus or Diana；
and they set her a seat inlaid with scrolls of silver and ivory near
the fire in her accustomed place。 It had been made by Icmalius and had
a footstool all in one piece with the seat itself； and it was
covered with a thick fleece： on this she now sat； and the maids came
from the women's room to join her。 They set about removing the
tables at which the wicked suitors had been dining； and took away
the bread that was left； with the cups from which they had drunk。 They
emptied the embers out of the braziers； and heaped much wood upon them
to give both light and heat； but Melantho began to rail at Ulysses a
second time and said； 〃Stranger； do you mean to plague us by hanging
about the house all night and spying upon the women？ Be off； you
wretch； outside； and eat your supper there； or you shall be driven out
with a firebrand。〃
Ulysses scowled at her and answered； 〃My good woman； why should
you be so angry with me？ Is it because I am not clean； and my
clothes are all in rags； and because I am obliged to go begging
about after the manner of tramps and beggars generall？ I too was a
rich man once； and had a fine house of my own； in those days I gave to
many a tramp such as I now am； no matter who he might be nor what he
wanted。 I had any number of servants； and all the other things which
people have who live well and are accounted wealthy； but it pleased
Jove to take all away from me； therefore； woman； beware lest you too
come to lose that pride and place in which you now wanton above your
fellows； have a care lest you get out of favour with your mistress；
and lest Ulysses should come home； for there is still a chance that he
may do so。 Moreover； though he be dead as you think he is； yet by
Apollo's will he has left a son behind him； Telemachus； who will
note anything done amiss by the maids in the house； for he is now no
longer in his boyhood。〃
Penelope heard what he was saying and scolded the maid； 〃Impudent
baggage； said she； 〃I see how abominably you are behaving； and you
shall smart for it。 You knew perfectly well； for I told you myself；
that I was going to see the stranger and ask him about my husband； for
whose sake I am in such continual sorrow。〃
Then she said to her head waiting woman Eurynome； 〃Bring a seat with
a fleece upon it； for the stranger to sit upon while he tells his
story； and listens to what I have to say。 I wish to ask him some
questions。〃
Eurynome brought the seat at once and set a fleece upon it； and as
soon as Ulysses had sat down Penelope began by saying； 〃Stranger； I
shall first ask you who and whence are you？ Tell me of your town and
parents。〃
〃Madam；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃who on the face of the whole earth can
dare to chide with you？ Your fame reaches the firmament of heaven
itself； you are like some blameless king； who upholds righteousness；
as the monarch over a great and valiant nation： the earth yields its
wheat and barley； the trees are loaded with fruit； the ewes bring
forth lambs； and the sea abounds with fish by reason of his virtues；
and his people do good deeds under him。 Nevertheless； as I sit here in
your house； ask me some other question and do not seek to know my race
and family； or you will recall memories that will yet more increase my
sorrow。 I am full of heaviness； but I ought not to sit weeping and
wailing in another person's house； nor is it well to be thus
grieving continually。 I shall have one of the servants or even
yourself complaining of me； and saying that my