four brass helmets with horse…hair plumes。 He brought them with all
speed to his father； and armed himself first； while the stockman and
the swineherd also put on their armour； and took their places near
Ulysses。 Meanwhile Ulysses； as long as his arrows lasted； had been
shooting the suitors one by one； and they fell thick on one another：
when his arrows gave out； he set the bow to stand against the end wall
of the house by the door post； and hung a shield four hides thick
about his shoulders； on his comely head he set his helmet； well
wrought with a crest of horse…hair that nodded menacingly above it；
and he grasped two redoubtable bronze…shod spears。
Now there was a trap door on the wall； while at one end of the
pavement there was an exit leading to a narrow passage； and this
exit was closed by a well…made door。 Ulysses told Philoetius to
stand by this door and guard it； for only one person could attack it
at a time。 But Agelaus shouted out； 〃Cannot some one go up to the trap
door and tell the people what is going on？ Help would come at once；
and we should soon make an end of this man and his shooting。〃
〃This may not be； Agelaus；〃 answered Melanthius； 〃the mouth of the
narrow passage is dangerously near the entrance to the outer court。
One brave man could prevent any number from getting in。 But I know
what I will do； I will bring you arms from the store room； for I am
sure it is there that Ulysses and his son have put them。〃
On this the goatherd Melanthius went by back passages to the store
room of Ulysses； house。 There he chose twelve shields； with as many
helmets and spears； and brought them back as fast as he could to
give them to the suitors。 Ulysses' heart began to fail him when he saw
the suitors putting on their armour and brandishing their spears。 He
saw the greatness of the danger； and said to Telemachus； 〃Some one
of the women inside is helping the suitors against us； or it may be
Melanthius。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃The fault； father； is mine； and mine only； I
left the store room door open； and they have kept a sharper look out
than I have。 Go； Eumaeus； put the door to； and see whether it is one
of the women who is doing this； or whether； as I suspect； it is
Melanthius the son of Dolius。〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Melanthius was again going to
the store room to fetch more armour； but the swineherd saw him and
said to Ulysses who was beside him； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； it
is that scoundrel Melanthius； just as we suspected； who is going to
the store room。 Say； shall I kill him； if I can get the better of him；
or shall I bring him here that you may take your own revenge for all
the many wrongs that he has done in your house？〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Telemachus and I will hold these suitors in
check； no matter what they do； go back both of you and bind
Melanthius' hands and feet behind him。 Throw him into the store room
and make the door fast behind you； then fasten a noose about his body；
and string him close up to the rafters from a high bearing…post；
that he may linger on in an agony。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said； they went to
the store room； which they entered before Melanthius saw them； for
he was busy searching for arms in the innermost part of the room； so
the two took their stand on either side of the door and waited。 By and
by Melanthius came out with a helmet in one hand； and an old
dry…rotted shield in the other； which had been borne by Laertes when
he was young； but which had been long since thrown aside； and the
straps had become unsewn； on this the two seized him； dragged him back
by the hair； and threw him struggling to the ground。 They bent his
hands and feet well behind his back； and bound them tight with a
painful bond as Ulysses had told them； then they fastened a noose
about his body and strung him up from a high pillar till he was
close up to the rafters； and over him did you then vaunt； O
swineherd Eumaeus； saying； 〃Melanthius； you will pass the night on a
soft bed as you deserve。 You will know very well when morning comes
from the streams of Oceanus； and it is time for you to be driving in
your goats for the suitors to feast on。〃
There； then； they left him in very cruel bondage； and having put
on their armour they closed the door behind them and went back to take
their places by the side of Ulysses； whereon the four men stood in the
cloister； fierce and full of fury； nevertheless； those who were in the
body of the court were still both brave and many。 Then Jove's daughter
Minerva came up to them； having assumed the voice and form of
Mentor。 Ulysses was glad when he saw her and said； 〃Mentor； lend me
your help； and forget not your old comrade； nor the many good turns he
has done you。 Besides； you are my age…mate。〃
But all the time he felt sure it was Minerva； and the suitors from
the other side raised an uproar when they saw her。 Agelaus was the
first to reproach her。 〃Mentor；〃 he cried； 〃do not let Ulysses beguile
you into siding with him and fighting the suitors。 This is what we
will do： when we have killed these people； father and son； we will
kill you too。 You shall pay for it with your head； and when we have
killed you； we will take all you have； in doors or out； and bring it
into hotch…pot with Ulysses' property； we will not let your sons
live in your house； nor your daughters； nor shall your widow
continue to live in the city of Ithaca。〃
This made Minerva still more furious； so she scolded Ulysses very
angrily。 〃Ulysses；〃 said she； 〃your strength and prowess are no longer
what they were when you fought for nine long years among the Trojans
about the noble lady Helen。 You killed many a man in those days； and
it was through your stratagem that Priam's city was taken。 How comes
it that you are so lamentably less valiant now that you are on your
own ground； face to face with the suitors in your own house？ Come
on； my good fellow； stand by my side and see how Mentor； son of
Alcinous shall fight your foes and requite your kindnesses conferred
upon him。〃
But she would not give him full victory as yet； for she wished still
further to prove his own prowess and that of his brave son； so she
flew up to one of the rafters in the roof of the cloister and sat upon
it in the form of a swallow。
Meanwhile Agelaus son of Damastor； Eurynomus； Amphimedon；
Demoptolemus； Pisander； and Polybus son of Polyctor bore the brunt
of the fight upon the suitors' side； of all those who were still
fighting for their lives they were by far the most valiant； for the
others had already fallen under the arrows of Ulysses。 Agelaus shouted
to them and said； 〃My friends； he will soon have to leave off； for
Mentor has gone away after having done nothing for him but brag。
They are standing at the doors unsupported。 Do not aim at him all at
once； but six of you throw your spears first； and see if you cannot
cover yourselves with glory by killing him。 When he has fallen we need
not be uneasy about the others。〃
They threw their spears as he bade them； but Minerva made them all
of no effect。 One hit the door post； another went against the door；
the pointed shaft of another struck the wall； and as soon as they
had avoided all the spears of the suitors Ulysses said to his own men；
〃My friends； I should say we too had better let drive into the
middle of them； or they will crown all the harm they have done us by
us outright。〃
They therefore aimed straight in front of them and threw their
spears。 Ulysses killed Demoptolemus； Telemachus Euryades； Eumaeus
Elatus； while the stockman killed Pisander。 These all bit the dust；
and as the others drew back into a corner Ulysses and his men rushed
forward and regained their spears by drawing them from the bodies of
the dead。
The suitors now aimed a second time； but again Minerva made their
weapons for the most part without effect。 One hit a bearing…post of
the cloister； another went against the door； while the pointed shaft
of another struck the wall。 Still； Amphimedon just took a piece of the
top skin from off Telemachus's wrist； and Ctesippus managed to graze
Eumaeus's shoulder above his shield； but the spear went on and fell to
the ground。 Then Ulysses and his men let drive into the crowd of
suitors。 Ulysses hit Eurydamas； Telemachus Amphimedon； and Eumaeus
Polybus。 After this the stockman hit Ctesippus in the breast； and
taunted him saying； 〃Foul…mouthed son of Polytherses； do not be so
foolish as to talk wickedly another time； but let heaven direct your
speech； for the gods are far stronger than men。 I make you a present
of this advice to repay you for the foot which you gave Ulysses when
he was begging about in his own house。〃
Thus spoke the stockman； and Ulysses struck the son of Damastor with
a spear in close fight； while Telemachus hit Leocritus son of Evenor
in the belly； and the dart went clean through him； so that he fell
forward full on his face upon the ground。 Then Minerva from her seat
on the rafter held up her deadly aegis； and the hearts of the
suitors quailed。 They fled to the other end of the court like a herd
of cattle maddened by the gadfly in early summer when the days are
at their lon