Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/329

326—364. 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