Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/330

294 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