thou receivest much. This threshold will contain us both; nor is it fit that thou shouldst grudge what belongs to others: but thou seemest to me to be a wanderer, even as I; but the gods have the power to bestow wealth. But do not challenge me too much to [strife of] of hands, lest thou shouldst make me wroth, lest, although being aged, I shall defile thy breast and lips with blood; and to-morrow there would be still more quiet for me: for I do not at all think that thou wilt return a second time to the house of Ulysses, son of Laertes."

66

But him the wanderer Irus enraged addressed: "O gods! how glibly this gluttonous fellow harangues, like unto an old woman covered with soot ;6 against whom I would devise evil, smiting him with both [hands], and would drive all the teeth out of his jaws upon the ground, as of a swine that eats the wheat in the field. Now gird thyself, that all these may behold us fighting; but how wouldst thou contend with a younger man?”

Thus they before the lofty gates on the polished threshold were irritated [each other] with all their mind. And the sacred might of Antinous set them twain together, and laughing out pleasantly, he addressed the suitors:

"O friends, such a thing has never before been done: what a delight has the deity brought to this house! The stranger and Irus are contending with one another, so as to come to blows with their hands; and we will soon set them together."

Thus he spoke; and they all rose up laughing; and they formed a ring round the ill-clad beggars. And them Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed:

"Hear me, noble suitors, whilst I say something. These paunches of goats are cooking on the fire; and having filled them with fat and blood, we lay them aside for supper: but whichever conquers, and is the superior, let him, rising up, take whichever of them he chooses; and afterwards he shall always feast amongst us, nor will we suffer any other beggar to come amongst us to ask alms."

s This seems the best way of expressing μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν. Mr. Burges would render it, "delay to give," quoting Orest. 420, MEXλε Tò θεῖον γ ̓ ἔστι τοιοῦτον φύσει.

6

66

Perhaps, an old cinder-wench." See Eustathius, with Hesych. t. i. p. 858, and t. ii. p. 132.

Thus spoke Antinous; and his discourse pleased them. But them much-planning Ulysses, thinking cunningly, addressed:

"O friends, it is not possible for an old man, spent with toil, to fight with a younger man; but my ill-working belly excites me, that I should be subdued by blows. But come now, all of you swear a strong oath to me, that no one gratifying Irus will wickedly strike me with his stout hand, and violently subdue me for him."

Thus he spoke; and they all swore that they would not [do so], as he desired them. But when they had sworn, and had concluded the oath, them the sacred might of Telemachus addressed in turn:

"O stranger, if thy heart and noble mind incites thee to drive him out, do not fear any one else of the Grecians: since whoever strikes thee will contend with greater numbers. I am the host, and the kings Eurymachus and Antinous, both prudent men, agree with me."

Thus he spoke; and they all approved: but Ulysses girded his middle around with rags, and showed his beautiful and large thighs; and his broad shoulders, and breast, and strong arms appeared: but Minerva, standing near him, increased the limbs of the shepherd of the people. And all the suitors were excessively astonished, and thus some one said, looking to another near him :

"Soon indeed will Irus, unhappily so called, have evil drawn on himself, such a thigh does the old man show from out his rags."

Thus they spoke; but the mind of Irus was sadly moved, but even so the attendants, having girded him, brought him by force, although afraid: and his flesh trembled on his limbs. But Antinous chided him, and spoke and said:

'Now, O mighty boaster,8 mayest thou no longer live, or exist, if indeed thou tremblest at and greatly fearest this old man, overcome with the toil which comes upon him. But I tell thee plainly, and this shall be accomplished; if he conquers thee, and is superior to thee, I will send thee to Epirus,

Literally, "Irus no-Irus."

8 From Bous: great, large, (see note on Esch. Ag. p. 96, n. 7, ed. Bohn,) and yaíw or yáw to boast, brag. Cf. Apollon. Lex. s. v. and Hesych. βουγάϊον, μεγάλως ἐφ' ἑαυτῷ γαυριῶντα.

casting you into a black ship, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals; who will cut off thy nose and ears with the cruel brass, and drawing out thy privy parts, will give them raw to the dogs to feed upon."

Thus he spoke but trembling still more seized upon his limbs and they brought him into a middle spot, and both held up their hands. Then much-enduring divine Ulysses meditated, whether he should strike him so that life should leave him falling there; or should strike him lightly, and prostrate him on the earth. And thus to him considering it seemed to be better to strike him lightly, that the Grecians might not have any notion of him.9 Then both uplifting [their hands], Irus struck him on his right shoulder; but he struck his neck under the ear, and broke his bones within: and the purple blood immediately came through his mouth, and he fell stretched in the dust groaning, and gnashed his teeth together, kicking the earth with his feet: but the noble suitors lifting up their hands were ready to die with laughter: but Ulysses, taking him by the foot, dragged him through out of the portico, until he reached the court and the doors of the portico; and he set him down, reclining him against the fence of the court; and he put his staff in his hand, and addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Sit now here, and keep off the dogs and swine; nor do thou, being a pitiful wretch, be the prince of strangers and beggars, lest by chance thou shouldst reap some even greater evil.'

He spoke; and threw his unseemly satchel around his shoulders, very tattered; and there was a twisted cord to hold it.10 And going back to the threshold, he sat down; but they went within laughing pleasantly, and greeted him with words:

"May Jove and the other immortal gods grant thee, O stranger, whatever thou most desirest, and is dear to thy mind, thou, who hast made this insatiable fellow cease to beg amongst the people; for we will soon take him over to Epirus, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals."

Thus they spoke; but divine Ulysses rejoiced in the omen; and Antinous placed a large paunch near him, full of fat and blood; and Amphinomus, taking two loaves out of a basket, placed them near him, and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:

9 i. e. guess who he really was.

10 See on xvii. 199.

"Hail, father stranger! may there be happiness for thee hereafter, but now thou art possessed by many ills."

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O Amphinomus, thou seemest to me to be very prudent: for [thou art] of such a sire: since I have heard his excellent. renown, that he is Dulichian Nisus, both brave and opulent: from him they say that thou art born; but thou art like unto an eloquent man. Therefore I tell thee; and do thou consider it, and listen to me. The earth nourishes nothing weaker than man, of all the things, whatever breathe and creep upon the earth. For he says that he shall never suffer any ill hereafter, while the gods give him excellence, and his knees move; but when the blessed gods bring to pass grievous things also, then he bears them too, unwillingly, with a suffering mind. For such is the mind of men upon the earth, as is the day which the father of men and of gods brings on.11 For I once was prosperous amongst men, and did many infatuate things, yielding to violence and strength, trusting in my father and my brothers. Therefore let not any man be at all lawless, but let him in silence keep the gifts of the gods, whatever they give him. What impious things I perceive the suitors devising, wasting the possessions and dishonouring the wife of a man, whom I do not think will be long absent from his friends and his paternal land; but [he is] very near! yet may the deity take thee out away homeward in secret, nor mayest thou meet him, when he returns to his dear paternal land; for I do not think that the suitors and he will separate without blood, when he comes under the roof."

Thus he spoke; and having poured out a libation, he drank sweet wine and again he placed the cup in the hands of the leader of the people. But he went through the house, grieving in his dear heart, nodding with his head: for his mind already foreboded. But not thus did he escape Fate; for Minerva bound him, so that he should be bravely overcome by the hand and spear of Telemachus. And he sat down again on the throne from whence he rose. But the blue

11 Thus translated by Cicero apud August. de Civ. Dei, v. 8: "Tales sunt hominum menteis, qualis pater ipse Jupiter auctiferus lustravit lumine terras."

Cf. Max. Tyr. Diss. i. p. 6, and Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 252, sq.

eyed goddess Minerva put it in the mind of the daughter of Icarus, prudent Penelope, to appear to the suitors, that as much as possible she might lay open the mind of the suitors, and be more honoured by her husband and son, than she was before. And she laughed feignedly, and spoke and said:

"Eurynome, my mind desires, though [it did not] before, to appear to the suitors, however detested. But I would speak a word to my son, which would be better, not altogether to associate with the overbearing suitors, who speak well indeed, but intend evilly afterwards."

But her the housekeeper Eurynome addressed in turn: “Of a truth indeed, my child, thou hast spoken all these things rightly; but go, and tell thy son, nor conceal it, having washed thy body and anointed thy cheeks. Do not go thus, defiled as to thy face with tears; since it is worse to grieve for ever without ceasing. For now thy son is of such an age, as thou especially didst pray to the immortals, when he was born, that thou shouldst see him with a beard."

66

But her prudent Penelope addressed in turn: O Eurynome, do not advise me this, although anxious for me, to wash my body and anoint myself with oil: for the gods who possess Olympus, have destroyed my beauty, since he departed in his hollow ships. But command Autonoe and Hippodamia to come to me, that they may stand near me in the palace, for I will not go alone amongst men; for I am ashamed."

Thus she spoke; and the old woman went through out of the palace, to bear word to the women, and to urge them to return. Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva meditated something else; she shed sweet sleep upon the daughter of Icarus, and lying down she slumbered, and all her limbs were loosed there in the couch: in the mean time the divine one of goddesses gave her immortal gifts, that the Grecians might admire her: first she anointed her beauteous face with ambrosial loveliness, such as that with which beautiful-crowned Venus is anointed, when she goes to the delightful chorus of the Graces. And she made her taller and larger to look upon: and she made her whiter than sawn ivory. The divine one of goddesses thus having done, departed. And the whitearmed handmaidens came from the palace, talking as they