# The Odyssey, Book 21: The Contest of the Bow

Ὀδύσσεια · Homer · The Homecoming

Penelope brings out the great bow. No suitor can string it. The beggar strings it without rising and shoots through the twelve axes.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/21. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/odyssey/21.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/odyssey/<line id>.m4a.

**1** τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,  
Then the goddess bright-eyed Athena put it in her mind,
> Epithet of Athena: "Bright-eyed" (or "gleaming-eyed") is Athena's standard formulaic epithet, recurring throughout Homer.

**2** κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,  
in the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

**3** τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον  
to set out the bow for the suitors and the gray iron

**4** ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος, ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.  
in Odysseus' halls, as a contest and the beginning of slaughter.

**5** κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν προσεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,  
She went up the high stairway of her house,

**6** εἵλετο δὲ κληῗδʼ εὐκαμπέα χειρὶ παχείῃ  
and took in her strong hand the well-curved key,

**7** καλὴν χαλκείην· κώπη δʼ ἐλέφαντος ἐπῆεν.  
a fine one of bronze; and on it was a handle of ivory.

**8** βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν  
She made her way to the storeroom with her serving women,

**9** ἔσχατον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος,  
the farthest one; there lay her lord's treasures,

**10** χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος.  
bronze and gold and much-wrought iron.

**11** ἔνθα δὲ τόξον κεῖτο παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρη  
There lay the back-bent bow and the quiver,

**12** ἰοδόκος, πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί,  
the arrow-holder, and many groaning shafts were within it,
> "Groaning" arrows: The arrows are called "groaning" or "causing groans"—they make their victims groan. A vivid Homeric transferred epithet.

**13** δῶρα τά οἱ ξεῖνος Λακεδαίμονι δῶκε τυχήσας  
gifts that a friend had given him when he met him in Lacedaemon,

**14** Ἴφιτος Εὐρυτίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισι.  
Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals.

**15** τὼ δʼ ἐν Μεσσήνῃ ξυμβλήτην ἀλλήλοιϊν  
The two of them met one another in Messene,
> Dual number: τὼ and ξυμβλήτην are dual forms, used for exactly two—here Odysseus and Iphitus meeting each other.

**16** οἴκῳ ἐν Ὀρτιλόχοιο δαΐφρονος. ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς  
in the house of warlike Ortilochus. Indeed Odysseus

**17** ἦλθε μετὰ χρεῖος, τό ῥά οἱ πᾶς δῆμος ὄφελλε·  
had come to recover a debt that the whole people owed him;

**18** μῆλα γὰρ ἐξ Ἰθάκης Μεσσήνιοι ἄνδρες ἄειραν  
for men of Messene had carried off sheep from Ithaca,

**19** νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.  
three hundred of them, in their many-benched ships, along with the herdsmen.

**20** τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἐξεσίην πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθεν Ὀδυσσεὺς  
On their account Odysseus came on a long journey as an envoy,

**21** παιδνὸς ἐών· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε πατὴρ ἄλλοι τε γέροντες.  
while still a boy; for his father and the other elders sent him.

**22** Ἴφιτος αὖθʼ ἵππους διζήμενος, αἵ οἱ ὄλοντο  
Iphitus in turn had come seeking horses that he had lost,

**23** δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοί·  
twelve mares, with hardy mule foals beneath them at the teat;

**24** αἳ δή οἱ καὶ ἔπειτα φόνος καὶ μοῖρα γένοντο,  
and these afterward proved his death and his doom,

**25** ἐπεὶ δὴ Διὸς υἱὸν ἀφίκετο καρτερόθυμον,  
when he came to the stout-hearted son of Zeus,

**26** φῶθʼ Ἡρακλῆα, μεγάλων ἐπιίστορα ἔργων,  
the man Heracles, who knew great deeds of violence,

**27** ὅς μιν ξεῖνον ἐόντα κατέκτανεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,  
who killed him, his guest though he was, in his own house—

**28** σχέτλιος, οὐδὲ θεῶν ὄπιν ᾐδέσατʼ οὐδὲ τράπεζαν,  
reckless man, with no awe of the gods' eye nor of the table

**29** τὴν ἥν οἱ παρέθηκεν· ἔπειτα δὲ πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν,  
he had set before him; then he slew him too,

**30** ἵππους δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχε κρατερώνυχας ἐν μεγάροισι.  
and himself kept the strong-hoofed mares in his halls.

**31** τὰς ἐρέων Ὀδυσῆϊ συνήντετο, δῶκε δὲ τόξον,  
Seeking these, Iphitus fell in with Odysseus and gave him the bow,

**32** τὸ πρὶν μέν ῥʼ ἐφόρει μέγας Εὔρυτος, αὐτὰρ ὁ παιδὶ  
which great Eurytus had carried before; but to his son

**33** κάλλιπʼ ἀποθνῄσκων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι.  
he left it when he died in his lofty halls.

**34** τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ξίφος ὀξὺ καὶ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἔδωκεν,  
To him Odysseus gave a sharp sword and a strong spear,

**35** ἀρχὴν ξεινοσύνης προσκηδέος· οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ  
the beginning of a heartfelt guest-friendship; yet at the table

**36** γνώτην ἀλλήλων· πρὶν γὰρ Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπεφνεν  
they never came to know each other, for first the son of Zeus killed

**37** Ἴφιτον Εὐρυτίδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν,  
Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals,

**38** ὅς οἱ τόξον ἔδωκε. τὸ δʼ οὔ ποτε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
who had given him the bow. But noble Odysseus never

**39** ἐρχόμενος πόλεμόνδε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν  
took it with him to war on his black ships;

**40** ᾑρεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ μνῆμα ξείνοιο φίλοιο  
rather it lay at home, a keepsake of a dear friend,

**41** κέσκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, φόρει δέ μιν ἧς ἐπὶ γαίης.  
and he carried it only in his own land.

**42** ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ θάλαμον τὸν ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν  
But when she came to that storeroom, that woman among women,
> "Noble among women": A formulaic phrase of praise, literally "divine of women," marking Penelope's distinction.

**43** οὐδόν τε δρύϊνον προσεβήσετο, τόν ποτε τέκτων  
and stepped onto the oaken threshold, which once a carpenter

**44** ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,  
had planed with skill and made straight to the line,

**45** ἐν δὲ σταθμοὺς ἄρσε, θύρας δʼ ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς,  
and fitted the doorposts in it, and set on the shining doors,

**46** αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,  
at once she swiftly loosed the strap from the handle,

**47** ἐν δὲ κληῗδʼ ἧκε, θυρέων δʼ ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας  
put in the key, and shot back the bolts of the doors,

**48** ἄντα τιτυσκομένη· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχεν ἠΰτε ταῦρος  
aiming straight; and they bellowed like a bull

**49** βοσκόμενος λειμῶνι· τόσʼ ἔβραχε καλὰ θύρετρα  
grazing in a meadow; so loud bellowed the fair doors

**50** πληγέντα κληΐδι, πετάσθησαν δέ οἱ ὦκα.  
struck by the key, and they swung swiftly open for her.

**51** ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῆς σανίδος βῆ· ἔνθα δὲ χηλοὶ  
She stepped onto the high platform, where the chests

**52** ἕστασαν, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τῇσι θυώδεα εἵματʼ ἔκειτο.  
stood, and in them lay fragrant garments.

**53** ἔνθεν ὀρεξαμένη ἀπὸ πασσάλου αἴνυτο τόξον  
Reaching from there, she took the bow down from its peg,

**54** αὐτῷ γωρυτῷ, ὅς οἱ περίκειτο φαεινός.  
together with the shining case that lay around it.

**55** ἑζομένη δὲ κατʼ αὖθι, φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θεῖσα,  
Sitting down right there, she laid it on her knees,

**56** κλαῖε μάλα λιγέως, ἐκ δʼ ᾕρεε τόξον ἄνακτος.  
and wept shrill and loud, and drew her lord's bow from its case.

**57** ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,  
But when she had had her fill of tearful lament,
> Aorist passive of "to have one's fill": τάρφθη is an aorist passive—"she was satisfied / had her fill" of weeping, a common idiom for a person emptied of an emotion before acting.

**58** βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μέγαρόνδε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς  
she made her way to the hall, among the lordly suitors,

**59** τόξον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην  
holding in her hand the back-bent bow and the quiver,

**60** ἰοδόκον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί.  
the arrow-holder; and many groaning shafts were within it.

**61** τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον ὄγκιον, ἔνθα σίδηρος  
Along with her the maids carried a chest, where iron

**62** κεῖτο πολὺς καὶ χαλκός, ἀέθλια τοῖο ἄνακτος.  
lay in plenty, and bronze, the prizes of that lord.

**63** ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,  
And when she reached the suitors, that woman among women,

**64** στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,  
she stood beside the doorpost of the well-built roof,

**65** ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.  
holding her shining veil before her cheeks,

**66** ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.  
and a trusty handmaid stood on either side of her.

**67** αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρσι μετηύδα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·  
At once she addressed the suitors and spoke her word:

**68** κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, οἳ τόδε
                     δῶμα  
"Hear me, you lordly suitors, who have set upon this house

**69** ἐχράετʼ ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ  
to eat and drink without ceasing, always,

**70** ἀνδρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο πολὺν χρόνον· οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλην  
while its master is long gone; and no other

**71** μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην ἐδύνασθε,  
pretext for your conduct could you make,

**72** ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ἱέμενοι γῆμαι θέσθαι τε γυναῖκα.  
but only your wish to marry me and take me for your wife.

**73** ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον.  
Come then, suitors, since this is shown to be your contest.

**74** θήσω γὰρ μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·  
I will set out the great bow of godlike Odysseus;

**75** ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι  
and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
> Aorist subjunctive in a relative clause: ἐντανύσῃ is aorist subjunctive in a future-conditional relative clause (with κε): "whoever shall string it." The construction sets the terms of the contest.

**76** καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,  
and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,

**77** τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα  
him I will follow, leaving behind this house,

**78** κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο,  
my wedded home, so fair, so full of livelihood,

**79** τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.  
which I think I shall remember even in my dreams."

**80** ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ Εὔμαιον ἀνώγει, δῖον ὑφορβόν,  
So she spoke, and bade Eumaeus, the noble swineherd,

**81** τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον.  
to set the bow and the gray iron before the suitors.

**82** δακρύσας δʼ Εὔμαιος ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκε·  
Weeping, Eumaeus took them and laid them down;

**83** κλαῖε δὲ βουκόλος ἄλλοθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἴδε τόξον ἄνακτος.  
and the herdsman too wept apart, when he saw his lord's bow.

**84** Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
But Antinous rebuked them and spoke out, calling them by name:

**85** νήπιοι ἀγροιῶται, ἐφημέρια φρονέοντες,  
"You foolish bumpkins, thinking only of the day,

**86** ἆ δειλώ, τί νυ δάκρυ κατείβετον ἠδὲ γυναικὶ  
ah, you wretches, why now do you let tears fall, and stir
> Dual verb forms: κατείβετον and ὀρίνετον are 2nd-person dual verbs, addressing the two weeping herdsmen specifically.

**87** θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρίνετον; ᾗ τε καὶ ἄλλως  
the heart in the woman's breast? Her spirit even without this

**88** κεῖται ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμός, ἐπεὶ φίλον ὤλεσʼ ἀκοίτην.  
lies sunk in grief, since she has lost her dear husband.

**89** ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι, ἠὲ θύραζε  
Sit and feast in silence, or go outside

**90** κλαίετον ἐξελθόντε, κατʼ αὐτόθι τόξα λιπόντε,  
to weep, and leave the bow here where it lies,

**91** μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον ἀάατον· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω  
a contest the suitors cannot fail of; for I do not think

**92** ῥηϊδίως τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύεσθαι.  
this polished bow will easily be strung.

**93** οὐ γάρ τις μέτα τοῖος ἀνὴρ ἐν τοίσδεσι πᾶσιν  
For there is no such man among all of us here

**94** οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν· ἐγὼ δέ μιν αὐτὸς ὄπωπα,  
as Odysseus was; and I myself saw him,

**95** καὶ γὰρ μνήμων εἰμί, πάϊς δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.  
for I remember it, though I was still a little child."

**96** ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει  
So he spoke, but in his breast his heart was hoping

**97** νευρὴν ἐντανύσειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.  
that he would string the bowstring and shoot through the iron.

**98** ἦ τοι ὀϊστοῦ γε πρῶτος γεύσεσθαι ἔμελλεν  
Yet he was to be the first to taste of an arrow

**99** ἐκ χειρῶν Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὃν τότʼ ἀτίμα  
from the hands of blameless Odysseus, whom he was then dishonoring,

**100** ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροις, ἐπὶ δʼ ὤρνυε πάντας ἑταίρους.  
sitting in the halls, and was urging on all his comrades.

**101** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·  
Then among them spoke the hallowed strength of Telemachus:
> "The hallowed strength of Telemachus": A periphrasis ("the sacred might of Telemachus") standing for Telemachus himself; the genitive Τηλεμάχοιο is the Homeric -οιο ending.

**102** ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα με Ζεὺς ἄφρονα θῆκε Κρονίων·  
"Well now, surely Zeus son of Cronos has made me witless;

**103** μήτηρ μέν μοί φησι φίλη, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα,  
my dear mother says—wise though she is—

**104** ἄλλῳ ἅμʼ ἕψεσθαι νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα·  
that she will follow another and leave this house,

**105** αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γελόω καὶ τέρπομαι ἄφρονι θυμῷ.  
yet I laugh and take pleasure with a senseless heart.

**106** ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον,  
But come, suitors, since this is shown to be your contest,

**107** οἵη νῦν οὐκ ἔστι γυνὴ κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν,  
for a woman whose like there is not now in the land of Achaea,

**108** οὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτʼ Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης·  
neither in sacred Pylos nor in Argos nor in Mycenae,

**109** οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης·  
nor in Ithaca itself nor on the dark mainland.

**110** καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε γʼ ἴστε· τί με χρὴ μητέρος αἴνου;  
And you yourselves know this; what need have I to praise my mother?

**111** ἀλλʼ ἄγε μὴ μύνῃσι παρέλκετε μηδʼ ἔτι τόξου  
But come, do not put it off with excuses, nor any longer

**112** δηρὸν ἀποτρωπᾶσθε τανυστύος, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.  
shrink back from the stringing of the bow, so that we may see.
> the stringing: A rare verbal noun from tanuō, 'to stretch,' naming the very act of drawing the bowstring taut — the whole contest hangs on it.

**113** καὶ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τοῦ τόξου πειρησαίμην·  
And indeed I myself would make a trial of this bow.
> Optative of wish/potential: The aorist optative with ke marks a tentative, potential action — 'I would try.' It softens Telemachus' boast into something hypothetical.

**114** εἰ δέ κεν ἐντανύσω διοϊστεύσω τε σιδήρου,  
If I should string it and shoot through the iron,

**115** οὔ κέ μοι ἀχνυμένῳ τάδε δώματα πότνια μήτηρ  
then my lady mother would not, to my grief, leave this house

**116** λείποι ἅμʼ ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσʼ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην  
going off with another, while I am left behind here,
> Mixed condition (more-vivid protasis, optative apodosis): This is a mixed condition: the protasis at b21-l114 uses εἰ + κεν + aorist subjunctive (future-more-vivid type), while the apodosis here has optatives (λείποι, λιποίμην). A true future-less-vivid would require εἰ + optative in the protasis as well. Homer freely combines protasis and apodosis types in such mixed Homeric conditionals.

**117** οἷός τʼ ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλʼ ἀνελέσθαι.  
already able to carry off my father's splendid prizes.

**118** ἦ καὶ ἀπʼ ὤμοιϊν χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν  
He spoke, and threw off from his shoulders his crimson cloak,

**119** ὀρθὸς ἀναΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμων.  
springing up straight, and took the sharp sword from his shoulders.

**120** πρῶτον μὲν πελέκεας στῆσεν, διὰ τάφρον ὀρύξας  
First he set up the axes, digging one long trench for them all,

**121** πᾶσι μίαν μακρήν, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,  
and made them straight to the line, and stamped the earth firm around them.

**122** ἀμφὶ δὲ γαῖαν ἔναξε· τάφος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας,  
Astonishment seized all who watched,

**123** ὡς εὐκόσμως στῆσε· πάρος δʼ οὐ πώ ποτʼ ὀπώπει.  
how orderly he set them up, though he had never seen it done before.

**124** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζε.  
Then he went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow.

**125** τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσεσθαι μενεαίνων,  
Three times he made it quiver, straining to draw it back,
> Epic triple repetition: The pattern here is the symmetric τρὶς μέν / τρὶς δέ formula ('three times … three times'), showing sustained futile effort. This differs from the 'three times … but the third time' (τρίς … τὸ τρίτον δέ) formula, where the third attempt succeeds or produces a different outcome.

**126** τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης, ἐπιελπόμενος τό γε θυμῷ,  
and three times he gave up the effort, though still hoping in his heart

**127** νευρὴν ἐντανύειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.  
to string the bowstring and shoot through the iron.

**128** καί νύ κε δή ῥʼ ἐτάνυσσε βίῃ τὸ τέταρτον ἀνέλκων,  
And now at last he would have strung it, hauling it back by force the fourth time,
> Unfulfilled past condition: The 'and now he would have...' (ke + aorist indicative) sets up an action that nearly happened but was prevented — completed by 'but' (alla) in the next line.

**129** ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἀνένευε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱέμενόν περ.  
but Odysseus shook his head and held him back, eager as he was.

**130** τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·  
Then the hallowed strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:
> 'The hallowed strength of Telemachus': A formulaic periphrasis meaning simply 'mighty Telemachus.' Homer often names a hero by his 'strength' or 'might' rather than directly.

**131** ὢ πόποι, ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κακός τʼ ἔσομαι καὶ
                     ἄκικυς,  
"Well now! It seems I will always be a coward and weak,

**132** ἠὲ νεώτερός εἰμι καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα  
or else I am too young, and do not yet trust my hands

**133** ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.  
to defend myself against a man, when someone first picks a quarrel.

**134** ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο βίῃ προφερέστεροί ἐστε,  
But come, you who are mightier than I in strength,
> Comparative adjective: Propheresteroi is the comparative 'superior, mightier,' here addressed to the suitors with the relative 'you who are.'

**135** τόξου πειρήσασθε, καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.  
make trial of the bow, and let us finish this contest."

**136** ὣς εἰπὼν τόξον μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο θῆκε χαμᾶζε,  
So saying, he set the bow down from him on the ground,

**137** κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,  
leaning it against the joined and polished door-planks,

**138** αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,  
and there he leaned the swift arrow against the fine curved tip,

**139** ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.  
and sat back down again on the seat from which he had risen.

**140** τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·  
Then Antinous spoke among them, the son of Eupeithes:

**141** ὄρνυσθʼ ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια πάντες ἑταῖροι,  
"Rise up in order, all you companions, from left to right,

**142** ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει.  
beginning from the place where the wine is poured."

**143** ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.  
So spoke Antinous, and his words pleased them.

**144** Λειώδης δὲ πρῶτος ἀνίστατο, Οἴνοπος υἱός,  
Leiodes was the first to stand up, the son of Oenops,

**145** ὅ σφι θυοσκόος ἔσκε, παρὰ κρητῆρα δὲ καλὸν  
who was their sacrificing priest, and beside the fine mixing-bowl
> Sacrificing priest: A thuoskoos read omens from burnt offerings; Leiodes alone among the suitors is pious, which sets up the irony of his being first to fail and later to be killed.

**146** ἷζε μυχοίτατος αἰέν· ἀτασθαλίαι δέ οἱ οἴῳ  
he always sat in the innermost corner. To him alone the reckless deeds

**147** ἐχθραὶ ἔσαν, πᾶσιν δὲ νεμέσσα μνηστήρεσσιν·  
were hateful, and he was indignant at all the suitors.

**148** ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.  
He was the first then to take up the bow and the swift arrow.

**149** στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζεν,  
He went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow,

**150** οὐδέ μιν ἐντάνυσε· πρὶν γὰρ κάμε χεῖρας ἀνέλκων  
but he could not string it; for first he wearied his hands with drawing it,

**151** ἀτρίπτους ἁπαλάς· μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·  
his soft, unworn hands. And he spoke among the suitors:
> 'Unworn, soft' hands: These epithets mark Leiodes as a man of leisure unaccustomed to labor — pointedly the opposite of Odysseus' hardened hands.

**152** ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὲν ἐγὼ τανύω, λαβέτω δὲ καὶ
                     ἄλλος.  
"Friends, I cannot string it; let another take it too.

**153** πολλοὺς γὰρ τόδε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει  
For this bow will rob many of our best men

**154** θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστι  
of breath and life, since it is far better
> 'Breath and life': Thumos and psuchē together denote the whole vital spirit; to lose them is to die. Leiodes' words are an unwitting prophecy of the slaughter to come.

**155** τεθνάμεν ἢ ζώοντας ἁμαρτεῖν, οὗθʼ ἕνεκʼ αἰεὶ  
to die than to live on having failed of the very thing

**156** ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.  
for which we always gather here, waiting day after day.

**157** νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ  
Now there is many a man who hopes in his heart and longs

**158** γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν.  
to marry Penelope, the wife of Odysseus.

**159** αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,  
But once he has made trial of the bow and seen the truth,

**160** ἄλλην δή τινʼ ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων  
then let him court some other of the fair-robed Achaean women,

**161** μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα  
seeking her with bridal gifts; and she in turn

**162** γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.  
would marry whoever offers the most and comes as fated."

**163** ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν καὶ ἀπὸ ἕο τόξον ἔθηκε,  
So he spoke, and set the bow down from him,

**164** κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,  
leaning it against the joined and polished door-planks,

**165** αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,  
and there he leaned the swift arrow against the fine curved tip,

**166** ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.  
and sat back down again on the seat from which he had risen.

**167** Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
But Antinous rebuked him and spoke out, calling him by name:
> Formulaic speech-introduction: A fixed line meaning 'he spoke a word and called him by name,' used over and over to introduce direct speech in Homer.

**168** Λειῶδες, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,  
"Leiodes, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth,
> 'The barrier of the teeth': A vivid Homeric metaphor: the teeth are a fence (herkos) hedging in the words; a careless word slips past the gate.

**169** δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, —νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τʼ ἀκούων—  
a terrible and grievous one — I am indignant to hear it —

**170** εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει  
if indeed this bow is to rob our best men

**171** θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.  
of breath and life, just because you cannot string it.

**172** οὐ γάρ τοί σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ  
For your lady mother did not bear you to be such a man

**173** οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·  
as to be a drawer of the bow and its arrows;

**174** ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.  
but the other proud suitors will soon string it."

**175** ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον
                  αἰγῶν·  
So he spoke, and gave the order to Melanthius, the goatherd:

**176** ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,  
"Come now, kindle a fire in the hall, Melanthius,

**177** πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,  
and set beside it a great chair with a fleece upon it,

**178** ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,  
and bring out a great cake of fat that is inside,

**179** ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,  
so that we young men, warming the bow and rubbing it with grease,

**180** τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.  
may make trial of it and finish this contest."

**181** ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αἶψʼ ἀνέκαιε Μελάνθιος ἀκάματον
                  πῦρ,  
So he spoke, and Melanthius at once kindled an unwearying fire,

**182** πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,  
and bringing a chair he set it down with a fleece upon it,

**183** ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος·  
and brought out a great cake of fat that was inside.

**184** τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντʼ· οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο  
With it the young men warmed the bow and made their trials; but they could not

**185** ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.  
string it, for they fell far short of the strength.
> 'Lacking in strength': Biē is sheer physical force. The suitors are 'in need of' (epideuees) it — they simply do not have the body for the bow that Odysseus drew with ease.

**186** Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔτʼ ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,  
But Antinous still held back, and godlike Eurymachus too,

**187** ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.  
the leaders of the suitors; in worth they were the best by far.
> Aretē (excellence): Aretē is a man's excellence or prowess. Even the two 'best' suitors will fail the bow — Homer's irony, since true aretē belongs to the disguised beggar.

**188** τὼ δʼ ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμʼ ἄμφω  
Then the two went out of the house together, both at once,
> The dual number: Homer uses the dual (tō, amphō) for the natural pair — the cowherd and swineherd acting as one. The dual is a special form for exactly two.

**189** βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·  
the cowherd and the swineherd of godlike Odysseus;

**190** ἐκ δʼ αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
and after them godlike Odysseus himself went out of the house.

**191** ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,  
But when they were outside the doors and the courtyard,

**192** φθεγξάμενός σφε ἔπεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·  
he called to them and addressed them with gentle words:

**193** βουκόλε καὶ σύ, συφορβέ, ἔπος τί κε
                     μυθησαίμην,  
"Cowherd, and you, swineherd, shall I say a certain word,

**194** ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.  
or keep it to myself? My heart bids me speak it.

**195** ποῖοί κʼ εἶτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι  
What sort of men would you be, to defend Odysseus, if he should come from somewhere

**196** ὧδε μάλʼ ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;  
all of a sudden, and some god should bring him home?

**197** ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτʼ ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;  
Would you defend the suitors, or Odysseus?

**198** εἴπαθʼ ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.  
Tell me as your heart and spirit bid you."

**199** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·  
Then the cowherd, the keeper of the cattle, answered him:

**200** Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο τελευτήσειας ἐέλδωρ,  
"Father Zeus, would that you might bring this wish to pass —
> Optative of wish: Ai gar ('would that') with the aorist optative expresses a heartfelt prayer for something the speaker longs to see happen.

**201** ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·  
that the man might come, and a god might bring him home!

**202** γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.  
Then you would know what my strength is, and how my hands follow it."

**203** ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι  
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods

**204** νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.  
that wise Odysseus might return to his own home.

**205** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέʼ ἀνέγνω,  
But when he had read the truth of their minds for certain,
> Unerring, infallible: Nēmertēs means 'not missing the mark,' hence 'unerring truth.' Odysseus now knows beyond doubt where these two stand.

**206** ἐξαῦτίς σφε ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·  
again he answered them and spoke:

**207** ἔνδον μὲν δὴ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, κακὰ πολλὰ
                     μογήσας  
"Here I am, my very self, within — having suffered many evils
> Emphatic self-revelation: The piling of demonstrative, intensive, and pronoun ('this, the very man, I') makes the disclosure ring out: it really is Odysseus.

**208** ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.  
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.

**209** γιγνώσκω δʼ ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω  
And I see that, of my servants, to you two alone my coming

**210** οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα  
is longed for; of the others I have heard none

**211** εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.  
praying that I should come back home again.

**212** σφῶϊν δʼ, ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.  
To you two I will tell the truth, just as it shall be.

**213** εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,  
If a god should subdue the proud suitors beneath my hand,

**214** ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροις ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματʼ ὀπάσσω  
I will get wives for you both, and grant you possessions

**215** οἰκία τʼ ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα  
and houses built near my own; and from then on

**216** Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.  
you shall be to me companions and brothers of Telemachus.

**217** εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή, καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,  
But come now, I will show you another plain sign as well,
> A 'plain sign': A sēma is a token of recognition; ariphradēs means 'very clear, unmistakable.' The scar is the classic Odyssean proof of identity.

**218** ὄφρα μʼ ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,  
so that you may know me well and trust me in your hearts:
> Dual subjunctives: Both verbs are dual ('that you two may know and trust'), addressed to the pair of loyal servants in a purpose clause.

**219** οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ με σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι  
the scar that once a boar dealt me with its white tusk,

**220** Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.  
when I had gone to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus."

**221** ὣς εἰπὼν ῥάκεα μεγάλης ἀποέργαθεν οὐλῆς.  
So saying, he drew his rags aside from the great scar.

**222** τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσιδέτην εὖ τʼ ἐφράσσαντο ἕκαστα,  
And when the two had looked at it and marked each detail well,

**223** κλαῖον ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι χεῖρε βαλόντε,  
they wept, and threw their arms around wise Odysseus,
> Dual participle: βαλόντε is a dual aorist participle, used because the two herdsmen act together as a pair. Homer often marks two-of-a-kind actors with the dual.

**224** καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμενοι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους  
and welcoming him fondly they kissed his head and shoulders;

**225** ὣς δʼ αὔτως Ὀδυσεὺς κεφαλὰς καὶ χεῖρας ἔκυσσε.  
and in the same way Odysseus kissed their heads and hands.

**226** καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,  
And now the light of the sun would have gone down on their weeping,
> Unreal past condition: The aorist with the particle κε sets up a 'would have happened' clause, completed by the εἰ μή ('had not') in the next line. A standard Homeric near-miss formula.

**227** εἰ μὴ Ὀδυσσεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρύκακε φώνησέν τε·  
had not Odysseus himself checked them and spoken out:

**228** παύεσθον κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε, μή τις ἴδηται  
"Stop your weeping and lament, lest someone come out
> Dual imperative: παύεσθον is a present middle imperative in the dual, commanding the two herdsmen together. Odysseus addresses exactly the pair who embraced him.

**229** ἐξελθὼν μεγάροιο, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσι καὶ εἴσω.  
from the hall and see us, and tell of it inside as well.

**230** ἀλλὰ προμνηστῖνοι ἐσέλθετε, μηδʼ ἅμα πάντες,  
Instead go in one at a time, not all together,

**231** πρῶτος ἐγώ, μετὰ δʼ ὔμμες· ἀτὰρ τόδε σῆμα τετύχθω·  
I first, and you after; and let this be the agreed sign:
> sêma, a sign: σῆμα means a recognizable sign or token. Here it is the prearranged signal among the conspirators; the same word covers the scar and Zeus's later thunder.

**232** ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,  
all the rest, every one of the proud suitors,

**233** οὐκ ἐάσουσιν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην·  
will not allow the bow and quiver to be given to me;

**234** ἀλλὰ σύ, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, φέρων ἀνὰ δώματα τόξον  
but you, noble Eumaeus, as you carry the bow through the house,

**235** ἐν χείρεσσιν ἐμοὶ θέμεναι, εἰπεῖν τε γυναιξὶ  
place it in my hands, and tell the women

**236** κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας,  
to lock the close-fitted doors of the hall,

**237** ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ  
and if any of them hears groaning or the din of men

**238** ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε  
within our walls, let her not come out the door,

**239** προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.  
but stay right there in silence at her work.

**240** σοὶ δέ, Φιλοίτιε δῖε, θύρας ἐπιτέλλομαι αὐλῆς  
And to you, noble Philoetius, I give this charge: the courtyard gates

**241** κληῗσαι κληῗδι, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἰῆλαι.  
to lock with the bar, and quickly throw the lashing over them."

**242** ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας·  
So saying, he went into the well-built house,

**243** ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη·  
and sat down then on the stool he had come from, where he had risen;

**244** ἐς δʼ ἄρα καὶ τὼ δμῶε ἴτην θείου Ὀδυσῆος.  
and the two servants of godlike Odysseus went in as well.

**245** Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἤδη τόξον μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,  
Eurymachus by now was handling the bow in his hands,

**246** θάλπων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα σέλᾳ πυρός· ἀλλά μιν οὐδʼ ὣς  
warming it this way and that in the firelight; but even so

**247** ἐντανύσαι δύνατο, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·  
he could not string it, and his proud heart groaned aloud.

**248** ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
In vexation he spoke, and said aloud, naming his grief:

**249** ὢ πόποι, ἧ μοι ἄχος περί τʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ
                     πάντων·  
"Oh no — grief for myself indeed, and grief for us all.
> akhos, grief: ἄχος is sharp, sudden distress. Eurymachus feels it both for himself and for the whole company of suitors.

**250** οὔ τι γάμου τοσσοῦτον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ·  
It is not so much for the marriage that I grieve, grieved though I am;

**251** εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες, αἱ μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ  
there are many other Achaean women, some in

**252** ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, αἱ δʼ ἄλλῃσιν πολίεσσιν·  
sea-girt Ithaca itself, and some in the other cities;

**253** ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν  
but if we fall so far short in strength
> biê, force: βίη is brute bodily force or might. The whole bow contest measures the suitors against Odysseus precisely in this quality, which they keep lacking.

**254** ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅ τʼ οὐ δυνάμεσθα τανύσσαι  
of godlike Odysseus, that we cannot string

**255** τόξον· ἐλεγχείη δὲ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.  
his bow — that is a disgrace for men to come to hear of."

**256** τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·  
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him:

**257** Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται· νοέεις δὲ καὶ αὐτός.  
"Eurymachus, it will not be so, and you know it yourself.

**258** νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο  
For today there is a holy feast of the god

**259** ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτʼ; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι  
throughout the land; who would be bending bows? Set it down

**260** κάτθετʼ· ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κʼ εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας  
quietly; and as for the axes, even if we let them all

**261** ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τινʼ ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,  
stand there — no one, I think, will carry them off,

**262** ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.  
coming into the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes.

**263** ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,  
Come now, let the wine-pourer begin the rounds with the cups,

**264** ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·  
so that, having poured libations, we may set aside the curved bows;

**265** ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,  
and at dawn bid Melanthius, the goatherd,

**266** αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγʼ ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,  
bring goats, the very best in all the flocks,

**267** ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ  
so that, laying the thigh-pieces before Apollo famed for the bow,
> Epithet of Apollo: κλυτότοξος, 'famous for the bow,' is a fixed epithet for Apollo. Such formulaic epithets fit the meter and recall the god's defining attribute.

**268** τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.  
we may make trial of the bow and bring the contest to an end."

**269** ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.  
So spoke Antinous, and the saying pleased them.

**270** τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,  
Then the heralds poured water over their hands,

**271** κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,  
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls brimful with drink,

**272** νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.  
and served it round to all, with first-drops poured into the cups.

**273** οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,  
And when they had poured libation and drunk as much as their hearts desired,

**274** τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·  
the resourceful Odysseus, with cunning intent, spoke among them:
> Present participle of intent: δολοφρονέων, 'devising guile,' is a present participle describing Odysseus's frame of mind as he speaks. πολύμητις, 'of many devices,' is his standing epithet.

**275** κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης·  
"Listen to me, suitors of the glorious queen,

**276** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·  
that I may say what the heart in my breast commands:

**277** Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα  
above all Eurymachus and godlike Antinous

**278** λίσσομʼ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,  
I beg, since he too spoke this word rightly —

**279** νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·  
for now leave off the bow, and entrust the matter to the gods;

**280** ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.  
at dawn a god will give the victory to whomever he wishes.
> Indefinite relative: The subjunctive ἐθέλῃσιν with κε makes this an indefinite, general clause: 'to whomever he may wish.' Homeric subjunctives often carry this open-ended sense.

**281** ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθʼ ὑμῖν  
But come, give me the polished bow, so that among you

**282** χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐστὶν  
I may test my hands and strength — whether I still have

**283** ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,  
the force that was once in my supple limbs,

**284** ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τʼ ἀκομιστίη τε.  
or whether by now my wandering and want of care have wasted it."

**285** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως
                  νεμέσησαν,  
So he spoke, and they were all exceedingly indignant,

**286** δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.  
fearing that he might string the polished bow.

**287** Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·  
Antinous rebuked him, and spoke aloud, naming him:

**288** ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἔνι τοι φρένες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί·  
"Wretched stranger, you have not the least bit of sense.

**289** οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ἡμῖν  
Are you not content to dine in peace among us proud men,

**290** δαίνυσαι, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς ἀμέρδεαι, αὐτὰρ ἀκούεις  
and to lack no share of the feast, but to listen

**291** μύθων ἡμετέρων καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος  
to our talk and speech? No other beggar or stranger

**292** ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.  
gets to listen to our talk.

**293** οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους  
The honey-sweet wine is wounding you — wine that harms others too,

**294** βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.  
whoever gulps it greedily and does not drink within measure.

**295** οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,  
It was wine that ruined the Centaur, glorious Eurytion,

**296** ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,  
in the hall of great-hearted Peirithous,

**297** ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,  
when he came among the Lapiths; and once he had crazed his wits with wine,

**298** μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·  
in his madness he did evil throughout the house of Peirithous.

**299** ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε  
Grief seized the heroes, and out through the porch and the door

**300** ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ  
they sprang up and dragged him, and with pitiless bronze his ears

**301** ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς  
and nose they sheared off; and he, deranged in his wits,

**302** ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.  
went his way, bearing his ruin in his witless heart.
> atê, ruinous folly: ἄτη is blind, god-sent or self-incurred folly and the disaster it brings. The centaur carries it away as the consequence of his own drunken outrage.

**303** ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,  
From that came the quarrel between Centaurs and men,

**304** οἷ δʼ αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.  
but he was the first to bring evil on himself by his drunkenness.

**305** ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον  
Just so I foretell great trouble for you too, if you string

**306** ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις  
this bow; for you will meet with no kindness

**307** ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ  
in our land, but at once in a black ship

**308** εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,  
to King Echetus, the maimer of all mortals,

**309** πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος  
we will send you; and from there you will not save yourself. So drink

**310** πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.  
in peace, and do not quarrel with men younger than you."

**311** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·  
Then wise Penelope answered him:
> Epithet of Penelope: περίφρων, 'circumspect, wise,' is Penelope's regular epithet. The line is a standard speech-introduction formula naming her by this fixed quality.

**312** Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον  
"Antinous, it is neither right nor just
> dikaios, just: δίκαιος denotes what accords with right and custom. Penelope appeals to the norm of hospitality, which the suitors are flouting.

**313** ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·  
to mistreat the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.

**314** ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον  
Do you suppose that, if the stranger should string the great bow

**315** ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας,  
of Odysseus, trusting in his hands and his strength,

**316** οἴκαδέ μʼ ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;  
he would lead me home and make me his wife?

**317** οὐδʼ αὐτός που τοῦτό γʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·  
Not even he himself, I think, has any such hope in his breast;

**318** μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γʼ εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων  
so let none of you, grieving in his heart over this,

**319** ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικεν.  
feast here in distress — since it would not be fitting at all."

**320** τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον
                  ηὔδα·  
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her in turn:

**321** κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,  
"Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope,

**322** οὔ τί σε τόνδʼ ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθʼ· οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·  
we do not suppose that this man will lead you off — it would not be fitting —

**323** ἀλλʼ αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν,  
but we shrink from the talk of men and of women,

**324** μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν  
lest some baser man among the Achaeans ever say:

**325** ἦ πολὺ χείρονες ἄνδρες ἀμύμονος ἀνδρὸς ἄκοιτιν  
'Truly far lesser men are wooing the wife of a flawless man,

**326** μνῶνται, οὐδέ τι τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύουσιν·  
and they cannot string his polished bow;

**327** ἀλλʼ ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν  
but another, a beggar man, wandering and come from nowhere,

**328** ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου.  
strung the bow easily, and shot an arrow clean through the iron.'

**329** ὣς ἐρέουσʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.  
So they will say, and it would become a reproach to us."
> elenchea, reproaches: ἐλέγχεα are sources of shame or disgrace. Eurymachus fears the suitors' reputation, not the actual marriage.

**330** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·  
Then wise Penelope answered him again:
> Speech-frame aorist: προσέειπε is an aorist ('addressed'), the standard verb closing one speech and opening the next. The line is a fixed formula introducing Penelope's reply.

**331** Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐϋκλεῖας κατὰ δῆμον  
"Eurymachus, there is no way for men to keep a good name throughout the land

**332** ἔμμεναι οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν  
who dishonor the house of a noble man and devour his substance.

**333** ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δʼ ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;  
Why then do you reckon this a disgrace?

**334** οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδʼ εὐπηγής,  
This stranger is very large and well-built,

**335** πατρὸς δʼ ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.  
and he claims by birth to be the son of a good father.
> Middle voice: The verb εὔχεται here is middle, meaning 'claims for himself' or 'boasts.' Greek often uses the middle when the action reflects back on the subject's own status.

**336** ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.  
Come then, give him the well-polished bow, so that we may see.

**337** ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·  
For I will tell you plainly, and this thing shall be brought to pass:

**338** εἴ κέ μιν ἐντανύσῃ, δώῃ δέ οἱ εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,  
if he strings it, and Apollo grants him the glory,

**339** ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,  
I will clothe him in a cloak and tunic, fine garments,

**340** δώσω δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,  
and I will give him a sharp javelin, a defense against dogs and men,

**341** καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,  
and a two-edged sword. I will give him sandals for his feet,

**342** πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.  
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go."

**343** τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·  
Then wise Telemachus answered her in turn:

**344** μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο  
"My mother, as for the bow, no one of the Achaeans has more right than I

**345** κρείσσων, ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,  
to give it or to refuse it to whomever I wish,

**346** οὔθʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,  
neither of those who hold sway over rugged Ithaca,

**347** οὔθʼ ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·  
nor of those in the islands toward horse-pasturing Elis.

**348** τῶν οὔ τίς μʼ ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωμι  
Not one of them shall force me against my will, if I choose
> Accusative of the person: ἀέκοντα ('unwilling') agrees with the implied object 'me' in the accusative, the person being forced. The line stresses Telemachus's authority over his own choice.

**349** καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.  
to give this bow outright to the stranger to carry off.

**350** ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,  
But go into the house and see to your own work,

**351** ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε  
the loom and the distaff, and bid your handmaids

**352** ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει  
go about their tasks. The bow shall be the men's concern,

**353** πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.  
the men's, and mine above all, for mine is the authority in this house."

**354** ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·  
Then she, amazed, went back into the house,

**355** παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.  
for she took her son's wise word to heart.

**356** ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ  
Going up to her upper chamber with her handmaids

**357** κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον  
she then wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until upon her eyelids

**358** ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.  
bright-eyed Athena cast sweet sleep.
> Epithet of Athena: γλαυκῶπις, 'bright-eyed' or 'gray-eyed,' is Athena's standing epithet. Such formulaic descriptors are a hallmark of Homeric verse.

**359** αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·  
But the noble swineherd took up the curved bow and bore it on;

**360** μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·  
and all the suitors began shouting at him throughout the halls,

**361** ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·  
and thus would one of the arrogant young men speak:

**362** πῆ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,  
"Where are you carrying the curved bow, you wretched swineherd,

**363** πλαγκτέ; τάχʼ αὖ σʼ ἐφʼ ὕεσσι κύνες ταχέες κατέδονται  
you fool? Soon your own swift dogs, out among the swine,

**364** οἶον ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἔτρεφες, εἴ κεν Ἀπόλλων  
will devour you, far from men, the dogs you raised yourself, if Apollo

**365** ἡμῖν ἱλήκῃσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.  
and the other immortal gods are gracious to us."

**366** ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ, ὁ θῆκε φέρων αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ,  
So they spoke, and he set the bow down there on the spot,

**367** δείσας, οὕνεκα πολλοὶ ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν.  
afraid, because so many were shouting throughout the halls.

**368** Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπειλήσας ἐγεγώνει·  
But Telemachus from the other side called out threateningly:

**369** ἄττα, πρόσω φέρε τόξα· τάχʼ οὐκ εὖ πᾶσι
                     πιθήσεις  
"Old friend, carry the bow forward. You will not do well to obey them all.

**370** μή σε καὶ ὁπλότερός περ ἐὼν ἀγρόνδε δίωμαι,  
Take care I do not drive you off into the country with stones,

**371** βάλλων χερμαδίοισι· βίηφι δὲ φέρτερός εἰμι.  
younger though I am, for I am the stronger in might.
> Instrumental ending -φι: βίηφι, 'in might,' uses the old Homeric -φι suffix that functions like an instrumental or dative. It survives mainly in epic formulas.

**372** αἲ γὰρ πάντων τόσσον, ὅσοι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔασι,  
Would that I were as much stronger, in hands and in might,

**373** μνηστήρων χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτερος εἴην·  
than all the suitors who are in our house;

**374** τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς τινʼ ἐγὼ πέμψαιμι νέεσθαι  
then I would soon send some of them off, packing wretchedly,

**375** ἡμετέρου ἐξ οἴκου, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.  
from our house, since they are plotting evil deeds."

**376** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ
                  γέλασσαν  
So he spoke, and they all laughed merrily at him,

**377** μνηστῆρες, καὶ δὴ μέθιεν χαλεποῖο χόλοιο  
the suitors, and they let go their harsh anger

**378** Τηλεμάχῳ· τὰ δὲ τόξα φέρων ἀνὰ δῶμα συβώτης  
against Telemachus. The swineherd carried the bow through the hall

**379** ἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι θῆκε παραστάς.  
and, standing beside him, set it in the hands of wise Odysseus.

**380** ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·  
Then he called out the nurse Eurycleia and spoke to her:

**381** Τηλέμαχος κέλεταί σε, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,  
"Eurycleia, wise woman, Telemachus bids you

**382** κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.  
to close the well-fitted doors of the hall.

**383** ἢν δέ τις ἤ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ  
And if anyone hears groaning or the din within,

**384** ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε  
the din of men inside our walls, let no one

**385** προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.  
come out the doors, but stay there in silence at her work."

**386** ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,  
So he spoke, and to her the word had no wings,
> "Wingless word": The phrase ἄπτερος ... μῦθος, literally 'wingless word,' is a Homeric idiom for a word that does not fly off but is silently received and obeyed.

**387** κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.  
and she closed the doors of the well-built hall.

**388** σιγῇ δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,  
Silently Philoetius slipped out of the house through the door,

**389** κλήϊσεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.  
and then closed the gates of the well-fenced courtyard.

**390** κεῖτο δʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης  
There lay under the portico a cable of a curved ship,

**391** βύβλινον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἐπέδησε θύρας, ἐς δʼ ἤϊεν αὐτός·  
made of papyrus; with it he bound the gates, and went back in.

**392** ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη,  
Then he sat down on the seat from which he had risen,

**393** εἰσορόων Ὀδυσῆα. ὁ δʼ ἤδη τόξον ἐνώμα  
gazing at Odysseus. And he was already handling the bow,

**394** πάντη ἀναστρωφῶν, πειρώμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,  
turning it every way, testing it this side and that,

**395** μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος.  
lest worms had eaten the horn while its lord was away.

**396** ὧδε τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·  
And thus would one speak, glancing at his neighbor:

**397** ἦ τις θηητὴρ καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ἔπλετο τόξων·  
"This man is surely some connoisseur and crafty handler of bows.

**398** ἤ ῥά νύ που τοιαῦτα καὶ αὐτῷ οἴκοθι κεῖται  
Perhaps he has just such a one lying at home himself,

**399** ἢ ὅ γʼ ἐφορμᾶται ποιησέμεν, ὡς ἐνὶ χερσὶ  
or he is keen to make one, the way he turns it

**400** νωμᾷ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κακῶν ἔμπαιος ἀλήτης.  
this way and that in his hands, this vagabond skilled in mischief."

**401** ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·  
And another of the arrogant young men would say:

**402** αἲ γὰρ δὴ τοσσοῦτον ὀνήσιος ἀντιάσειεν  
"May he meet with as much good fortune

**403** ὡς οὗτός ποτε τοῦτο δυνήσεται ἐντανύσασθαι.  
as he will ever have power to string this bow."

**404** ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν μνηστῆρες· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,  
So spoke the suitors. But Odysseus of many counsels,
> Epithet of Odysseus: πολύμητις, 'of many counsels' or 'resourceful,' is one of Odysseus's most frequent epithets, marking his cunning here at the climactic moment.

**405** αὐτίκʼ ἐπεὶ μέγα τόξον ἐβάστασε καὶ ἴδε πάντη,  
as soon as he had lifted the great bow and looked it over all around,

**406** ὡς ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ φόρμιγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς  
just as a man skilled in the lyre and in song

**407** ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ περὶ κόλλοπι χορδήν,  
easily stretches the string around a new peg,

**408** ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἰός,  
fastening at both ends the well-twisted sheep-gut,

**409** ὣς ἄρʼ ἄτερ σπουδῆς τάνυσεν μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσεύς.  
so without effort did Odysseus string the great bow.

**410** δεξιτερῇ ἄρα χειρὶ λαβὼν πειρήσατο νευρῆς·  
Then taking it in his right hand he tested the string,

**411** ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισε, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη αὐδήν.  
and it sang sweetly beneath his touch, like a swallow in voice.

**412** μνηστῆρσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἄχος γένετο μέγα, πᾶσι δʼ ἄρα χρὼς  
Great grief came over the suitors, and the color of all of them

**413** ἐτράπετο· Ζεὺς δὲ μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε σήματα φαίνων·  
changed; and Zeus thundered loudly, showing his signs.
> Present participle: φαίνων ('showing') is a present participle describing Zeus's act as ongoing alongside the thunder. The thunder is read as a favorable omen for Odysseus.

**414** γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
And then much-enduring noble Odysseus rejoiced,
> Epithet of Odysseus: πολύτλας, 'much-enduring,' recalls all that Odysseus has suffered to reach this moment of vindication.

**415** ὅττι ῥά οἱ τέρας ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·  
because the son of crooked-counseling Kronos had sent him a portent.

**416** εἵλετο δʼ ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, ὅ οἱ παρέκειτο τραπέζῃ  
He took up a swift arrow that lay beside him on the table,

**417** γυμνός· τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι κοίλης ἔντοσθε φαρέτρης  
bare; the others were inside the hollow quiver,

**418** κείατο, τῶν τάχʼ ἔμελλον Ἀχαιοὶ πειρήσεσθαι.  
lying there, which the Achaeans were soon to taste.

**419** τόν ῥʼ ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε,  
Laying it on the bridge of the bow, he drew the string and the notched arrow,

**420** αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος, ἧκε δʼ ὀϊστὸν  
from where he sat right there on his seat, and let the arrow fly,

**421** ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος, πελέκεων δʼ οὐκ ἤμβροτε πάντων  
taking aim straight ahead, and he did not miss a single one of the axes,

**422** πρώτης στειλειῆς, διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἦλθε θύραζε  
from the first socket onward, and the bronze-weighted arrow

**423** ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής· ὁ δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσέειπε·  
passed clean through and out the other side. Then he said to Telemachus:

**424** Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ σʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν
                     ἐλέγχει  
"Telemachus, the stranger sitting in your halls does not

**425** ἥμενος, οὐδέ τι τοῦ σκοποῦ ἤμβροτον οὐδέ τι τόξον  
shame you. I did not miss the mark, nor did I labor long

**426** δὴν ἔκαμον τανύων· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν,  
stringing the bow. My strength is still unbroken,

**427** οὐχ ὥς με μνηστῆρες ἀτιμάζοντες ὄνονται.  
not as the suitors taunt me in their contempt.

**428** νῦν δʼ ὥρη καὶ δόρπον Ἀχαιοῖσιν τετυκέσθαι  
But now it is time to prepare supper for the Achaeans,
> Double meaning: ὥρη means 'the right time, season.' Odysseus's calm mention of supper is grimly ironic: the real 'meal' to come is the slaughter of the suitors.

**429** ἐν φάει, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄλλως ἑψιάασθαι  
while there is still daylight, and afterward to take other delight

**430** μολπῇ καὶ φόρμιγγι· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός.  
in song and the lyre, for these are the ornaments of a feast."

**431** ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσεν· ὁ δʼ ἀμφέθετο ξίφος
                  ὀξὺ  
He spoke, and gave a sign with his brows; and Telemachus slung on his sharp sword,

**432** Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,  
Telemachus, dear son of noble Odysseus,

**433** ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρα φίλην βάλεν ἔγχεϊ, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ  
and closed his hand around his spear, and near him,

**434** πὰρ θρόνον ἑστήκει κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.  
beside his seat, he stood, armed in gleaming bronze.
> "Gleaming bronze": αἴθοψ χαλκός, 'flashing/gleaming bronze,' is a recurring formula for armor and weapons. The closing image arms Telemachus for the battle that is about to erupt.

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Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray/Allen text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0). English translation: © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC — original line-aligned draft, pending editorial review. Word-by-word morphology and syntax derived from the Perseus Ancient Greek Dependency Treebank (CC BY-SA 3.0); English glosses and notes © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.