That to all the end of the Death-doom was hard upon them now;

  Unto whom spake the wise Odysseus, scowling from knitted brow:

  “O Dogs! And ye were saying that I should come home no more

  From the people of the Trojans! So ye wasted my house and my store,

  And lay with my women servants perforce and against my will,

  And wert wooing my wife from off me when I was living still;

  And neither the Gods were ye fearing that hold the heavens the wide,

  Nor yet the vengeance of menfolk that hereafter should betide.

  But now the end of the Death-doom is on you one and all.”

  So he spake; and over them all thereon did the pale fear fall,

  And about him each glared, seeking whereby sheer bane to shun;

  But Eurymachus spake in answer, and he the only one:

  “If thou be indeed Odysseus the Ithacan come back,

  Of the deeds of us Achaeans no right thy word doth lack,

  For much folly here in the homestead and much afield have we wrought;

  But Antinoiis, he that here lieth already come to nought,

  Was the cause of all, for he speeded such evil deeds and such,

  Not longing so much for the wedding, nor heeding it overmuch,

  As devising other matters which Zeus hath not fulfilled;

  For to rule o’er the Ithacan land well-builded this he willed,

  And to lie in wait for thy son that he might slay him there.

  But himself by the Death-doom is dead: so thy people do thou spare,

  And we mid the people hereafter will make atonement for all,

  For what we have eaten and drunken within thine house and hall.

  And a twenty-beeve atonement from each man shall there be,

  And gold and brass shall be given till we melt the heart in thee.

  But meanwhile ’tis nought blameworthy that thou art wrathful now.”

  Then spake all-wise Odysseus as he scowled from knitted brow:

  “Eurymachus, were ye to give me your heritage every whit,

  Yea all ye have, and whatso from elsewhere ye might add to it,

  Yet not e’en so from the slaying these hands will I withhold

  Ere on the Wooers I wreak me for their folly manifold.

  — There then it lieth before you to fight me face to face,

  Or whoso may ‘scape the Death-doom to flee from out the place.

  Yet no man here, meseemeth, the bitter bane shall shun.”

  So he spake, and the hearts within them and their knees failed all undone, But the second time Eurymachus spake forth unto them there:

  “O friends, since this man will stay not his hands that none may bear, And whereas the bow well-shaven he hath, and the quiver withal,

  He will shoot from the fair-smoothed threshold until he hath slain us all.

  But now let us be mindful of the happy tide of war,

  And draw forth our swords from the scabbards, and hold up the boards before

  These shafts with black death laden, and in close array fall on

  To drive him from the threshold and the door, if it may be done.

  And then go we to the city and in haste send up the cry;

  And so shall this man have speeded his last shaft ere he die.”

  And e’en as the word he uttered, he drew his keen sword out

  Brazen, on each side shearing, and with a fearful shout

  Rushed on him; but Odysseus that very while let fly

  And smote him with the arrow in the breast, the pap hard by,

  And drove the swift shaft to the liver, and adown to the ground fell the

  From out of his hand, and doubled he hung above the board, [sword

  And staggered; and whirling he fell, and the meat was scattered around,

  And the double cup moreover, and his forehead smote the ground;

  And his heart was wrung with torment, and with both feet spurning he

  The high-seat; and over his eyen did the cloud of darkness float, [smote

  And then it was Amphinomus, who drew his whetted sword

  And fell on, making his onrush ‘gainst Odysseus the glorious lord, go

  If perchance he might get him out-doors: but Telemachus him forewent,

  And a cast of the brazen war-spear from behind him therewith sent

  Amidmost of his shoulders, that drave through his breast and out,

  And clattering he fell, and the earth all the breadth of his forehead smote

  Then a-back Telemachus hastened, and left his long-shaft spear

  Still stuck there in Amphinomus, since the onset did he fear

  Of some one of those Achaeans as the long spear forth he drew,

  Who should smite with the sword a down-stroke, or thrust him through

  and through.

  So he ran and unto his father beloved his way did he make,

  And standing close anigh him a winged word he spake:

  “O father, forsooth, a war-shield and two spears will I bring thee now,

  And a helm all brazen-fashioned well fitted to thy brow,

  And myself will go and arm me and give arms to the swineherd here,

  And others unto the neatherd; for ‘twere better our armour to bear.”

  But to him then spake and answered Odysseus of many a rede:

  “Run, bring them while yet are the arrows to ward me in my need,

  Lest they thrust me off from the doorway,.one man ‘gainst many here.”

  So he spake, and Telemachus straightway obeyed his father dear,

  And ran his ways to the chamber, where the glorious war-gear lay,

  And thence he took four war-shields, four spears he had away, no

  And four helms brazen-fashioned, and bushed with horses’ hair,

  And he bore them along, and right swiftly came aback to his father dear.

  Then he the first among them the brass on his body had,

  And the two thralls in like manner in the lovely arms were clad,

  And they stood about Odysseus the wise and the diverse of rede.

  But he, while he yet had the arrows to ward him in his need,

  Still one by one of the Wooers that yet in his house did dwell

  He aimed at and shot, and there ever one over another they fell;

  But when he lacked of arrows for his shaft-speeding hand,

  He laid by the bow and leaned it against the door-post to stand

  Of that well-builded feast-hall, ‘gainst the shining entrance wall,

  And he across his shoulders cast the sevenfold shield withal,

  And the well-wrought helm hair-crested he set on his noble head,

  And from aloft now nodded the battle-crest of dread,

  And two spears he took strong-fashioned, and shod with the shining brass.

  Now a certain high-up postern mid the well-built wall there was,

  And thereby at the top of the threshold of that well-builded hall

  Was a way to the aisle by door-leaves well-fitted and shut withal.

  Thereof was Odysseus bidding the swineherd have a care,

  And take his stand beside it, for no outgate else was there.

  Now amidst them spake Agelaiis, and said to all thereby:

  “O friends, now might not some one go up to the postern on high,

  And tell the folk, that the rumour and cry all around be cast,

  And speedily then would this man have shot his latest and last?”

  Then Melanthius the goatherd spake out amidst them there:

  “Not so, Zeus-bred Agelaiis, for thereto fearfully near

  Are the lovely doors to the forecourt, and the mouth of the aisle is strait,

  And e’en one man might ward it, if he were stark and great.

  But come now, from the chamber let me bring you battle-gear

  To arm you; for meseemeth therein and no otherwhere

  Has Odysseus laid his armour, with his well-renowned son.”

  And with that word the goatherd, Melanthius, straightway won

  Up to Odysseus’ chamber through the windows of the hall,

  And thence he gat twelve war-shields and as many spears withal,

  And as many brazen war-helms bushed with the horses’ hair,

  And therewith ran back swiftly, and gave to the Wooers there.

  Loose then grew the knees of Odysseus, and the heart in him grew soft,

  When he saw how they donned the hauberks, and in their hands aloft

  Were shaking the spears long-shafted, for his work seemed great indeed.

  And unto Telemachus straightway a winged word did he speed:

  “Telemachus, one of the women about the house I wis

  Stirs up ill war against us; or Melanthius else it is.”

  Then Telemachus the heedful thus answering fell to say:

  “Twas I myself, O father, that herein went astray,

  And none else was blameworthy, for the doors that fit aright

  Of the chamber I left ajar, and their watch was o’er-keen of sight

  But go thou, good Eumaeus, and the chamber door shut to,

  And note if one of the women this deed ‘gainst us doth do,

  Or Dolius’ son Melanthius, whom indeed for the doer I take.”

  But while unto each other in e’en such wise they spake,

  Melanthius the goatherd to the chamber went again

  To fetch the goodly war-gear, whom the swineherd good marked plain,

  And spake therewith to Odysseus who stood anigh that while:

  “O Zeus-bred son of Laertes, Odysseus of many a guile,

  Now he, that man of mischief, e’en he whom he deemed was the man,

  Is going unto the chamber; so tell me as straight as ye can

  Whether I myself shall slay him if the better man I be,

  Or shall I bring him hither, that he may pay to thee

  For all his many transgressions that he in thine house did devise?”

  But to him thus spake in answer Odysseus diversely wise:

  “Within the halls here soothly shall Telemachus here with me

  Yet hold the high-heart Wooers, for as eager-fierce as they be;

  But ye twain, his hands to his feet do ye twist aback and bind,

  And cast him into the chamber; and shut ye the doors behind,

  And withal make fast unto him a cable twisted well,

  And haul him aloft to a pillar anigh the rafters to dwell,

  That he a long while living may suffer grievous pain.”

  So he spake, and straight they hearkened and did his bidding, they twain.

  They went their ways to the chamber, and unseen of the man they were,

  For within the nook of the chamber he sought about for gear,

  While standing each by a doorpost abided there those men:

  So Melanthius the goatherd came o’er the threshold then,

  And a war-helm wrought full fairly in one hand did he hold,

  And a broad shield in the other, old now and foul with mould:

  Twas Laertes the lord who bore it, while yet a youth, in his hands,

  But cast aside had it lain, and all gone were the seams of its bands.

  So the twain rushed on and caught him, and haled him in by the hair,

  And him heart-smitten with anguish they cast on the pavement there,

  And hand to foot they bound him, and sore the bonds they made,

  Hard twisting the limbs behind him, e’en as the master bade,

  The toil-stout goodly Odysseus, the old Laertes’ son.

  Then they made him fast to a cable of strands well over-done,

  And haled him aloft to a pillar close up to the beams of the place.

  Then didst thou, O swineherd Eurruneus, speak a bitter word to his face:

  “Yea there forsooth, Melanthius, shalt thou watch all through the night

  In a fair and soft bed lying, as for thee is meet and right;

  Nor yet shalt thou miss beholding the gold-throned Mother of Day

  Coming up from the eddies of Ocean as thou bringest thy goats on their

  Up hither to the Wooers, a feast in the house to dight.” [way

  There then for that while they left him in grievous bond strained tight,

  And the twain did on their war-weed, and shut the shining door,

  And went their ways to Odysseus, the wise-heart, crafty of lore.

  There then all breathing fury those four on the threshold stood,

  And they in the house withinwards were a many men and good;

  But amidst them the Daughter of Zeus, Athene, came standing anigh,

  And like was her body to Mentor’s and like was the voice of her cry;

  And Odysseus rejoiced when he saw her, and spake out a word to hear:

  “Ward off me the war-play, Mentor! remember thy fellow dear!

  Who hath done thee good deeds ever; and like-aged thou art unto me.”

  So he spake, but the people’s Uprouser, Athene, he deemed it to be,

  But the Wooers amid the feast-hall cried out from the other side,

  And Damastor’s son Agelaiis, he fell the Maid to chide:

  “Mentor, let not Odysseus with words prevail o’er thee

  To fight against the Wooers and his battle-aid to be!

  For this our mind and purpose, meseemeth, shall be done;

  And whenso these we have slain, the father and the son,

  Then thou with them shalt be slain, whereas in the halls of the stead

  Such deeds thou art set on doing, for which thou shalt pay with thine head.

  But when with the brass we have reft you of the might that once was yours,

  Thy goods, yea all that thou holdest in thine house and out a-doors,

  We will mingle with those of Odysseus, and neither the sons of thee,

  Nor thy daughters will we suffer within the halls to be,

  Nor thy trusty wife will we suffer mid the Ithacan folk to go.”

  So he spake, and exceeding anger in Athene’s heart ‘gan grow,

  And she fell to upbraid Odysseus with bitter words and to say:

  “Nought bideth thy might, Odysseus, and thy valour hath no stay,

  As when concerning Helen, the white-armed well-begot,

  For nine years long with the Troy-folk ye fought and faltered not,

  And in the fearful war-play ye slew so many an one,

  And the wide-wayed Burg of Priam by thy devise was won;

  And now that thou art gotten to thine havings and thine house

  Art thou woe that against the Wooers thou must needs be valorous?

  Come hither, my weakling! Stand by me and look on the deeds to be

  That thou may’st behold the fashion of Mentor Alcimus’ son, [done,

  How he payeth back well-doing amid the rout of foes!”

  So she spake, and yet not wholly gave clear victory unto those,

  For yet a little longer would she try the valour and might,

  Both of the man Odysseus, and his son, the glory of fight;

  But flying aloft, she gat her to the darkling feast-hall’s beam,

  And there sat her adown, and a swallow to look on did she seem.

  Now fell to stir up the Wooers Agelaiis, Damastor’s son,

  And Eurynomus and Amphimedon and Demoptolemus fell on,

  And Peisandrus son of Polyctor, and heart-wise Polybus;

  For these were the best of the Wooers, and by far most valorous

  Of those who yet were living and fought their lives to gain,

  But the rest, the bow had quelled them, and the rush of the arrow-rain.

  So amid them cried Agelaus, and to all spake out the tale:

  “Friends, now shall this man refrain him and his hands that never fail;

  With a word of empty boasting hence now hath Mentor gone,

  And in the first of the doorway are these men left alone.

  Therefore not all together your long spears do ye cast,

  Let but six hurl together; and may Zeus grant us at last

  The smiting of Odysseus, and for us the glory and gain

  No need to care for the others when he hath fallen slain.”

  So he spake, and all right eager hurled even as he bade,

  But all the casts Athene but vain and idle made:

  For one, he smote the doorpost of that well-builded house,

  And another reached the doorleaves that were fitted well and close,

  And the ashen shaft brass heavy of another smote the wall.

  But when the spears of the Wooers they had thus ‘scaped one and all

  Then fell to speech Odysseus, the goodly toil-stout lord:

  “O friends, at last I say it, and give to you the word

  To hurl into the throng of the Wooers, so sore as now they long

  To strip us after the slaughter, and heap up wrong on wrong.”

  So he spake, and all they forthright the whetted war-spears threw,

  Straight aiming: Demoptolemus therewith Odysseus slew,

  Telemachus slew Euryades, and the swineherd there did quell

  Lord Elatus, and Peisandrus before the neatherd fell.

  There all they lay a-grovelling and the wide floor bit withal.

  Then aback shrank the throng of the Wooers to the inmost of the hall,

  And the others rushed upon them, and drew out the spears from the dead.

  Then again the eager Wooers their whetted war-spears sped,

  But Athene so wrought that a many thereof in vain should fall,

  For one of them smote the doorpost of that well-builded hall,

  And another smote the door-leaves well fashioned close to fit,

  And the ashen shaft brass-heavy of one the wall did hit.

  But Amphimedon smote Telemachus his hand about the wrist,

  Where the brass did graze but lightly, and all but barely missed:

  And Ctesippus smote Eumaeus o’er the shield with a long-shaft spear,

  And his shoulder grazed; but the shaft flew on and fell down there.

  Then they about Odysseus the heart-wise, diverse of rede,

  Amidst the throng of the Wooers their whetted spears did speed.

  There city-waster Odysseus smote Eurydamas outright,

  And Telemachus Amphimedon, and the swineherd did Polybus smite,

  And the man that herded the oxen, Ctesippus, there he smote

  Amidmost the breast; and thereover a boasting word did he shout:

  “Polytherses’ son, taunt-loving, now never any more

  Talk big and yield to thy folly, but turn the matter o’er

 

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