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her couch and her limbs became heavy with sleep。 Then the goddess shed
grace and beauty over her that all the Achaeans might admire her。
She washed her face with the ambrosial loveliness that Venus wears
when she goes dancing with the Graces； she made her taller and of a
more commanding figure； while as for her complexion it was whiter than
sawn ivory。 When Minerva had done all this she went away； whereon
the maids came in from the women's room and woke Penelope with the
sound of their talking。
〃What an exquisitely delicious sleep I have been having；〃 said
she； as she passed her hands over her face； 〃in spite of all my
misery。 I wish Diana would let me die so sweetly now at this very
moment； that I might no longer waste in despair for the loss of my
dear husband； who possessed every kind of good quality and was the
most distinguished man among the Achaeans。〃
With these words she came down from her upper room； not alone but
attended by two of her maidens； and when she reached the suitors she
stood by one of the bearing…posts supporting the roof of the cloister；
holding a veil before her face； and with a staid maid servant on
either side of her。 As they beheld her the suitors were so overpowered
and became so desperately enamoured of her； that each one prayed he
might win her for his own bed fellow。
〃Telemachus；〃 said she； addressing her son； 〃I fear you are no
longer so discreet and well conducted as you used to be。 When you were
younger you had a greater sense of propriety； now； however； that you
are grown up； though a stranger to look at you would take you for
the son of a well…to…do father as far as size and good looks go；
your conduct is by no means what it should be。 What is all this
disturbance that has been going on； and how came you to allow a
stranger to be so disgracefully ill…treated？ What would have
happened if he had suffered serious injury while a suppliant in our
house？ Surely this would have been very discreditable to you。〃
〃I am not surprised； my dear mother； at your displeasure；〃 replied
Telemachus； 〃I understand all about it and know when things are not as
they should be； which I could not do when I was younger； I cannot；
however； behave with perfect propriety at all times。 First one and
then another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out of my
mind； and I have no one to stand by me。 After all； however； this fight
between Irus and the stranger did not turn out as the suitors meant it
to do； for the stranger got the best of it。 I wish Father Jove；
Minerva； and Apollo would break the neck of every one of these
wooers of yours； some inside the house and some out； and I wish they
might all be as limp as Irus is over yonder in the gate of the outer
court。 See how he nods his head like a drunken man； he has had such
a thrashing that he cannot stand on his feet nor get back to his home；
wherever that may be； for has no strength left in him。〃
Thus did they converse。 Eurymachus then came up and said； 〃Queen
Penelope； daughter of Icarius； if all the Achaeans in Iasian Argos
could see you at this moment； you would have still more suitors in
your house by tomorrow morning； for you are the most admirable woman
in the whole world both as regards personal beauty and strength of
understanding。〃
To this Penelope replied； 〃Eurymachus； heaven robbed me of all my
beauty whether of face or figure when the Argives set sail for Troy
and my dear husband with them。 If he were to return and look after
my affairs； I should both be more respected and show a better presence
to the world。 As it is； I am oppressed with care； and with the
afflictions which heaven has seen fit to heap upon me。 My husband
foresaw it all； and when he was leaving home he took my right wrist in
his hand… 'Wife； 'he said； 'we shall not all of us come safe home
from Troy； for the Trojans fight well both with bow and spear。 They
are excellent also at fighting from chariots； and nothing decides
the issue of a fight sooner than this。 I know not； therefore；
whether heaven will send me back to you； or whether I may not fall
over there at Troy。 In the meantime do you look after things here。
Take care of my father and mother as at present； and even more so
during my absence； but when you see our son growing a beard； then
marry whom you will； and leave this your present home。 This is what he
said and now it is all coming true。 A night will come when I shall
have to yield myself to a marriage which I detest； for Jove has
taken from me all hope of happiness。 This further grief； moreover；
cuts me to the very heart。 You suitors are not wooing me after the
custom of my country。 When men are courting a woman who they think
will be a good wife to them and who is of noble birth； and when they
are each trying to win her for himself； they usually bring oxen and
sheep to feast the friends of the lady； and they make her
magnificent presents； instead of eating up other people's property
without paying for it。〃
This was what she said； and Ulysses was glad when he heard her
trying to get presents out of the suitors； and flattering them with
fair words which he knew she did not mean。
Then Antinous said； 〃Queen Penelope； daughter of Icarius； take as
many presents as you please from any one who will give them to you； it
is not well to refuse a present； but we will not go about our business
nor stir from where we are； till you have married the best man among
us whoever he may be。〃
The others applauded what Antinous had said； and each one sent his
servant to bring his present。 Antinous's man returned with a large and
lovely dress most exquisitely embroidered。 It had twelve beautifully
made brooch pins of pure gold with which to fasten it。 Eurymachus
immediately brought her a magnificent chain of gold and amber beads
that gleamed like sunlight。 Eurydamas's two men returned with some
earrings fashioned into three brilliant pendants which glistened
most beautifully； while king Pisander son of Polyctor gave her a
necklace of the rarest workmanship； and every one else brought her a
beautiful present of some kind。
Then the queen went back to her room upstairs； and her maids brought
the presents after her。 Meanwhile the suitors took to singing and
dancing； and stayed till evening came。 They danced and sang till it
grew dark； they then brought in three braziers to give light； and
piled them up with chopped firewood very and dry； and they lit torches
from them； which the maids held up turn and turn about。 Then Ulysses
said：
〃Maids； servants of Ulysses who has so long been absent； go to the
queen inside the house； sit with her and amuse her； or spin； and
pick wool。 I will hold the light for all these people。 They may stay
till morning； but shall not beat me； for I can stand a great deal。〃
The maids looked at one another and laughed； while pretty Melantho
began to gibe at him contemptuously。 She was daughter to Dolius； but
had been brought up by Penelope； who used to give her toys to play
with； and looked after her when she was a child； but in spite of all
this she showed no consideration for the sorrows of her mistress；
and used to misconduct herself with Eurymachus； with whom she was in
love。
〃Poor wretch；〃 said she； 〃are you gone clean out of your mind？ Go
and sleep in some smithy； or place of public gossips； instead of
chattering here。 Are you not ashamed of opening your mouth before your
betters… so many of them too？ Has the wine been getting into your
head； or do you always babble in this way？ You seem to have lost
your wits because you beat the tramp Irus； take care that a better man
than he does not come and cudgel you about the head till he pack you
bleeding out of the house。〃
〃Vixen；〃 replied Ulysses； scowling at her； 〃I will go and tell
Telemachus what you have been saying； and he will have you torn limb
from limb。〃
With these words he scared the women； and they went off into the
body of the house。 They trembled all aver； for they thought he would
do as he said。 But Ulysses took his stand near the burning braziers；
holding up torches and looking at the people… brooding the while on
things that should surely come to pass。
But Minerva would not let the suitors for one moment cease their
insolence； for she wanted Ulysses to become even more bitter against
them； she therefore set Eurymachus son of Polybus on to gibe at him；
which made the others laugh。 〃Listen to me；〃 said he； 〃you suitors
of Queen Penelope； that I may speak even as I am minded。 It is not for
nothing that this man has come to the house of Ulysses； I believe
the light has not been coming from the torches； but from his own head…
for his hair is all gone； every bit of it。〃
Then turning to Ulysses he said； 〃Stranger； will you work as a
servant； if I send you to the wolds and see that you are well paid？
Can you build a stone fence； or plant trees？ I will have you fed all
the year round； and will find you in shoes and clothing。 Will you
go； then？ Not you； for you have got into bad ways； and do not want
to work； you had rather fill your belly by going round the country
begging。〃
〃Eurymachus；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃if you and I were to work one
against the other i