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BOOK XXI。
MINERVA now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors try
their skill with the bow and with the iron axes； in contest among
themselves； as a means of bringing about their destruction。 She went
upstairs and got the store room key； which was made of bronze and
had a handle of ivory； she then went with her maidens into the store
room at the end of the house； where her husband's treasures of gold；
bronze； and wrought iron were kept； and where was also his bow； and
the quiver full of deadly arrows that had been given him by a friend
whom he had met in Lacedaemon… Iphitus the son of Eurytus。 The two
fell in with one another in Messene at the house of Ortilochus；
where Ulysses was staying in order to recover a debt that was owing
from the whole people； for the Messenians had carried off three
hundred sheep from Ithaca； and had sailed away with them and with
their shepherds。 In quest of these Ulysses took a long journey while
still quite young； for his father and the other chieftains sent him on
a mission to recover them。 Iphitus had gone there also to try and
get back twelve brood mares that he had lost； and the mule foals
that were running with them。 These mares were the death of him in
the end； for when he went to the house of Jove's son； mighty Hercules；
who performed such prodigies of valour； Hercules to his shame killed
him； though he was his guest； for he feared not heaven's vengeance；
nor yet respected his own table which he had set before Iphitus； but
killed him in spite of everything； and kept the mares himself。 It
was when claiming these that Iphitus met Ulysses； and gave him the bow
which mighty Eurytus had been used to carry； and which on his death
had been left by him to his son。 Ulysses gave him in return a sword
and a spear； and this was the beginning of a fast friendship； although
they never visited at one another's houses； for Jove's son Hercules
killed Iphitus ere they could do so。 This bow； then； given him by
Iphitus； had not been taken with him by Ulysses when he sailed for
Troy； he had used it so long as he had been at home； but had left it
behind as having been a keepsake from a valued friend。
Penelope presently reached the oak threshold of the store room；
the carpenter had planed this duly； and had drawn a line on it so as
to get it quite straight； he had then set the door posts into it and
hung the doors。 She loosed the strap from the handle of the door；
put in the key； and drove it straight home to shoot back the bolts
that held the doors； these flew open with a noise like a bull
bellowing in a meadow； and Penelope stepped upon the raised
platform； where the chests stood in which the fair linen and clothes
were laid by along with fragrant herbs： reaching thence； she took down
the bow with its bow case from the peg on which it hung。 She sat
down with it on her knees； weeping bitterly as she took the bow out of
its case； and when her tears had relieved her； she went to the
cloister where the suitors were； carrying the bow and the quiver； with
the many deadly arrows that were inside it。 Along with her came her
maidens； bearing a chest that contained much iron and bronze which her
husband had won as prizes。 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 maid on either side of her。
Then she said：
〃Listen to me you suitors； who persist in abusing the hospitality of
this house because its owner has been long absent； and without other
pretext than that you want to marry me； this； then； being the prize
that you are contending for； I will bring out the mighty bow of
Ulysses； and whomsoever of you shall string it most easily and send
his arrow through each one of twelve axes； him will I follow and
quit this house of my lawful husband； so goodly； and so abounding in
wealth。 But even so I doubt not that I shall remember it in my
dreams。〃
As she spoke； she told Eumaeus to set the bow and the pieces of iron
before the suitors； and Eumaeus wept as he took them to do as she
had bidden him。 Hard by； the stockman wept also when he saw his
master's bow； but Antinous scolded them。 〃You country louts；〃 said he；
〃silly simpletons； why should you add to the sorrows of your
mistress by crying in this way？ She has enough to grieve her in the
loss of her husband； sit still； therefore； and eat your dinners in
silence； or go outside if you want to cry； and leave the bow behind
you。 We suitors shall have to contend for it with might and main；
for we shall find it no light matter to string such a bow as this
is。 There is not a man of us all who is such another as Ulysses； for I
have seen him and remember him； though I was then only a child。〃
This was what he said； but all the time he was expecting to be
able to string the bow and shoot through the iron； whereas in fact
he was to be the first that should taste of the arrows from the
hands of Ulysses； whom he was dishonouring in his own house… egging
the others on to do so also。
Then Telemachus spoke。 〃Great heavens！〃 he exclaimed； 〃Jove must
have robbed me of my senses。 Here is my dear and excellent mother
saying she will quit this house and marry again； yet I am laughing and
enjoying myself as though there were nothing happening。 But；
suitors； as the contest has been agreed upon； let it go forward。 It is
for a woman whose peer is not to be found in Pylos； Argos； or
Mycene； nor yet in Ithaca nor on the mainland。 You know this as well
as I do； what need have I to speak in praise of my mother？ Come on；
then； make no excuses for delay； but let us see whether you can string
the bow or no。 I too will make trial of it； for if I can string it and
shoot through the iron； I shall not suffer my mother to quit this
house with a stranger； not if I can win the prizes which my father won
before me。〃
As he spoke he sprang from his seat； threw his crimson cloak from
him； and took his sword from his shoulder。 First he set the axes in
a row； in a long groove which he had dug for them； and had Wade
straight by line。 Then he stamped the earth tight round them； and
everyone was surprised when they saw him set up so orderly； though
he had never seen anything of the kind before。 This done； he went on
to the pavement to make trial of the bow； thrice did he tug at it；
trying with all his might to draw the string； and thrice he had to
leave off； though he had hoped to string the bow and shoot through the
iron。 He was trying for the fourth time； and would have strung it
had not Ulysses made a sign to check him in spite of all his
eagerness。 So he said：
〃Alas！ I shall either be always feeble and of no prowess； or I am
too young； and have not yet reached my full strength so as to be
able to hold my own if any one attacks me。 You others； therefore；
who are stronger than I； make trial of the bow and get this contest
settled。〃
On this he put the bow down； letting it lean against the door
＇that led into the house＇ with the arrow standing against the top of
the bow。 Then he sat down on the seat from which he had risen； and
Antinous said：
〃Come on each of you in his turn； going towards the right from the
place at which the。 cupbearer begins when he is handing round the
wine。〃
The rest agreed； and Leiodes son of OEnops was the first to rise。 He
was sacrificial priest to the suitors； and sat in the corner near
the mixing…bowl。 He was the only man who hated their evil deeds and
was indignant with the others。 He was now the first to take the bow
and arrow； so he went on to the pavement to make his trial； but he
could not string the bow； for his hands were weak and unused to hard
work； they therefore soon grew tired； and he said to the suitors；
〃My friends； I cannot string it； let another have it； this bow shall
take the life and soul out of many a chief among us； for it is
better to die than to live after having missed the prize that we
have so long striven for； and which has brought us so long together。
Some one of us is even now hoping and praying that he may marry
Penelope； but when he has seen this bow and tried it； let him woo
and make bridal offerings to some other woman； and let Penelope
marry whoever makes her the best offer and whose lot it is to win
her。〃
On this he put the bow down； letting it lean against the door；
with the arrow standing against the tip of the bow。 Then he took his
seat again on the seat from which he had risen； and Antinous rebuked
him saying：
〃Leiodes； what are you talking about？ Your words are monstrous and
intolerable； it makes me angry to listen to you。 Shall； then； this bow
take the life of many a chief among us； merely because you cannot bend
it yourself？ True； you were not born to be an archer； but there are
others who will soon string it。〃
Then he said to Melanthius the goatherd； 〃Look sharp； light a fire
in the court； and set a seat hard by with a sheep skin on it； bring us
also a large ball of lard； from what they have in the house。 Let us
warm the bow and grease it we will then make trial of it again； and
bring the contest to an end。〃
Melanthius lit the fire； and set a seat covered with she