horn bring a true issue, whosoever of mortals beholds
them. Yet methinks my strange dream came not
thence; of a truth that would be most welcome to me
and to my son. But another thing will I tell
thee, and do thou ponder it in thy heart. Lo,
even now draws nigh the morn of evil name, that is
to sever me from the house of Odysseus, for now I
am about to ordain for a trial those axes that he
would set up in a row in his halls, like stays of
oak in ship-building, twelve in all, and he would
stand far apart and shoot his arrow through them all.
And now I will offer this contest to the wooers; whoso
shall most easily string the bow in his hands, and
shoot through all twelve axes, with him will I go
and forsake this house, this house of my wedlock, so
fair and filled with all livelihood, which methinks
I shall yet remember, aye, in a dream.’
Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:
’Wife revered of Odysseus son of Laertes, no
longer delay this contest in thy halls; for, lo, Odysseus
of many counsels will be here, before these men, for
all their handling of this polished bow, shall have
strung it, and shot the arrow through the iron.’
Then the wise Penelope answered him: ’Stranger,
if only thou wert willing still to sit beside me in
the halls and to delight me, not upon my eyelids would
sleep be shed. But men may in no wise abide sleepless
ever, for the immortals have made a time for all things
for mortals on the grain-giving earth. Howbeit
I will go aloft to my upper chamber, and lay me on
my bed, the place of my groanings, that is ever watered
by my tears, since the day that Odysseus went to see
that evil Ilios, never to be named. There will
I lay me down, but do thou lie in this house; either
strew thee somewhat on the floor, or let them lay
bedding for thee.’
Therewith she ascended to her shining upper chamber,
not alone, for with her likewise went her handmaids.
So she went aloft to her upper chamber with the women
her handmaids, and there was bewailing Odysseus, her
dear lord, till grey-eyed Athene cast sweet sleep
upon her eyelids.
Pallas and Odysseus consult of the killing
of the wooers.
But the goodly Odysseus laid him down to sleep in
the vestibule of the house. He spread an undressed
bull’s hide on the ground and above it many
fleeces of sheep, that the Achaeans were wont to slay
in sacrifice, and Eurynome threw a mantle over him
where he lay. There Odysseus lay wakeful, with
evil thoughts against the wooers in his heart.
And the women came forth from their chamber, that
aforetime were wont to lie with the wooers, making
laughter and mirth among themselves. Then the
heart of Odysseus was stirred within his breast, and
much he communed with his mind and soul, whether he
should leap forth upon them and deal death to each,
or suffer them to lie with the proud wooers, now for
the last and latest time. And his heart growled
sullenly within him. And even as a bitch stands
over her tender whelps growling, when she spies a
man she knows not, and she is eager to assail him,
so growled his heart within him in his wrath at their
evil deeds. Then he smote upon his breast and
rebuked his own heart, saying:
