Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 

’Neatherd, seeing thou art not like to an evil man or a foolish, and of myself I mark how that thou hast gotten understanding of heart, therefore I will tell thee somewhat, and swear a great oath to confirm it.  Be Zeus now my witness before any god, and the hospitable board and the hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come, that while thou art still in this place Odysseus shall come home, and thou shalt see with thine eyes, if thou wilt, the slaying of the wooers who lord it here.’

Then the neatherd made answer, saying: 

’Ah, would, stranger, that Cronion may accomplish this word!  So shouldst thou know what my might is, and how my hands follow to obey.’

In like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods, that wise Odysseus might return to his own home.

On such wise they spake one to the other, but the wooers at that time were framing death and doom for Telemachus.  Even so there came by them a bird on their left, an eagle of lofty flight, with a cowering dove in his clutch.  Then Amphinomus made harangue and spake among them: 

’Friends, this counsel of ours will not go well, namely, the slaying of Telemachus; rather let us bethink us of the feast.’

So spake Amphinomus, and his saying pleased them well.  They passed into the halls of godlike Odysseus and laid by their mantles on the chairs and high seats, and sacrificed great sheep and stout goats and the fatlings of the boars and the heifer of the herd; then they roasted the entrails and served them round and mixed wine in the bowl, and the swineherd set a cup by each man.  And Philoetius, a master of men, handed them wheaten bread in beautiful baskets, and Melanthius poured out the wine.  So they put forth their hands on the good cheer set before them.

Now Telemachus, in his crafty purpose, made Odysseus to sit down within the stablished hall by the threshold of stone, and placed for him a mean settle and a little table.  He set by him his mess of the entrails, and poured wine into a golden cup and spake to him, saying: 

’There, sit thee down, drinking thy wine among the lords, and the taunts and buffets of all the wooers I myself will ward off from thee, for this is no house of public resort, but the very house of Odysseus, and for me he won it.  But, ye wooers, refrain your minds from rebukes and your hands from buffets, that no strife and feud may arise.’

So he said, and they all bit their lips and marvelled at Telemachus, in that he spake boldly.  Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake among them, saying: 

’Hard though the word be, let us accept it, Achaeans, even the word of Telemachus, though mightily he threatens us in his speech.  For Zeus Cronion hath hindered us of our purpose, else would we have silenced him in our halls, shrill orator as he is.’

So spake Antinous, but Telemachus took no heed of his words.  Now the henchmen were leading through the town the holy hecatomb of the gods, and lo, the long-haired Achaeans were gathered beneath the shady grove of Apollo, the prince of archery.