The Odysseys of Homer, together with the shorter poems · Homer
ANOTHER ARGUMENT
They sweetly laughed at this. Eurymachus To mocks dispos’d, and said: “This new-come-t’-us Is surely mad, conduct him forth to light In th’ open market-place; he thinks ’tis night Within the house.” “Eurymachus,” said he, “I will not ask for any guide of thee, I both my feet enjoy, have ears and eyes, And no mad soul within me; and with these Will I go forth the doors, because I know That imminent mischief must abide with you, Which not a man of all the Wooers here Shall fly or ’scape. Ye all too highly bear Your uncurb’d heads. Impieties ye commit, And ev’ry man affect with forms unfit.” This said, he left the house, and took his way Home to Piræus; who, as free as day, Was of his welcome.
When the Wooers’ eyes Chang’d looks with one another, and, their guise Of laughters still held on, still eas’d their breasts Of will to set the Prince against his guests, Affirming that of all the men alive He worst luck had, and prov’d it worst to give Guests entertainment; for he had one there A wand’ring hunter-out of provender, An errant beggar ev’ry way, yet thought (He was so hungry) that he needed nought But wine and victuals, nor knew how to do, Nor had a spirit to put a knowledge to, But liv’d an idle burthen to the earth. Another then stepp’d up, and would lay forth His lips in prophecy, thus: “But, would he hear His friends’ persuasions, he should find it were More profit for him to put both aboard For the Sicilian people, that afford These feet of men good price; and this would bring[2] Good means for better guests.” These words made wing To his ears idly, who had still his eye Upon his father, looking fervently When he would lay his long-withholding hand On those proud Wooers. And, within command Of all this speech that pass’d, Icarius’ heir, The wise Penelope, her royal chair Had plac’d of purpose. Their high dinner then With all-pleas’d palates these ridiculous men Fell sweetly to, as joying they had slain Such store of banquet. But there did not reign A bitterer banquet-planet in all heav’n Than that which Pallas had to that day driv’n, And, with her able friend now, meant t’ appose, Since they till then were in deserts so gross. THE END OF THE TWENTIETH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS. [1] Viz. That some from within might issue, and witness in his hearing some wreakful ostent to his enemies from heaven. [2] These feet of men, etc. _ἀνδραποδισταί._ Penelope proposeth now To him that draws Ulysses’ bow Her instant nuptials. Ithacus Eumæus and Philœtius Gives charge for guarding of the gates; And he his shaft shoots through the plates.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.