Chapter XXVI: Book XXI: The trial of the bow and of the axes

Then Minerva put it in Penelope's mind to let the suitors
compete for the bow and for a prize of iron. So she
went upstairs and got the key of the store room, where
Ulysses' treasures of gold, copper, and iron were kept,
as also the mighty bow which Iphitus son of Eurytus had
given him, and which had been in common use by Eurytus
as long as he was alive. Hither she went attended by her
women, and when she had unlocked the door she took the
bow down from its peg and carried it, with its quiverfull
of deadly arrows, to the suitors, while her maids brought
the chest in which were the many prizes of iron that
Ulysses had won. Then, still attended by her two maidens,
she stood by one of the bearing-posts that supported the
roof of the cloister, and told the suitors she would
marry the man among them who could string Ulysses' bow
most easily, and send an arrow through the twelve holes
by which twelve axe-heads were fastened on to their
handles.

So saying she gave the bow into the hands of Eumæus and 80
bade him let the suitors compete as she had said. Eumæus
wept as he took it, and so did Philœtius who was looking
on, whereon Antinous scolded them for a couple of country
bumpkins.

Telemachus said that he too should compete, and that 113
if he was successful he should certainly not allow his
mother to leave her home with a second husband, while
he remained alone. So saying he dug a long trench
quite straight, set the axes in a line within it, and
stamped the earth about them to keep them steady; every
one was surprised to see how accurately he fixed them,
considering that he had never seen anything of the kind
before.[37] Having set the axes duly, he stood on the
stone pavement, and tried to string the bow, but failed
three times. He would, however, have succeeded the fourth
time, if Ulysses had not made him a sign that he was not
to try any more. So he laid both bow and arrow down and
took his seat.

"Then," said Antinous, "begin at the place where the 140
cupbearer begins, and let each take his turn, going from
left to right." On this Leiodes came forward. He was
their sacrificial priest, and sat in the angle of the
wall hard by the mixing bowl; but he had always set his
face against the wicked conduct of the suitors. When he
had failed to string the bow he said it was so hard to
string that it would rob many a man among them of life
and heart--for which saying Antinous rebuked him bitterly.

"Bring some fire, Melantheus, and a wheel of fat from 175
inside the house," said he to Melanthius, [_sic_] "that
we may warm the bow and grease it." So they did this,
but though many tried they could none of them string it.
There remained only Antinous and Eurymachus who were
their ring leaders.

The swineherd and the stockman Philœtius then went 188
outside the forecourt, and Ulysses followed them; when
they had got beyond the outer yard Ulysses sounded them,
and having satisfied himself that they were loyal he
revealed himself and shewed them the scar on his leg.
They were overjoyed, and Ulysses said, "Go back one by
one after me, and follow these instructions. The other
suitors will not be for letting me have the bow, but do
you, Eumæus, when you have got it in your hands, bring it
to me, and tell the women to shut themselves into their
room. If the sound of groaning or uproar reaches any of
them when they are inside, tell them to stick to their
work and not come out. I leave it to you. Philœtius, to
fasten the gate of the outer court securely." He then
went inside, and resumed the seat that he had left.

Eurymachus now tried to string the bow but failed. "I do 245
not so much mind," he said, "about not marrying Penelope,
for there are plenty of other women in Ithaca and
elsewhere. What grieves me is the fact of our being such
a feeble folk as compared with our forefathers."

Antinous reminded him that it was the festival of Apollo. 256
"Who," said he, "can shoot on such a day as this? Let us
leave the axes where they are--no one will take them; let
us also sacrifice to Apollo the best goats Melanthius can
bring us, and resume the contest tomorrow."

Ulysses then cunningly urged that he might be allowed 274
to try whether he was as strong a man as he used to
be, and that the bow should be placed in his hands
for this purpose. The suitors were very angry, but
Penelope insisted that Ulysses should have the bow; if
he succeeded in stringing it she said it was absurd to
suppose that she would marry him; but she would give
him a shirt and cloak, a javelin, sword, and a pair of
sandals, and she would send him wherever he might want to
go.

"The bow, mother, is mine," said Telemachus, "and if I 343
choose to give it this man out and out I shall give it
him. Go within the house and mind your own proper duties."

Penelope went back, with her women, wondering into the 354
house, and going upstairs into her room she wept for her
dear husband till Minerva shed sweet sleep over her eyes.

Eumæus was about to take the bow to Ulysses, but the 359
suitors frightened him and he was for putting it down,
till Telemachus threatened to stone him back to his farm
if he did not bring it on at once; he therefore gave the
bow to Ulysses. Then he called Euryclea aside and told
her to shut the women up, and not to let them out if they
heard any groans or uproar. She therefore shut them up.

At this point Philœtius slipped out and secured the main 388
gate of the outer court with a ship's cable of Byblus
fibre that happened to be lying beside it. This done, he
returned to his seat and kept his eye on Ulysses, who was
examining the bow with great care to see whether it was
sound in all its parts.

"This man," said the suitors, "is some old bow-fancier; 397
perhaps he has got one like it at home, or wants to make
one, so cunningly does the old rascal handle it."

Ulysses, having finished his scrutiny, strung the bow as 404
easily as a bard puts a new string on to his lyre. He
tried the string and it sang under his hand like the cry
of a swallow. He took an arrow that was lying out of its
quiver by his table, placed the notch on the string, and
from his seat sent the arrow through the handle-holes of
all the axes and outside into the yard.

"Telemachus," said he, "your guest has not disgraced you. 424
It is now time for the suitors to have their supper, and
to take their pleasure afterwards with song and playing
on the lyre." So saying he made a sign to Telemachus, who
girded on his sword, grasped his spear, and stood armed
beside his father's seat.