BOOK XXI

THE BENDING OF ULYSSES' BOW

ARGUMENT

Penelope, to put an end to the solicitations of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets. After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumæus and Philætius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause to be delivered to his hands. He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings. Jupiter at the same instant thunders from heaven; Ulysses accepts the omen, and gives a sign to Telemachus, who stands ready armed at his side.

But discord and black death await the game!

The prudent Queen the lofty stair ascends;

At distance due a virgin-train attends:
A brazen key she held, the handle turn'd,
With steel and polish'd elephant adorn'd: 10
Swift to the inmost room she bent her way,
Where, safe reposed, the royal treasures lay;
There shone high heap'd the labour'd brass
and ore,

And there the bow which great Ulysses bore;

And there the quiver, where now guiltless slept

Those winged deaths that many a matron

wept.

This gift, long since when Sparta's shores he trod,

On young Ulysses Iphitus bestow'd:
Beneath Orsilochus's roof they met;
One loss was private, one a public debt; 20
Messena's state from Ithaca detains
Three hundred sheep, and all the shepherd
swains;

And to the youthful Prince to urge the laws,

The King and elders trust their common

cause.

The bow, bequeath'd by this unhappy band,

Ulysses bore not from his native land;
Nor in the front of battle taught to bend,
But kept in dear memorial of his friend. 40

Now, gently winding up the far ascent, By many an easy step, the matron went; Then o'er the pavement glides with grace divine

(With polish'd oak the level pavements shine);

The folding gates a dazzling light display'd, With pomp of various architrave o'erlaid. The bolt, obedient to the silken string, Forsakes the staple as she pulls the ring; The wards respondent to the key turn round;

The bars fall back; the flying valves resound;

Loud as a bull makes hill and valley ring, So roar'd the lock when it releas'd the spring.

She moves majestic thro' the wealthy room, Where treasured garments cast a rich per

fume;

If these neglected, faded charms can move?

Or is it but a vain pretence you love?
If I the prize, if me you seek to wife,
Hear the conditions, and commence the
strife.

Who first Ulysses' wondrous bow shall bend,

And thro' twelve ringlets the fleet arrow send,

Him will I follow, and forsake my home, For him forsake this lov'd, this wealthy dome,

Long, long the scene of all my past delight, And still to last the vision of my night!' 80 Graceful she said, and bade Eumæus

show

The rival Peers the ringlets and the bow. From his full eyes the tears unbidden spring,

Tonch'd at the dear memorials of his King.
Philætius too relents, but secret shed
The tender drops. Antinous saw, and
said:

'Hence to your fields, ye Rustics! hence away,

Nor stain with grief the pleasures of the day:

Nor to the royal heart recall in vain
The sad remembrance of a perish'd man. 90
Enough her precious tears already flow:
Or share the feast with due respect, or go
To weep abroad, and leave to us the bow:
No vulgar task! Ill suits this courtly crew
That stubborn horn which brave Ulysses

Three times, with beating heart, he made essay;

Three times, unequal to the task, gave way; A modest boldness on his cheek appear'd; And thrice he hoped, and thrice again he fear'd.

The fourth had drawn it. The great Sire with joy Beheld, but with a sign forbade the boy.

And finding faithful you, and you alone. All else have cast him from their very thought,

Ev'n in their wishes and their prayers forgot!

Hear then, my friends: If Jove this arm succeed,

And give yon impious revellers to bleed, 220 My care shall be to bless your future lives With large possessions and with faithful wives:

Fast by my palace shall your domes ascend,

And each on young Telemachus attend, And each be cali'd his brother and my friend.

To give you firmer faith, now trust your eye;

Lo! the broad scar indented on my thigh,
When with Autolycus's sons, of yore,
On Parnass' top I chased the tusky boar.'
His ragged vest then drawn aside, dis-
closed

230

Full many foes, and fierce, observe us near; Some may betray, and yonder walls may hear.

Re-enter then, not all at once, but stay
Some moments you, and let me lead the way.
To me, neglected as I am, I know
The haughty suitors will deny the bow;
But thou, Eumæus, as 't is borne away, 250
Thy master's weapon to his hand convey.
At ev'ry portal let some matron wait,
And each lock fast the well-compacted
gate:

Close let them keep, whate’er invades their ear;

Tho' arms, or shouts, or dying groans they

On me, on all, what grief, what shame attends !

Not the lost nuptials can affect me more (For Greece has beauteous dames on ev'ry shore),

But baffled thus confess'd so far below Ulysses' strength, as not to bend his bow! How shall all ages our attempt deride! 270 Our weakness scorn!' Antinous thus replied:

'Not so, Eurymachus: that no man draws The wondrous bow, attend another cause. Sacred to Phoebus is the solemn day, Which thoughtless we in games would waste away;

Till the next dawn this ill-timed strife forego,

And here leave fix'd the ringlets in a row. Now bid the sewer approach, then let us join

In due libations, and in rites divine;

So end our night; before the day shall

spring,

280

The choicest off'rings let Melanthius bring;