Disorderly Conduct of the Serving-Women. - Prayer of Ulysses for a Favorable Omen. -Its Fulfilment. - Preparations for a Feast of the Suitors in the Palace. - The Feast. Ulysses insulted by Ctesippus, who is reproved by Telemachus. - Strange Prodigies Proposal of Penelope to the Suitors to contend for her Hand with the Bow and Arrows of Ulysses. Their ineffectual Attempts to bend the Bow. Management of Ulysses to obtain the Bow, which he bends with Ease, and sends an Arrow through the twelve Rings set Antinoüs slain by an Arrow from the Bow of Ulysses, who now de- clares himself, and begins the Slaughter. - Arms brought to him and to Eumæus and Philotius by Telemachus. - Arms brought to the Suitors by Melanthius the Goatherd. - Appearance of Pallas in the Shape of Mentor. - Death of all the Suitors. Medon and Phemius spared. - The Unfaithful Serving-Women hanged . • 195 BOOK XXIV. CONCLUSION. The Souls of the Suitors conducted to Hades by Mercury. - Aga- • 232 THE ODYSSEY. BOOK XIII. E spake, and all within those shadowy halls HR Were silent; all were held in mute delight. Alcinoüs then took up the word and said :— "Since thou hast come, Ulysses, as a guest, The choice red wine, and listen to the bard: ΤΟ Already in a polished chest are laid Changes of raiment, works of art in gold, And other gifts, which the Phæacian chiefs Have destined for our guest; now let us each 15 And we in an assembly of the realm Will see the cost repaid, since otherwise Great would the burden be that each must bear." So spake Alcinoüs; they approved, and sought VOL. II. A Their homes to sleep, but when the child of Dawn, 20 25 Of those who leaned to pull the oar might thence Meet harm or hindrance. Then they all went back To the king's palace, and prepared a feast. The mighty prince Alcinoüs offered up For them an ox to cloud-compelling Jove, They burned the thighs, and held high festival, 30 The bard, whom all men reverenced, sang to them. Meantime Ulysses often turned to look At the bright Sun, and longed to see him set, So eager was the hero to set sail Upon his homeward way. As when a swain Awaits his evening meal, for whom all day 35 Two dark-brown steers have dragged the solid plough Through fallow grounds, and welcome is the hour Of sunset, calling him to his repast, 40 And wearily he walks with failing knees, So welcome to Ulysses did the light Of day go down. Then did he hold discourse 45 With the Phæacians, lovers of the sea, And chiefly with Alcinoüs, speaking thus: "O monarch most illustrious of thy race, Alcinous, now when ye have duly poured Wine to the gods, be pleased to send me hence And may no evil light upon your isle !" 50 55 60 He spake; the assembly all approved his words, And bade send forth the stranger on his way, Who spake so nobly. Then the mighty prince Alcinous turned, and to the herald said: "Now mix the wine, Pontonoüs, in a jar, And bear a part to all beneath our roof, That we with prayers to Father Jupiter May send the stranger to his native land." He spake; Pontonoüs mingled for the guests The generous wine, and went with it to each, 65 70 Who poured it on the ground, from where they sat, To all the dwellers of the ample heaven; And then the great Ulysses, rising up, Placed the round goblet in Aretè's hands, And thus bespake the queen with winged words:- 75 66 'Farewell, O queen, through the long years, till age |