INTRODUCTION.

The Suitors plot new schemes against the life of Telemachus, but they are only stopped by a warning sign from Apollo. While they are sitting at the dinner table original: "board", Ctesippus hurls the foot of an ox at Odysseus. He is sharply rebuked by Telemachus, whose courage now rises to a level worthy of a hero. But an "evil spirit" from Athena comes upon the Suitors. They break into peals of ghastly laughter; the meat, as they lift it to their lips, seems to drip with blood; and Theoclymenus, starting up, cries that he sees a "horror of thick darkness" gathering around every man and a procession of ghosts passing down the hall, while strange cries of mourning original: "lamentation" ring in his ears. It is the "Vision of Judgment." However, they laugh at his warning and drive him from the hall. Then Penelope (Book 21) unlocks her storage chamber and brings out her lord’s bow—the gift of Iphitus—and challenges the Suitors to the trial original: "ordeal" of shooting through the row of axes.

The son must first try the father’s bow; he nearly succeeds in stringing it, but a look from Odysseus tells original: "bids" him to stop. But none of the chieftains—not even Antinous or Eurymachus—can bend the unyielding bow, even though they sought to make it flexible original: "supple" at the fire. "It is a desecration original: "profanation" of the feast of the Archer-god referring to Apollo," Antinous cries, "let us put the trial off until tomorrow!" Meanwhile, Odysseus has been revealing his identity to the loyal Eumaeus and Philoetius, and the doors of the hall and of the courtyard are now secured original: "made fast". Then he prays that he too may hold the bow and may try to bend it; although the Suitors insult him for his arrogance original: "insolence", Telemachus insists that the stranger shall have his way. He takes the bow, strings it without any effort, and, without rising from his seat, sends the arrow flying through the row of axes.

The great act of vengeance has begun.

Odysseus springs up (Book 22), shoots down Antinous, and announces the return of the long-lost lord of the palace. It is no use looking around the walls for shield or spear; no use trying to flee; no use speaking politely original: "speak fair" now, like Eurymachus, to try to make terms. One after another, the Suitors fall; and Telemachus brings weapons for himself, his father, and the faithful herdsmen to use once the arrows are all spent. An attempt to steal weapons from the storage chamber is boldly carried out by