ULYSSES IN HIS HOME (_continued_)
After awhile there came a beggar from the city, huge of bulk,
mighty to eat and drink, but his strength was not according to his
size. The young men called him Irus [Footnote: I'-rus], because he
was their messenger, after Iris [Footnote: I'-ris], the messenger
of Zeus. He spake to Ulysses:--
"Give place, old man, lest I drag thee forth; the young men even
now would have it so, but I think it shame to strike such an one
as thee."
Then said Ulysses, "There is room for thee and for me; get what
thou canst, for I do not grudge thee aught, but beware lest thou
anger me, lest I harm thee, old though I am."
But Irus would not hear words of peace, but still challenged him
to fight.
And when Antinous saw this he was glad, and said: "This is the
goodliest sport that I have seen in this house. These two beggars
would fight; let us haste and match them."
And the saying pleased them; and Antinous spake again: "Hear me,
ye suitors of the Queen! We have put aside these paunches of the
goats for our supper. Let us agree, then, that whosoever of these
two shall prevail, shall have choice of these, that which pleaseth
him best, and shall hereafter eat with us, and that no one else
shall sit in his place."
Then said Ulysses: "It is hard for an old man to fight with a
young. Yet will I do it. Only do ye swear to me that no one shall
strike me a foul blow while I fight with this man."
Then Telemachus said that this should be so, and they all
consented to his words. And after this Ulysses girded himself for
the fight. And all that were there saw his thighs, how great and
strong they were, and his shoulders, how broad, and his arms, how
mighty. And they said one to another, "There will be little of
Irus left, so stalwart seems this beggar man." But as for Irus
himself, he would have slunk out of sight, but they that were set
to gird him compelled him to come forth.
Then said Antinous: "How is this, thou braggart, that thou fearest
this old man, all woebegone as he is?"
So the two came together. And Ulysses thought whether he should
strike the fellow and slay him, or fell him to the ground. And
this last seemed the better of the two. So when Irus had dealt him
his blow, he smote him on the jaw, and brake the bone, so that he
fell howling on the ground, and the blood poured from his mouth.
Then all the suitors laughed aloud. But Ulysses dragged the fellow
out of the hall, and propped him by the wall of the courtyard,
putting a staff in his hand, and saying, "Sit there, and keep dogs
and swine from the door, but dare not hereafter to lord it over
men, no, not even ov'r strangers and beggars, lest some worse
thing befall thee."
Then Antinous gave Ulysses a great paunch, and Amphinomus gave two
loaves, and pledged him in a cup, saying, "Good luck to thee,
hereafter, though now thou seemest to have evil fortune!"