_The same: many wooers seated about the hall over remains of feast. In
front of stage TELEMACHUS_ (L.), _EURYMACHUS_ (C.), _AMPHINOMUS and
ANTINOUS_ (R.). _Phemius sitting near: at left of stage a table piled
with gifts._
_EURYMACHUS._
Order thou as thou wilt; with mine own hand
Will I present my gift.
_ANTINOUS._
And so will I. 1320
Shall there be no distinction?
_TELEMACHUS._
Sirs, consider
How ye would make distinction. Ye are many,
And acquiescence in a preference
Of two or three were the self-forfeiture
By all the rest of further claim in suit.
_AMPHINOMUS._
Hark, ’tis well said, Eurymachus; and for one
I were content.
_Eur._ Why this is nought to me.
All cannot give; but we and such beside,
Whose title we acknowledge, may present
Our gifts in person: let the rest lay theirs 1330
Here on the table: nor will we admit
More than are present now within the hall:
All others with the henchmen may remain,
Where they sit feasting, in the outer court.
_Ant._ So be it, I say.
_Eur._ ’Twas on her own demand
We brought our gifts to-day: shall we not give them?
_Ant._ ’Tis fit there be reception. Here we wait
Since noon, and still she comes not. Will she come?
_Tel._ I am here, my lords, to tell you she will come.
Prepare to see her.
_Eur._ My place is first: ye two 1340
Will follow. For the rest, is’t left to me
To fix the order?
_Amph._ I would urge to abide
By what the prince desires.
_Tel._ Nay, nay, my lords.
I waive all word: the matter rests with you.
I say but this: since ’tis not possible
That each in person should present his gift,
My mother’s will is that ye lay them here
Upon the table. Yet if one or two
Command distinction, there is nought so far
Forbids exception.
_Eur._ Lords, then sit we down; 1350
Thence may we pass the word to whom we will.
And say that while we wait our lady’s coming,
Good Phemius sing. Prince, wilt thou sit by me?
_Tel._ Nay, I will take my seat where I was wont.
[_They sit down._
_Eur._ Serve us some wine.
_Tel._ Phemius, I’d have thy song
Tell of my father.
_Music._ (_All are seated._)
_Enter Eumæus with Ulysses disguised._
_EUMÆUS._
This way, old man, now art thou in the hall
Of good Ulysses.
_Eur._ Stay, stay, who come here
Breaking the music.
_Ant._ ’Tis the wretched swineherd.
_Eur._ Prince, bid him hence!
_Ant._ What ruffian brings he with him? 1360
_Amph._ Who is this ancient patch?
_Ant._ O miserable
Tatterdemalion!
_CTESIPPUS._
What a scurvy beggar!
_Eur._ Eumæus, I bid thee take thy plague away!
_A suitor._ Nor want we thee to-day, old swine-driver.
_Another._ When the meat fails, we’ll send.
_Ctes._ Rascally knave.
_Another._ Go fat thy pigs!
_Ctes._ The hog-tub stands without:
If thy old man be hungry, take him there.
_Another._ Ctesippus, force them forth.
_Ctes._ Begone, I say:
Or I will drive you quicker than ye came.
_Eur._ Eumæus, hear me: take thy man away. 1370
_Eum._ Nay, Lord Eurymachus, ’tis never thou
Canst say begone to any from this hall,
Nay, nor Antinous nor Ctesippus either:
But if to me ye say it, ye forget
How I stand here of right; nor is it like
I stir for you. As for your music-making,
Be still yourselves, and we can sit in peace,
And listen with you.
_Ant._ Ye to sit with us,
Insolent villain!
_Eur._ Whatsoe’er thy right,
This filthy beggar is beyond all reason. 1380
Who is he?
_Eum._ Lord Eurymachus, this man,
Mean as he is, hath here more privilege
Than thou. He comes by invitation hither;
He is the prince’s suppliant.
_Eur._ Now, Telemachus,
Thou art reproached in this.
_Eum._ Come to reproach,
I know a word.
_Ant._ Wag not thy beard at us,
Thou low-bred hind.
_Tel._ Indeed, Eurymachus,
I am not disgraced; for in my father’s hall
Was ever room and welcome for all such
As needed food and shelter: nay, and they 1390
Who most have need stand first; as doth this man.
As for my servant, he hath given an answer
To those that have reviled him.
_Amph._ If so be
This beggar is thy guest and suppliant,
His fitter place were still the outer court:
Invite him thither.
_Tel._ I have bid him here.
And here he shall remain. Fear not, good father,
Go sit thee by the hearth: and thou, Amphinomus,
Urge me not. I will have my way in this:
Were there no other reason than this one, 1400
That I will have my way. Take thou that stool,
Old man, and sit at ease: none here can touch thee.
_Ctes._ (_to Ul. aside_). Dare!
_Ant._ (_to Eur._). Shall we brook this?
_Eur._ Prince Telemachus,
Though thou be very son of great Ulysses,
Think not to overrule us thus with words.
Dispose thou mayst within fair reason’s bounds
Even as thou wilt: so much in courtesy
We grant, but not for fear; nor are our spirits
Of stuff to suffer what indignities
Thy haughty temper may prepare. In this 1410
We shall resist thee.
_Tel._ There be men in Ithaca
Call thee not king, Eurymachus; though here
Thou take so much on thee.
_Ant._ Ha! threat’st thou us?
Telemachus! what next? This is’t to have been
In Lacedæmon. Now may we, who ne’er
Have looked upon the godlike Menelaus,
Behold his mirror. Why, what game is this?
Think’st thou with strength and might upon our side
We bandy words? I say this ragged loon
Shall not have place with us: the sight of him 1420
Hath turned my stomach. If for any bond
Of blood or service thou set store by him,
Thou mayst do better for his skinny bones
Than stow them here. ’Twill not be many hours
That he shall trouble us.
_Tel._ Ay, so may be.
But wouldst thou kill him, Lord Antinous,
It had been better to have waylaid his ship,
Or set an ambush for him in the hills.
_Ant._ (_aside_). By heaven, I smart.
_Eur._ Peace, peace!
_Amph._ Hark, if the prince
Persist, we may not say him nay. Be seated. 1430
Maybe our lady’s voice may interpose:
Let us defer our grievance to the word
Of sage Penelope.
_Ant._ How shall I sit
In presence of such insult?
_Eur._ Sit thou down.
_Ant._ (_aside to Ul._). Man, as thou lovest life, fly
while thou mayst.
_ULYSSES_ (_to Ant._).
Kind sir, I am deaf.
_Ant._ I’ll make thee deafer yet.
_Tel._ Phemius, we listen. Sit thou there, old man.
Eumæus, take him meat and wine.
_Ul._ (_sitting at r. front_). I thank thee.
_Ctes._ Go further off, I pray; I’m not thy friend,
Thou hoary plague.
_Eur._ Silence, the music sounds. 1440
(_Eumæus bears food to Ulysses, who eats and drinks during Phemius’
ode._)
_PHEMIUS._
1.
Happy are the earth’s heirs:
Who, that his toilsome lot
And hard-won gain compares,
Admires and envies not?
At one time one, at another another best,
Come mortal pleasures, troubling sweet content;
But two above the rest
Are ever of worth,
Everywhere are praisèd and excellent,
To live and possess the earth: 1450
And my name—ranked desire ’mong graven things—
Would live with the island kings.
2.
Happy Telemachus then art thou,
Ithaca’s true-born lord:
Rejoice and welcome him now
Safe to his home restored.
Shout—O well is thee!
The gods in worship and joy, pray we,
—And high desert uplifts the prayer—
Grant thee here in plenty the good thou meritest,
Nor to fall in a like snare 1461
With him from whom thou inheritest,
Ulysses, Laertes’ son.