Give it me.
_Eum._ Sir, mayst thou fail. 2430
_Leiod._ Curse on thy tongue. I asked not thy goodwill.
_Tel._ (_aside to Eum._). I need thy aid without: thou and the neatherd
Follow me thro’ the postern: let none see you.
_Some wooers rise from their seats. Tel., Eum., and neatherd go out by
the postern door_ R.
_Leiod._ I cannot bend it: ’tis a deadly bow.
Ay, if I ever have spoken sooth, to-day
My spirit is true. This is no marrying bow.
’Twill prove our shame and death. Another take it.
I have done with it. We have all along been fooled;
Now more than ever. But if any yet
Hope for the lady, let him try the bow, 2440
And then go woo another.
_Ant._ Think not, sir,
Because thy hands are white and delicate,
There be no men of sinew.
_Eur._ Peace, my lords!
_A suitor._ ’Tis stiff and dry with age. Bring me some oil:
If it be rubbed therewith and warmed the while,
’Twill ease it mightily.
_Ant._ Ay, do ye so.
[_They take it to the fire._
CHORUS—_Wooers_ (_inter se_).
What was it, friend, I heard thee say?—
Seest thou the arms, that in the hall
Were wont to hang, are gone to-day?—
Ay, so they be, sir, one and all.— 2450
Mark you this dust beneath the wall?—
Well, sir, what of it?—hark, ’tis said
That, as Eumæus took last night
The axes from their rank o’erhead,
He saw a strange and fearful sight;
For all the arms, which never yet
Had been disturbed where they were set
By good Ulysses years ago,
Crumbled before his eyes; and lo!
Spear, helm, and shield, without a sound, 2460
Fell down in dust upon the ground.—
That was an omen.—True, and we
The accomplishment to-day shall see.—
Ulysses’ reign is past and fled:—
Ay, and his spirit here hath been
To do this thing, knowing the queen
Should to another man be wed.
_The suitor_ (_2nd competitor_). I cannot bend it.
_3rd._ Go to, sir, give it me.
Thou heldst it wrongly,—but thus.— 2469
_2nd._ Ay, teach me, shew me!
_3rd._ Ah! ah! ah! Nay, indeed it yieldeth not.
What is it made of? Were’t of Indian horn
I must have broke it. Bah! I have wrenched my back!
_Eur._ Sirs, ’tis my turn. Ye do us little honour.
’Tis warm to the hand, and well hath drunk the oil.
Now be I first to string it.
_Wooers._ See!
See he will do it if any can.—
He is the best, and so ’twill be.—
He standeth firm: it yieldeth now.—
Well done! Eurymachus will win.—
See how his striving body strains!— 2480
Fixed like the image of a man
In stone he stands.—Now for it!-The veins
Stand out upon his darkening brow.—
It slowly yields.—He doth it—Nay,
It slippeth back.—He giveth in.—
He hath failed, he putteth it away.
_Eur._ My friends, I am hurt both for myself and all.
And were there but this woman in the world,
To miss her could but vex me as it doth.
But others be there, and my grief is other. 2490
For that we came in strength so far behind
The great Ulysses, that we could not string
His bow, will ring our shame in ears unborn.
_Ant._ That will not be, Eurymachus,—and thou know’st it.
This is Apollo’s feast, and on such day
Who should presume in archery? Sit down;
And let the bow and other gear abide.
Meanwhile pour out libations to the god,
And make a sacrifice. To-morrow morn,
Be he appeased, we may with his good favour 2500
Find better fortune.
_Eur._ ’Tis well spoke, my lords.
Consent ye all?
_Wooers._ Ay, ay.
_Eur._ Then be it so.
What saith our honoured lady?
_Pen._ Well, my lords,
’Tis an untoward ending. Shall I think
Ye will not, or ye cannot?
_Eur._ Be content
To wait but till to-morrow, we beseech thee.—
Bring round the wine.
_Tel._ (_who has entered unperceived with Eum. and
neatherd_). Ho! men, take round the wine.
_Eum._ Will they not need it?
_Ant._ Thou impertinent swineherd,
Go to thy pigs.
_Eum._ Ay, ay, my lord.
_Ul._ Hear me,
Ye warriors, wooers of Ulysses’ queen, 2510
And you, Antinous and Eurymachus
In chief! ’Tis well ye urge to stay the contest,
And pour libations, that the archer god
To-morrow may grant strength to whom he will.
But first give me the bow, that I may gauge
My strength with yours, to see if yet remains
Some muscle lithe of what once clothed my limbs,
Or if ’tis withered all with age and want.
_Wooers._ Ho! ho! The beggar thinks that he
Shall win the fair Penelope. 2520
_Ant._ Thou wretched fool, thou hast even less wit than hairs:
Art not content in our high company
To sit at ease, and have thy share, and hear
Our talk, and see our pleasure ’gainst our will?
The unwonted wine dilates what brains thou hast,
To make thee think thou canst contend with us.
_Pen._ Antinous, I forbid this disrespect
Before me of my guest: and by my life
Thou dost him wrong. To me he seems as tall
And strongly built as thou; he boasts to be 2530
No less well born:—I grant him place and speech.
Thinkest thou if he string Ulysses’ bow
That I should wed him?—Nay, nor he thinks that.
Fret not yourselves, beseech you, with such fears.
_Eur._ Far be the thought, O wise Penelope:
And since he hath nought to gain, let him not try it:
Lest if he string it, men should say hereafter,
Naming our names, _The great bow of Ulysses
These could not handle, but a beggar strung it_. 2539
_Pen._ Look ye to future times for fair renown?
That hath been forfeit long. Stick not at this.
Give him the bow; he too shall have his prize.
A king’s son is he: ay, and like a king
From this house shall he issue clad and armed
From head to foot, as are the best of you.
I say, give him the bow.
_Tel._ Mother, the bow is mine:
To give it or withhold it is my right,
And mine alone, which none can gainsay here.
And choose I now to give it to this beggar,
’Tis his to bear away for good and all. 2550
And what I will, that shall I do. To me
Therefore leave this dispute: to-day the trial,
Thou seest, is closed. Retire thou to thy chamber,
And there at loom and distaff set thy maids their tasks.
But this, which looks not like to be a lady’s matter,
Is mine, for mine is lordship in this house.
_Pen._ Well, son, then I shall go. Follow me, maids.
[_Exit Pen. and maids._
CHOR. _Wooers._ What hath come o’er the prince? and why
Bids he his royal mother hence:
Pushing his haughty speech so high 2560
In strange, undutiful offence?
_Ul._ Bring me the bow that I may try my skill.
_Wooers_ (_to Eumæus_). Stay! man, stay!—Whither wilt thou go,
Bearing the great resistless bow?
Stay. We will slay thee if thou dare!—
Forbear! Forbear!—
_Tel._ Standest thou! servest thou so many masters?
On man, and give it him: say thee nay who dares.
_Wooers._ Ha! ha! he knows not what to do:
Now he will go, and now he stands.— 2570
Go, give it in the beggar’s hands.—
Ay, let him have it and welcome too.—
And thee, old man, may Fortune bless,
As thou therewith shalt find success.
_Eum._ (_giving to Ul._). Master, O master!...
_Ul._ (_aside_). Silence.—Now may Apollo
Grant me but half the strength that once was mine,
And ye shall see if I can bend a bow.
_Wooers._ By heaven, the beggar hath an eye.—
He holds it as he knew the trick.—
Perchance he hath the like laid by 2580
At home.—Or ’tis his thought to try
To fashion such another stick.—
He bends it at his will.—’Tis done!—
’Tis done!—He hath strung it.—See ’tis done.
_Ul._ Behold, prince, if I have not been wrongly
scorned.
Give me the arrows. Now they have seen my strength,
These lords belike would have me prove my skill.
_Wooers._ Now will he shoot? The villains bring
The arrows.—Ay, he taketh one,
To set it on the string. 2590
_Ul._ Now is the irresoluble contest o’er:
Though what remains to do be not child’s play.
But I will hit a mark ye little think of.
Apollo aid me! [_Shoots Antinous._
_Wooers._ Ah! Ah! Beware, beware!
_Ant._ (_falling back_). Ah!
_Wooers_. Oh, madman! madman! Seize him!
_Eur._ Man, what dost thou?
_Amph._ What hast thou done? Thou’st slain a man.
_Ctes._ O villain!
_Wooers._ He’s dead. Antinous is slain.
_Other wooers_ (_appearing at door_). The lord Antinous is slain.
_Eur._ Foolhardy wretch, this murder is thy death.
Whether unwittingly, or wittingly, 2601
It matters not: thou hast slain the noblest prince
Of the isle; and swiftly shall he be avenged.
_Ul._ (_leaping up to where Penelope had sat. Tel., Eum.,
and neatherd join him_). Dogs! ye that said I never should return
From Trojan soil: ye that would waste my house,
And woo my wife while yet I was alive:
Nor feared the gods in heav’n, nor shame of men:
Now are the bonds of death made fast upon you.
I am Ulysses.
_Wooers._ Ah, think you!—think you!
_Others without._ See! see!
_Eur._ Stay, sir, awhile!
_Wooers._ Fly! fly!—’Tis he! 2610
’Tis he, fly! See the prince, and there
His two men—Speak, sir! speak him fair—
_Eur._ Stay, sir, awhile, I pray thee. If thou indeed
Art he, the good Ulysses safe returned,
As by thy deeds and words thou makest to be,
Thou wilt hear reason, as thy speech is just.
’Tis true ill hath been done thee in house and field:
But he lies dead, who was the chief in blame;
We may rejoice, for he brought all about,
Antinous, less eager for the marriage 2620
Or dower, than in ambitious hope, now quenched,
That he should reign in Ithaca:—to which end
He would have killed the prince. But, he being dead,
Spare thou thy folk, sir, spare thine own; and we
For all wrong done thee will repay in full,
Each one in answer for waste hitherto,
Bringing the worth of twenty oxen, ay,
And bronze and iron in plenty, till thy heart
Be well appeased, that now is justly stirred.
_Ul._ O nay: not though thou gavest me all thy wealth,
What now thou hast, or after shouldst inherit, 2631
Could that be thine atonement; nor the like
Of each for each, that I should stay my hands
From slaying here the wooers of my wife.
This choice ye have, to fight or fly; but flying
Or fighting I shall slay you with these arrows.
_Wooers_ (_without_). ’Tis he: he shooteth: fly.
_Wooers_ (_within_). Wrath of the gods, ’tis he.
To arms!—Nay, fly.—O fly—
[_Many begin to escape._
_Ul._ I am come late indeed, but in good time.
_Amph._ Out, sirs, haste thro’ the doors: 2641
To-morrow it may be
He may be appeased; now fly.
Avoid his anger now. [_They fly._
_Eur._ Fight. We shall overwhelm them. Follow me!
_Ctes._ Fly while we may, I say. [_Exit._
_Eur._ Who is with me?
_Eum._ Come, lord Eurymachus; and I will kill thee,
Even as a pig.
_Eur._ Death to thee, hind. Now charge!
_Some wooers._ Charge all together. Down!
_Tel._ Now, robbers, die. 2649
_Eur._ Ah! ah! I am slain. [_Falls dead._
_The others._ Fly, fly, fly, fly. [_Exeunt._
_Tel._ They are caught.
[_Cries without._
_Ul._ While I stand here and shoot, fetch forth the
arms. [_Shoots._
_Wooers_ (_without_). To the gate; to the gate. Ulysses is returned.
Fly, fly! Throw wide the gate. The gate, the gate!
_Eum._ Master, ’tis thou indeed: and I not know thee!
_Ul._ Serve me but now, as when thou knew’st me
not. [_Shoots. Cries._
_Tel._ See here thy shield, my father, and the spears.
_Ul._ Now forth with me and fear not, for the goddess
Is with us. We will stand upon the threshold,
And from that vantage fight. Be we hard pressed,
Retire within, and bar the door. Now forth! 2660
[_Exeunt Ul., Tel., Eum., and neatherd in fighting order.
The doors close behind them._
_Re-enter Penelope and maids._
_Maids_ (_entering down the stairs_).
They are gone: they are gone without. The hall is still.
_Pen._ Hark! hark! They fight without. Telemachus,
Telemachus, my son! Ah! evil day!
The bow, the bow. And corpses in the hall.
_1st Maid._ Woe, woe: see ’tis the lord Eurymachus,
Slain by a spear.
_2nd Maid._ Another by the wall.
Beauteous Antinous. Alas, alas!
_Pen._ Hark how they shout. Alas, my son, my son!
They slay him in the court. His haughty spirit
Proudly rebuking them hath done it. I hear 2670
His speech that taunts them still.
_2nd Maid._ Shall I look forth?
_1st._ Ay, to the door and spy—Softly one wing
Draw back and spy between. (_Here the door is opened
by Maid 2._) Ah me, the noise,
And din of arms.
_2nd._ Lady, the prince is safe.
_Pen._ What seest thou? tell me.
_2nd._ O, but see thyself
The deadly fight.
_Pen._ I dare not look upon it.
Who fights ’gainst whom?
_2nd._ The beggar on the stair
Deals death around, and by him stand the prince,
The neatherd, and Eumæus. Ah! he is struck!
Nay, nay. They keep all off with spear and shield.
[_Cries without._
_Pen._ Alas, the shrieks of death. I faint, ho! help me.
Lead me to the chair. [_Sits down._
_1st._ They may burst in: beseech thee,
Back to thy chamber! 2681
_Pen._ Nay, if my son be safe.
Watch there, and tell me.—Is he yet unhurt?
_2nd._ They spring upon the beggar and the prince,
And as they spring, they are slain.—They lie in heaps.
_Pen._ Alas! what cries! Say, is the prince still safe?
_2nd._ He shieldeth himself well, and striketh surely.
His foes fall dead before him. Ah! now what see I?
Who cometh? Lo! a dazzling helm, a spear
Of silver or electron; sharp and swift 2690
The piercings. How they fall. Ha, shields are raised
In vain. I am blinded, or the beggar-man
Hath waxed in strength. He is changed, he is young. O strange!
He is all in golden armour. These are gods,
That slay the wooers. (_Runs to Pen._) O lady, forgive me!
’Tis Ares’ self. I saw his crispèd beard:
I saw beneath his helm his curling locks.
None will escape. O lady, save me, save me. [_Kneels._
_Maids all._ Let them not slay us. Lady! lady! forgive us! 2699
_Pen._ Why kneelest thou to me? Fools, why to me?
I have nothing to forgive you. There is no wrong
’Twixt me and you: Or if the gods should punish,
Can I protect?
_Maids._ Forgive us, queen, forgive us!
_Pen._ I see ye are dazed—no wonder.—The thing is true
Ye say. The gods are come. I know it: I spake
With one myself unweeting: and he bade
Confront those robbers with the bow of death.
That hath provoked our fate. Ah, cursèd day
The Greeks set forth for Troy. Accurst was Helen,
Accurst was Menelaus, Agamemnon 2710
Accurst, who o’er us drew a net of ill:
Whence since is no escape, no not for one.
Not Ilion burned, not Greece made bare of men,
Not ten years’ war, nor to their widowed homes
The barred return of heroes could suffice
To fill the cup of evil, which the gods,
Dooming one deed of all the deeds of men,
The folly of one woman and one man,
Have heaped upon us. Now the unending slaughter
Falls on this house. Was joy, or woe, my crime?
To have had, or lost the best of all the Greeks?
My patience, watching twenty years, or now 2722
To have yielded but a little? O ye high gods,
Smite all ill-doers; ay, smite me with death,
Triumphant Ares, if within my body,
My lord being dead, there is either hope or love
That may be callèd life. I would not live,
I have no cause to live: but O my son—
Spare him!
_2nd Maid._ O lady, ’tis not him, but us
Ares will slay.
_Pen._ Look, look again.
_2nd._ I fear. 2730
’Tis now more dread than ever. The cries have ceased.
_Pen._ Hush, hark—ay, all is still. Look forth, I say.
_Re-enter Tel., Eum., and neatherd._
My son, my son, thou livest.
_Tel._ Thou art here! thou knowest?
_Pen._ What means this fight? what hath been done?
_Tel._ Thou knowest not?
The robbers are all slain.
_Pen._ All slain!
_Tel._ My father
Is here.
_Pen._ Son, son!
_Tel._ He hath returned—’Tis true—
And in his vengeance slain them all.
_Pen._ What say’st thou?
_Tel._ Mother, believe: our sorrow is o’er. ’Tis he,
The man disguised, who spake with thee last night:
But now himself.
_Eum._ O lady, ’tis the master, 2740
Just as he was.
_Tel._ The tidings hath o’ercome her.
Stand from before her.
_Re-enter Ulysses, as himself._
_Ul._ Now o’er my threshold step I as myself,
None will gainsay my coming. Ah here, my son!
_Tel._ She learned her joy too quickly. As I spake
She fell back swooning.
_Ul._ Watch by her awhile.
(_To Eum. and neatherd._) Drag ye these bodies forth,
and hide the blood;
That there be nought to shock her wakening sense.
And all ye maids begone. I know to winnow
Good wheat from chaff: and what I spake to you
Shall be to-day accomplished. (_Exeunt Maids._) Ha,
what see I? 2751
Beneath yon skins a coward skulks—one more—
Traitor, come forth!
_Phem._ (_appearing from under skins_). O my good lord
and master,
Have pity upon me.
_Ul._ (_to Eum._). Take him to the court,
And slay him there.
_Phem._ Master, have pity on me:
I am but a minstrel, and have done no wrong.
_Tel._ Father, I plead for him: ’tis Phemius.
Spare him.
_Ul._ Well, be thou spared;—the only one—
And live to tell the tale. See, ’tis thy trade.
Go from the hall. [_Exeunt Phemius and neatherd._
(_To Tel._) Now all is ready, son: 2760
Doth she not wake?
_Tel._ Ay, now I think she awakes.
_Ul._ Stand thou in sight. Now, dearest wife, awake!
Wife, wife, awake! That word and in my voice
Should call thee from the grave. Dost thou not hear?
_Pen._ Who spake?
_Ul._ I speak to thee again.
_Pen._ Thy hand.
_Ul._ I hold thee, and thou me. ’Tis I. I kiss thee.
_Pen._ ’Tis thou. Let it be waking life, or death,
Or dream, I see thee.—
_Ul._ Truest and bravest heart, our patient years
Are crowned with joy. 2770
_Pen._ O love, thou comest in time.
_Athena appears on the threshold._
_ATHENA._
My work is done. But ere I leave the haunts
Of sorrowing and rejoicing men, I look
To bless my work. O wise son of Laertes,
Thou hast thy house and wife and self restored.
Murder, strife, robbery, the wrongs I hate,
Revellings and insolence are now avenged.
Yet not less am I foe to faithlessness,
Breaches of trust and of those modest laws,
Which guard high thoughts and heavenly purity.
Thy wicked servants slay; which done, make soon
Purification of thy house defiled: 2781
And not forget the oracle, which said
That thou shouldst find one journey more to make;
This thy atonement: and since justice holds
The crown for good deeds, as the sword for ill,
Grudge not this only absence: thy good servant
Thou wouldst reward; he is a prince; restore him
Unto his kingdom: ’tis the will of Zeus.
He that hath servèd well hath earned to reign.
Son of Laertes, wilt thou do this thing? 2790
_Ul._ Yea, goddess, I will do it. Thy will is mine.
_Eum._ (_kneeling_). Most honoured of all masters!
_Ath._ Then FARE YE WELL.