Meanwhile the faithful swineherd made all haste to carry his message
to Penelope. Just as he was approaching the house, he met one of the
crew of Telemachus' ship coming up from the harbour on the same
errand. So they went together, and while Eumæus conveyed the tidings
privately to Penelope, he who was sent from the ship delivered his
report in the hearing of the whole household.
Great was the dismay of the suitors when they learnt that their foul
plot had been frustrated. One by one they stole out of the house to a
secret place of meeting; and when they were all assembled they began
to devise what was next to be done. While they were debating they were
joined by Antinous and the crew of the ship which had been lying in
wait for Telemachus in the strait. Always the foremost in violent
counsels, Antinous breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the
young prince. "The boy only escaped us by a miracle," he said. "All
day long we had sentinels on all the heights commanding the sea, and
at night we patrolled the waters in our ship. Yet for all our
vigilance he has slipped through our hands. But I will not be baffled
thus," he added, stamping with fury. "This wretched boy must die, or
we shall never accomplish our purpose. Let us make haste and slay him
before he comes back to the town, or he will call a meeting of the
people and proclaim to all Ithaca that we sought to slay him, and
failed. Then the whole city will rise against us, and we shall have to
fly for our lives."
Then another of the wooers rose up and rebuked Antinous for his
bloodthirsty counsels. This man's name was Amphinomus, and he was the
chief among the wooers who came from Dulichium. More than any of the
other suitors he found favour with Penelope, for he was a prudent man
and a just, and his voice was pleasant to her ear. "Remember," he
said, "that Telemachus is of royal race; and it is a dreadful thing to
shed the blood of kings. I will have no hand in such an act, without
sure and manifest sign that it is the will of Zeus."
The speech of Amphinomus was received with a murmur of applause; for
most of the wooers were averse to the violent measures proposed by
Antinous. So they arose, and returned to the house.
Penelope had heard of their plotting from the herald, Medon, and
obeying a sudden impulse she came down from her chamber, and standing
in the doorway began to upbraid Antinous for his wicked purpose. "Thou
hast the name of a wise and eloquent man," she said, "but thy fame is
better than thy deeds. Wretch, why dost thou lay snares against the
life of my son? Hast thou never heard how thy father came to this
house, flying from the wrath of the Ithacans, who would have slain
him, because he had joined the Taphian pirates in a raid on the
Thesprotians, who were our allies? But Odysseus stood between him and
their fury, and saved his life. A fair return thou art making for that
good service, devouring his substance, paying court to his wife, and
compassing the death of his son."
Antinous sat biting his lips, and made no answer; but Eurymachus, a
subtler villain, smooth and specious, but all the more dangerous,
spoke for him, and said: "Sage daughter of Icarius, fear nothing for
thy son Telemachus, for while I live no man shall offer him violence.
By this sword I swear it, and I care not who hears me, the man who
seeks to harm him shall die by my hand. I at least have not forgotten
the loving-kindness of thy lord, Odysseus, on whose knees I have often
sat, and taken food and drink from his hand. Therefore I love
Telemachus as a brother, and I swear to thee that none of the wooers
shall do him any harm."