ffers her a bunch of orange blossoms, and pays homage to her
in sentimental poetic language. Penelope quietly congratulates him on
having escaped from the nets of his paramour Despoina and the lover,
taking this as a favourable sign, breaks out into passionate words, but
is at once checked by the queen. He then reveals to her the shameful
plot of the suitors, and Penelope becomes speechless with horror.
Before she recovers her selfpossession the suitors rush into the
apartment, insolently reminding her of her promise to choose one of
them, as soon as the garment, which she has been weaving for so many
years for Laertes shall be completed, and wildly upbraiding her with
undoing her work during the night Penelope tries to hold them in check,
but they only grow more shameless, and at last Antinous tries to
embrace her. Quick as thought she draws her dagger, and when it is
wrenched from her she snatches his own sword and directs it against
him. But Eurymachus, another suitor comes forward, and attacking
Hyperion, pierces him with his sword, then turns to the queen, swearing
to kill Telemachus as well, should she not yield to their demands. The
queen wavers, when renewed acclamations are heard, and Telemachus
enters with Eumaeus and Odysseus, the latter still wearing his
disguise. The mother rushes forward to embrace her son, but he is
seized by the suitors who peremptorily require the queen's oath. "Save
thy son o queen", says {386} the stranger, and Penelope at last swears
to give her hand to him who shall be victorious in the contest held on
Apollo's festival on the following day. Thereupon the suitors promise
to protect Telemachus and retire leaving mother and son together.

Not until then does Telemachus recognize in the prostrate form his
friend Hyperion, who dying tells him, that he has betrayed his friend
and loved his mother. Terrified though he is the tender-hearted youth
forgives him and entreats his mother to do the same. But the queen
stands as one turned to stone not heeding the stranger, who likewise
bids her say a word to the man, who is dying for her, and who is now in
his last moments raving of his unholy love. Telemachus at last seizes
his friend's hand and closes his dim eyes with a kiss, while the queen,
with a last despairing cry for Odysseus sinks back senseless and is
carried away by her son and her nurse Eurycleia.--Left alone, Odysseus
remains a prey to doubt and jealousy.--When Penelope r