ther folk's property without recompense."
What does all this mean?

One result takes place at once. The Suitors all hasten to bring her
their presents, and thus conform to the good old time and to her
opinion. Great was the hurry: "Each dispatched his herald to bring a
gift." Does the poet hint through a side glance the real state of the
case? Hear him: "Ulysses wad delighted when he saw her wheedling the
Suitors out of their gifts and cajoling their mind with flattering
speech, while her heart planned other things." Cunning indeed she has
and boundless artifice; what shall we make of her? As already often
said, craft is her sole woman's weapon against man's violence, and she
uses it with effect for the defense of her home and her honor. Is she
justified? Is such deception allowable under the circumstances? Thus
the poem puts the test to the modern reader, and makes him ponder the
moral problem of life.

One other point we should note in this speech of Penelope to the
Suitors. She says that their method of wooing was not the accustomed
way; they had no right to expect such entertainment for such a body of
men. They had the right of suit, but it must be conducted in a lawful
manner. Thus they are violating custom, or making it a pretext for
doing injustice. But she meets violence with cunning, and rude force
with craft.

III. Ulysses now takes note of another phase of the wrong done to his
household by the Suitors; they debauch the female servants, of whom
Melantho is an example. The seeming beggar wishes to stay all night by
the fires kindled in the palace, and take care of them, instead of the
maids who usually looked after them. This plan of his evidently
interferes with an existing arrangement, hence the abusive words of
Melantho toward him first, and then the scoffing speech of Eurynomus,
her lover, who lets fly at him a footstool which hits the cupbearer.
General confusion results, in the midst of which Telemachus commands
order which is seconded by Amphinomus. After a cup of wine, all retire
to their homes. But Ulysses has got an inkling of what is transpiring
between the Suitors and some of the maid-servants. Hereafter we shall
see that both share in the punishment.

_Book Nineteenth._ This is a strong Book of its kind. Penelope is the
center, her difficulties are shown anew, moreover they are about to
reach their culmination. The husband disguised here tests the wife, and
finds out by his own personal obser