the song, the harp,
With all that heightens and adorns the feast.
He said, and with his brows gave him the sign.
At once the son of the illustrious Chief
Slung his keen faulchion, grasp'd his spear, and stood
Arm'd bright for battle at his father's side. 520

FOOTNOTES:

[96] A province of Laconia.

[97] The reader will of course observe, that the whole of this process
implies a sort of mechanism very different from that with which we are
acquainted.--The translation, I believe, is exact.

[98] This first attempt of Telemachus and the suitors was not an attempt
to shoot, but to lodge the bow-string on the opposite horn, the bow
having been released at one end, and slackened while it was laid by.

[99] Antinoues prescribes to them this manner of rising to the trial for
the good omen's sake, the left-hand being held unpropitious.

[100] The +desmos+ seems to have been a strap designed to close the only
aperture by which the bolt could be displaced, and the door opened.

[101] When Pirithoues, one of the Lapithae, married Hippodamia, daughter of
Adrastus, he invited the Centaurs to the wedding. The Centaurs,
intoxicated with wine, attempted to ravish the wives of the Lapithae, who
in resentment of that insult, slew them.

[102] This is an instance of the +Sardanion mala toion+ mentioned in Book
XX.; such as, perhaps, could not be easily paralleled. I question if
there be a passage, either in ancient or modern tragedy, so truly
terrible as this seeming levity of Ulysses, in the moment when he was
going to begin the slaughter.

BOOK XXII

ARGUMENT

Ulysses, with some little assistance from Telemachus, Eumaeus and
Philoetius, slays all the suitors, and twelve of the female servants
who had allowed themselves an illicit intercourse with them, are hanged.
Melanthius also is punished with miserable mutilation.

Then, girding up his rags, Ulysses sprang
With bow and full-charged quiver to the door;
Loose on the broad stone at his feet he pour'd
His arrows, and the suitors, thus, bespake.
This prize, though difficult, hath been atchieved.
Now for another mark which never man
Struck yet, but I will strike it if I may,
And if Apollo make that glory mine.
He said, and at Antinoues aimed direct
A bitter shaft; he, purposing to drink, 10
Both hands advanced toward the golden cup
Twin-ear'd,