Penelope Confronts Antinoüs

43He spoke, and all approved. At once they rose,
And, entering the palace, sat them down
On shining thrones. Meantime Penelope
Had formed the purpose to appear before
The arrogant suitors, for the news was brought
Into her chamber of the plot to slay
Her son; the herald Medon overheard,
And told her all. So to the hall she went
With her attendant maids. The glorious dame
Drew near the suitor-train, and took her stand
Beside a column of the stately pile,
And with a delicate veil before her cheeks
Began to speak, and chid Antinous thus: —

44“Antinous, mischief-plotter, insolent!
The rumor is that you excel all
Of your own age among the Ithacans
In understanding and in speech. Yet such
You never were. Ferocious as you are,
Why seek the death of my Telemachus,
And treat with scorn the suppliants of whose prayer
Zeus is the witness? An unholy thing
It is when men against their fellow-men
Plot mischief. Do you then forget that once
Your father came to us a fugitive,
In terror of the people, who were wroth
Because he joined the Taphian pirate-race,
And plundered the Thesprotians, our allies.
The people would have slain him, and have torn
His heart out, and have pillaged his large wealth;
Odysseus checked their rage, and held them back,
Fierce as they were. Now you do waste his goods
Most shamefully, and woo his wife, and slay
His son, and multiply my woes. Cease now,
I charge you, and persuade the rest to cease.”

45Eurymachus, the son of Polybus,
Replied: “O daughter of Icarius, sage
Penelope, take heart; let no such thought
Possess your mind. There is no man on earth,
Nor will there be, who shall lay violent hands
Upon Telemachus, your son, while I
Am living, and yet keep the gift of sight.
I say, and will perform it —his black blood
Shall flow and bathe my spear. Odysseus oft,
Spoiler of realms, would take me on his knee,
And put the roasted meats into my hands,
And give me ruddy wine. I therefore hold
Telemachus of all mankind most dear,
And I will bid him have no fear of death
From any of the suitors. If it come,
Sent by the gods, he cannot then escape.”

46So spoke he to appease her, while he planned,
The murder of her son. The queen went up
To the fair upper chambers, and there wept
Odysseus, her dear spouse, till over her lids
The blue-eyed Athena poured the balm of sleep.