Book XVII · Episode 6 of 6
Penelope Summons the Stranger
Penelope agrees to meet stranger at dusk
Scenes
- Penelope’s Outrage — Penelope calls Antinoüs most hateful
- Telemachus swallows anger, plots his answer
- News of the beating reaches Penelope
- She prays Apollo strikes the offender
- Eurynomè wishes suitors never see dawn
- Calls him death-like for a harmless act
- Eumaeus’s Report — Penelope asks Eumaeus about stranger’s news
- Penelope summons Eumaeus to fetch him
- Guest charmed him three days, nights
- Claims friendship with Odysseus from Crete
- Says he lives among the Thesprotians
- Leaves idle suitors to their feasting
- A Sneeze and a Summons — Telemachus’s sneeze confirms Penelope’s curse
- Sneeze rings loudly through the palace
- Promises new garments if story’s true
- Odysseus agrees to tell all he knows
- Asks Penelope to wait till sunset
- No one defends him from the blow
- Penelope Agrees to Wait — Eumaeus reports, Penelope agrees to see him
- Penelope asks why he returns alone
- Wonders if fear or awe holds him
- Guest wants to avoid disorderly suitors
- Better to speak with her alone
- Eumaeus whispers close to Telemachus
- Eumaeus Departs — Eumaeus warns Telemachus, returns to swine
- Warns of Achaeans plotting his death
- Tells him to bring dawn sacrifice
- Promises gods will guard the house
- Eumaeus finishes his meal, departs
- Suitors turn to song and dance