Penelope’s Outrage

57Thus spoke the suitors, but he heeded not
Their words. Telemachus, who saw the blow,
Felt his heart swell with anger and with grief,
Yet from his eyelids fell no tear; he shook
His head in silence, pondering to repay
The wrong. Meantime the sage Penelope
Heard of the stranger smitten in her halls,
And thus bespoke the maidens of her train: —

58“Would that Apollo, mighty with the bow,
Might smite you also!” Then Eurynome,
The matron of the household, said in turn:

59“O, were our prayers but heard, not one of these
Should look upon the golden morn again!”

60Then spoke again the sage Penelope:
“Mother, they all are hateful; every one
Plots mischief, but Antinous most of all;
And he is like black death, to be abhorred.
A friendless stranger passes through these halls,
Compelled by need, and asks an alms of each,
And all the others give, and fill his scrip;
Antinous flings a footstool, and the blow
Bruises the shoulder of the suppliant man.”