Irus Confronts Odysseus

1There came a common beggar, wont to ask
Alms through the town of Ithaca, well known
For greediness of stomach, gluttonous
And a wine-bibber, but of little strength
And courage, though he seemed of powerful mould.
Arnaeus was the name which at his birth
His mother gave him, but the young men called
The fellow Irus, for it was his wont
To go on errands, as a messenger,
When he was ordered. Coming now, he thought
To drive Odysseus out of his own house,
And railed at him, and said in winged words: —

2“Hence with you! leave the porch, old man, at once,
Lest you be taken by the foot and dragged
Away from it. Do you not see how all
Around us nod, to bid me drag you out?
I am ashamed to do it. Rise and go,
Else haply we may have a strife of blows.”

3Odysseus, the sagacious, frowned and said:
“Wretch! there is nothing that I do or say
To harm you aught. I do not envy you
What others give you, though the dole be large;
And ample is this threshold for us both.
Nor should you envy others, for you seem
A straggler like myself. The gods bestow
Wealth where they list. But do not challenge me
To blows, lest, aged as I am, you rouse
My anger, and I make your breast and lips
Hideous with blood. Tomorrow then will be
A quiet day for me, since you, I trust,
In all the time to come, will never more
Enter the palace of Laertes’ son.”

4The beggar Irus angrily rejoined:
“You gods! this glutton prattles volubly,
Like an old woman at the chimney-side.
Yet could I do him mischief, smiting him
On both his sides, and dashing from his cheeks
The teeth to earth, as men are wont to deal
With swine that eat the wheat. Now gird yourself,
Let these men see us fighting. How can you
Think to contend with one so young as I?”