Oath and Undressing

10“O friends, it is not well that one so old
As I, and broken by calamity,
Should fight a younger man; but hunger bids,
And I may be overcome by blows. But now
Swear all a solemn oath, that none of you,
To favor Irus, wickedly will raise
His mighty hand to smite me, and so aid
My adversary to my overthrow.”

11He spoke; the suitor-train, assenting, took
The oath, and when they all were duly sworn,
The highborn prince Telemachus began: —

12“O stranger, if your manly heart be moved
To drive him hence, fear no one else of all
The Achaians. Whosoever strikes at you
Has many to contend with. I am here
The host. Antinous and Eurymachus,
Wise men and kings, agree with me in this.”

13He spoke, and all approved. Odysseus drew
And girt his tatters round his waist and showed
His large and shapely thighs. Unclothed appeared
His full broad shoulders, and his manly breast
And sinewy arms. Athena stood by him,
And with a mighty breadth of limb endued
The shepherd of the people. Earnestly
The suitors gazed, and wondered at the sight,
And each one, turning to his neighbor, said: —