Penelope Rebukes Her

14He spoke; Penelope, the prudent, heard,
And, calling to her maid, rebuked her thus: —

15“O bold and shameless! I have taken note
Of your behavior; you have done a wrong
For which your head should answer. Well you know,
For you have heard me say, that I would ask
The stranger in these halls if aught he knows
Of my Odysseus, for whose sake I grieve.”

16Then to the matron of the household turned
The queen, and thus bespoke Eurynome: —

17“Bring now a seat, Eurynome, and spread
A fleece upon it, where the stranger guest
May sit at ease, and hear what I shall say,
And answer me, for I have much to ask.”

18She spoke; the ancient handmaid brought with speed
A polished seat, and over it spread a fleece.
Odysseus, much-enduring chief, sat down,
And thus the sage Penelope began: —