Eagle omen, feast begins

30Eumaeus also prayed to all the gods,
That now the wise Odysseus might return.
So talked they with each other, while apart
The suitors doomed Telemachus to death,
And plotted how to take his life. Just then
A bird —an eagle —on the left flew by,
High up; his talons held a timid dove.
And then Amphinomus bespoke the rest: —

31“O friends, this plan to slay Telemachus
Must fail. And now repair we to the feast.”

32So spoke Amphinomus, and to his words
They all gave heed, and hastened to the halls
Of the divine Odysseus, where they laid
Their cloaks upon the benches and the thrones,
And slaughtering the choice sheep, and fading goats,
And porkers, and a heifer from the herd,
Roasted the entrails, and distributed
A share to each. Next mingled they the wine
In the large bowls. The swineherd brought a cup
To everyone. Philoetius, chief among
The servants, gave from shapely canisters
The bread to each. Melanthius poured the wine.
Then putting forth their hands, they all partook
The ready banquet. With a wise design,
Telemachus near the stone threshold placed
Odysseus, on a shabby seat, beside
A little table, but within the walls
Of that strong-pillared pile. He gave him there
Part of the entrails, and poured out for him
The wine into a cup of gold, and said: —