Eurymachus Fails, Feast Deferred

26Eurymachus was busy with the bow,
Turning and warming it before the blaze
On both its sides. He could not bend it thus.
There came a deep sigh from his boastful heart,
And greatly was he vexed, and sadly said: —

27“Alas! great cause of grief indeed is here
For me and all. It is not that I lament
So much the losing of the bride, although
That also vexes me —there yet remain
Many fair ladies of the Achaian stock,
Both in the seagirt lands of Ithaca
And other regions —yet if we be found
To fall in strength of arm so far below
The great Odysseus that we cannot bend
His bow, our sons will hear of it with shame.”

28Eupeithes’ son, Antinous, answered thus:
“Not so, Eurymachus, as you yourself
Should know. This day is held a solemn feast
Of Phoebus by the people. Who would draw
The bow today? Nay, lay it by in peace,
And suffer all the rings to stand as now;
For no man, as I think, will dare to come
Into the palace of Laertes’ son
And take them hence. Let him who bears the cup
Begin to serve the wine, that, having poured
Part to the gods, we may lay down the bow,
And with the morning let Melanthius come —
The goatherd —bringing with him from the flock
The choicest goats, that we may burn the thighs,
An offering to the god of archery,
Apollo. Then will we again essay
The bow, and bring the contest to an end.”