Book XXII · Episode 2 of 5
Arming for Battle
Household arms, Melanthius rearms suitors
Scenes
- Telemachus Arms All — Telemachus arms Eumaeus and Philoetius
- Argues armed men fight best
- Odysseus urges haste while arrows last
- Fetches bucklers, spears, and helmets
- Odysseus fells a suitor with every shot
- Swaps his bow for shield and spears
- Melanthius Rearms Suitors — Melanthius smuggles arms to suitors
- Eumaeus guards the narrow postern passage
- Agelaus urges someone to rouse the town
- Calls the lane too narrow to force
- Returns bearing shields, spears, and helmets
- Odysseus’ heart sinks seeing them armed
- Betrayal Discovered — Odysseus orders Melanthius trapped
- Suspects a woman or Melanthius
- Telemachus admits he left the door ajar
- Sends Eumaeus to find the culprit
- Eumaeus asks whether to kill him outright
- Melanthius is bound, hoisted near the roof
- Goatherd Trussed — Herdsmen bind, hoist Melanthius
- Melanthius returns bearing Laertes’ shield
- Herdsmen drag him back by the hair
- Bind his hands and feet with cord
- Eumaeus jeers about his soft night’s bed
- Mocks him for missing the goats