RHAPSODY Φ
Then an idea was born in Penelope's mind. She left the great hall with two maids. When she returned she held in her hands a sturdy but elaborate bow with its case and arrows, which belonged to the king of Ithaca. Penelope addressed the suitors, accusing them of eating and drinking from her and her husband's life, disrespecting and abusing the laws of hospitality. She declared that she would agree to marry the one who succeeded in bending Odysseus' bow and would pass an arrow through the hole made by twelve quills lined up in a row."
Eumaeus took it upon himself to carefully arrange the twelve stakes in a row so that an arrow could pierce them. The suitors were stunned to watch the proceedings. Telemachus who realized the difficulty of the undertaking decided to try first to bend his father's bow. He picked up the heavy bow, wrapped the string around the arrow, and pulled with all his might to tie it to the other side of the bow, unsuccessfully. He made a second attempt but in vain. On the third he almost succeeded, but Odysseus motioned him not to. Telemachus handed the bow to the suitors, inviting them to try, since he was perhaps too young to do so.
The first suitor to try it was Leodis. Putting all his strength into stretching it, he failed, despaired, and renounced the right to marriage. Odysseus at that time decided to take Eumaeus and Philotius, who was the jester and loyal to Odysseus, out of the room and show them the scar from the boar's tooth that they knew about Odysseus as did Eurycleia. Thus Odysseus was revealed to them and they, unable to believe it, embraced him with tears of joy.
Odysseus knew that none of the suitors could bend the bow. He thus revealed their identity to his faithful shepherds, to help him. The role of Eumaeus was to take the bow at the end and deliver it into the hands of Odysseus. Then he would go and tell Eurycleia to lock herself with all the handmaidens in a room, as great evil would follow.
Philitius in turn would have to lock and make sure that no one could leave the courtyard doors. Then they entered the throne room again and stayed until the contest was over. At that time, the big-mouthed Eurymachus was trying his luck. He placed the bow near the flame to make it easier to bend and had greased the string. Not even then, however, did he manage to bend the bow.
Antinous, who was clearly the leader of the suitors, feared that it was his turn to fail. So he reflected and said that they were all taking part in another of Penelope's tricks. Let them finish their meal and drink, as they have done for so long. The rest of the suitors found it reasonable and as they were about to give up the contest, Odysseus took the floor.
He might as well try, he said, since he'd been good at archery when he was younger. The suitors laughed and mocked the beggar for daring to insult the lords and the queen thus. In fact, Antinos warned him not to reach for the bow. Then Telemachus spoke and said that even the stranger could try outside the competition, since the competition was now over. In fact, he sent his mother to her apartments.
When Penelope left the great hall, Eumaeus carried out Odysseus' orders. She gave him the bow and hastened to notify Eurykleia. So did Philitius who ran after him.
Odysseus took the bow in one hand, pulled the string with the other, until it bent the bow perfectly. He strung an arrow and deftly shot it through the twelve axes to the other side of the hall..
The suitors jumped from their seats and were stunned to stare in silence at the beggar who had outwitted them all.
Odysseus motioned to Telemachus to immediately take his spear. He obeyed and stood next to his "guest".