hateful morning which will take me away from the house of Ulysses; for now I will propose as a contest the pole-axes which he used to place in order in his palace, like the ribs of a ship,[1] twelve in all, and he, standing a great way off, shot the arrow through them. Now I will propose this contest to the suitors; whoever shall most easily stretch the bow in his hands, and shoot the arrow through all the twelve hatchets, him will I follow, leaving this house, which I entered when a virgin, very beautiful, full of wealth; which I think I shall some time or other remember, even in a dream."
But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, no longer now put off this contest in the house; for much-planning Ulysses will come here before they, handling this well-polished bow, stretch the string, and shoot the arrow through the steel."
But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "If thou wast willing, O stranger, sitting by me in the palace to delight me, sleep would not be shed over my eyelids. But it is not possible for men to be always without sleep; for in every thing the immortals have given their lot to mortals over the fruitful plain. But I indeed, going to the upper room, will lie down on my bed, which has become sad to me, ever moistened with my tears, from the time when Ulysses went to behold ill-Troy, which ought not to be named. There will I lie down; but do thou lie in this house, either strewing [a bed] upon the ground, or let them lay down a couch for thee."
Thus having spoken, she ascended to the beautiful upper rooms, not alone: [for] other handmaidens also went with her. And having ascended to the upper room with her women attendants, she then wept for Ulysses, her dear husband; until blue-eyed Minerva cast sweet sleep upon her eye-lids.
- ↑ Twelve stakes (rather, pole-axes) were fixed in the earth, each having a ring at the top; the order in which they stood were so exact, that an arrow sent with an even hand through the first ring, would pass them all. Cowper. I have followed the explanation of Liddell and Scott, v. δρυοχοι.
