wall: and near the farthest threshold of the well-reared palace was a way to a narrow street, but well-fitted doors enclosed it: this Ulysses desired the swineherd to guard, standing near it; for it was the only approach. But Agelaus addressed them, speaking the word to all:
"O friends, will not some one go up to the high-raised door, and tell the people? and there would very quickly be an alarm: then perchance this man will shoot an arrow for the last time."
But him Melanthius, the goatherd, addressed in turn: "It is not possible, O Jove-nurtured Agelaus; for very near are the beautiful doors of the hall, and difficult is the mouth of the
μὲν τὴν αύθεντικὴν, ἑτέραν δὲ, ἥν Ὅμηρος λέγει ὀρσοθύρην. As none of the commentators appear satisfied on the point, I will propose my own explanation. The particle δὲ in vs. 127, is used adversatively, and shows that the ὁδὸς εἰς λαύρην, was distinct from the ὀρσοθύρη. Eumæus (δῖος ὑφορβὸς in vs. 129) is ordered to guard the former way, while the suitors, especially Agelaus, sought to reach the ὀρσοθύρη, which led to the armoury-chamber, to which Melanthius afterwards ascended, (vs. 142,) and there met his death (174, sqq.). The expression ῥῶγας μεγάροιο, in vs. 143, appears to be identical with the ὀρσοθύρη, especially if we compare ἀνέβαινε in vs. 142, with ἀν' ὀρσοθύρην ἀναβαίη in vs. 132. Now, although the alarm might be given from the chamber, to which the ὀρσοθύρη led, (vss. 133, sq.,) yet there was but one entrance, (μία ἐφορμὴ, vs. 130,) by which the people could have rushed to the assistance of the suitors, and defeated the purpose of Ulysses (vs. 134). But Melanthius objects that it was no use to give the alarm, because the door of the hall was close by, and the entrance to the λαύρα was difficult (i. e. narrow, hard of access). It appears to me that the chief difficulty arises from misunderstanding the sense of λαύρα, which the grammarians (see Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 434, and Pollux, ix. 5) unite in interpreting "a narrow street," δι' ἧς ὁ λαὸς εἰσέρχεται, or στενωπός. Hesychius is perhaps nearest the truth, when he also says, τόπος πρὸς ὑποχώρησιν ἀνείμενος, the exedra of the Latins, (cf. Vitruv. v. 11,) or the παραστάδες of Pollux, vii. 27. But I believe that λαύρην here = κοπρῶνα, or ἴπνον, (cf. Pollux, v. 14,) "a jakes" or "draught." So it is used by Aristoph. Pac. 157, ποῖ παρακλίνεις Τοὺς μυκτῆρας πρὸς τὰς λαύρας. Nor am I quite without ancient authority for this supposition; for Hipponax, according to the Etym. Magn. s. v. ὁδὸς, fol. 132. A. 2, understood it in the same sense. If we compare the house of Sallust discovered at Pompeii, (see Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Pompeii, vol. ii. pp. 109, 121,) we shall find that the λαύρα was situated very near the αὐλὴ, as well as that it was closely connected with the private apartments; we may therefore fairly understand the mention of the αὐλὴ in vs. 137, as well as the difficulty of entrance, (ἀργαλέον στόμα λαύρης,) of which Melanthius speaks. I have however translated the passage according to the old interpretation, leaving this new explanation to the consideration of other scholars.
