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wife； of one who is certain to return some day； and that； too； not
long hence。 Nay； he will be here soon； may heaven send you home
quietly first that you may not meet with him in the day of his coming；
for once he is here the suitors and he will not part bloodlessly。〃
With these words he made a drink…offering； and when he had drunk
he put the gold cup again into the hands of Amphinomus； who walked
away serious and bowing his head； for he foreboded evil。 But even so
he did not escape destruction； for Minerva had doomed him fall by
the hand of Telemachus。 So he took his seat again at the place from
which he had come。
Then Minerva put it into the mind of Penelope to show herself to the
suitors； that she might make them still more enamoured of her； and win
still further honour from her son and husband。 So she feigned a
mocking laugh and said； 〃Eurynome； I have changed my and have a
fancy to show myself to the suitors although I detest them。 I should
like also to give my son a hint that he had better not have anything
more to do with them。 They speak fairly enough but they mean
mischief。〃
〃My dear child；〃 answered Eurynome； 〃all that you have said is true；
go and tell your son about it； but first wash yourself and anoint your
face。 Do not go about with your cheeks all covered with tears； it is
not right that you should grieve so incessantly； for Telemachus；
whom you always prayed that you might live to see with a beard； is
already grown up。〃
〃I know； Eurynome；〃 replied Penelope； 〃that you mean well； but do
not try and persuade me to wash and to anoint myself； for heaven
robbed me of all my beauty on the day my husband sailed； nevertheless；
tell Autonoe and Hippodamia that I want them。 They must be with me
when I am in the cloister； I am not going among the men alone； it
would not be proper for me to do so。〃
On this the old woman went out of the room to bid the maids go to
their mistress。 In the meantime Minerva bethought her of another
matter； and sent Penelope off into a sweet slumber； so she lay down on
her couch and her limbs became heavy with sleep。 Then the goddess shed
grace and beauty over her that all the Achaeans might admire her。
She washed her face with the ambrosial loveliness that Venus wears
when she goes dancing with the Graces； she made her taller and of a
more commanding figure； while as for her complexion it was whiter than
sawn ivory。 When Minerva had done all this she went away； whereon
the maids came in from the women's room and woke Penelope with the
sound of their talking。
〃What an exquisitely delicious sleep I have been having；〃 said
she； as she passed her hands over her face； 〃in spite of all my
misery。 I wish Diana would let me die so sweetly now at this very
moment； that I might no longer waste in despair for the loss of my
dear husband； who possessed every kind of good quality and was the
most distinguished man among the Achaeans。〃
With these words she came down from her upper room； not alone but
attended by two of her maidens； and when she reached the suitors she
stood by one of the bearing…posts supporting the roof of the cloister；
holding a veil before her face； and with a staid maid servant on
either side of her。 As they beheld her the suitors were so overpowered
and became so desperately enamoured of her； that each one prayed he
might win her for his own bed fellow。
〃Telemachus；〃 said she； addressing her son； 〃I fear you are no
longer so discreet and well conducted as you used to be。 When you were
younger you had a greater sense of propriety； now； however； that you
are grown up； though a stranger to look at you would take you for
the son of a well…to…do father as far as size and good looks go；
your conduct is by no means what it should be。 What is all this
disturbance that has been going on； and how came you to allow a
stranger to be so disgracefully ill…treated？ What would have
happened if he had suffered serious injury while a suppliant in our
house？ Surely this would have been very discreditable to you。〃
〃I am not surprised； my dear mother； at your displeasure；〃 replied
Telemachus； 〃I understand all about it and know when things are not as
they should be； which I could not do when I was younger； I cannot；
however； behave with perfect propriety at all times。 First one and
then another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out of my
mind； and I have no one to stand by me。 After all； however； this fight
between Irus and the stranger did not turn out as the suitors meant it
to do； for the stranger got the best of it。 I wish Father Jove；
Minerva； and Apollo would break the neck of every one of these
wooers of yours； some inside the house and some out； and I wish they
might all be as limp as Irus is over yonder in the gate of the outer
court。 See how he nods his head like a drunken man； he has had such
a thrashing that he cannot stand on his feet nor get back to his home；
wherever that may be； for has no strength left in him。〃
Thus did they converse。 Eurymachus then came up and said； 〃Queen
Penelope； daughter of Icarius； if all the Achaeans in Iasian Argos
could see you at this moment； you would have still more suitors in
your house by tomorrow morning； for you are the most admirable woman
in the whole world both as regards personal beauty and strength of
understanding。〃
To this Penelope replied； 〃Eurymachus； heaven robbed me of all my
beauty whether of face or figure when the Argives set sail for Troy
and my dear husband with them。 If he were to return and look after
my affairs； I should both be more respected and show a better presence
to the world。 As it is； I am oppressed with care； and with the
afflictions which heaven has seen fit to heap upon me。 My husband
foresaw it all； and when he was leaving home he took my right wrist in
his hand… 'Wife； 'he said； 'we shall not all of us come safe home
from Troy； for the Trojans fight well both with bow and spear。 They
are excellent also at fighting from chariots； and nothing decides
the issue of a fight sooner than this。 I know not； therefore；
whether heaven will send me back to you； or whether I may not fall
over there at Troy。 In the meantime do you look after things here。
Take care of my father and mother as at present； and even more so
during my absence； but when you see our son growing a beard； then
marry whom you will； and leave this your present home。 This is what he
said and now it is all coming true。 A night will come when I shall
have to yield myself to a marriage which I detest； for Jove has
taken from me all hope of happiness。 This further grief； moreover；
cuts me to the very heart。 You suitors are not wooing me after the
custom of my country。 When men are courting a woman who they think
will be a good wife to them and who is of noble birth； and when they
are each trying to win her for himself； they usually bring oxen and
sheep to feast the friends of the lady； and they make her
magnificent presents； instead of eating up other people's property
without paying for it。〃
This was what she said； and Ulysses was glad when he heard her
trying to get presents out of the suitors； and flattering them with
fair words which he knew she did not mean。
Then Antinous said； 〃Queen Penelope； daughter of Icarius； take as
many presents as you please from any one who will give them to you； it
is not well to refuse a present； but we will not go about our business
nor stir from where we are； till you have married the best man among
us whoever he may be。〃
The others applauded what Antinous had said； and each one sent his
servant to bring his present。 Antinous's man returned with a large and
lovely dress most exquisitely embroidered。 It had twelve beautifully
made brooch pins of pure gold with which to fasten it。 Eurymachus
immediately brought her a magnificent chain of gold and amber beads
that gleamed like sunlight。 Eurydamas's two men returned with some
earrings fashioned into three brilliant pendants which glistened
most beautifully； while king Pisander son of Polyctor gave her a
necklace of the rarest workmanship； and every one else brought her a
beautiful present of some kind。
Then the queen went back to he