arms. The godlike, much-enduring man, Ulysses, pondered whether so to strike His adversary that the breath of life Might leave him as he fell, or only smite To stretch him on the earth. As thus he mused, The lighter blow seemed wisest, lest the Greeks Should know who dealt it. When the hands of both Were thus uplifted, Irus gave a blow On his right shoulder, while Ulysses smote Irus beneath the ear, and broke the bone Within, and brought the red blood from his mouth. He fell amid the dust, and shrieked and gnashed His teeth, and beat with jerking feet the ground. The suitor-train threw up their hands and laughed Till breathless, while Ulysses seized his feet And drew him o’er the threshold to the court And the porch doors, and there, beside the wall, Set him to lean against it, gave a staff Into his hands, and said in winged words:—
“Sit there, and scare away the dogs and swine, But think not, wretched creature, to bear rule Over the stranger and the beggar tribe, Or worse than this may happen to thee yet.”
He spake, and o’er his shoulders threw the scrip That yawned with chinks, and by a twisted thong Was fastened; then he turned to take his seat Upon the threshold, while the suitor-train Went back into the palace with gay shouts Of laughter, and bespake him blandly thus:—
“Stranger, may Jove and all the other gods Grant thee what thou desirest, and whate’er Is pleasant to thee! Thou hast put an end To this importunate beggar’s rounds among The people. We shall send him off at once Into Epirus, and to Echetus, Its king, the foe of every living man.”
So talked the suitors, and the omen made Ulysses glad. Meantime Antinoüs placed The mighty paunch before the victor, filled With blood and fat, and from the canister Amphinomus brought forth two loaves, and raised A golden cup and drank to him, and said:—
“Hail, guest and father! happy be thy days Henceforth, though dark with many sorrows now!”