Antinoüs lifted up his voice, and said:
“What god hath sent this nuisance to disturb The banquet? Take thyself to the mid-hall, Far from thy table, else expect to see An Egypt and a Cyprus of a sort That thou wilt little like. Thou art a bold And shameless beggar. Thou dost take thy round And ask from each, and foolishly they give, And spare not nor consider; well supplied Is each, and freely gives what is not his.”
Then sage Ulysses said as he withdrew:
“ ’Tis strange; thy mind agrees not with thy form. Thou wouldst not give a suppliant even salt In thine own house—thou who, while sitting here Fed at another’s table, canst not bear To give me bread from thy well-loaded board.”
He spake. Antinoüs grew more angry still, And frowned and answered him with winged words:—
“Dealer in saucy words! I hardly think That thou wilt leave this palace unchastised.”
He spake, and raised the footstool in his hand, And smote Ulysses on the lower part Of the right shoulder. Like a rock he stood, Unmoved beneath the blow Antinoüs gave, But shook his head in silence as he thought Of vengeance. Then, returning, he sat down Upon the threshold, where he laid his scrip Well filled, and thus bespake the suitor-train:—
“Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen.