Grief or resentment no man feels for blows Received by him while fighting for his own— His beeves or white-woolled sheep. But this man here, Antinoüs, dealt that blow on me because I have an empty stomach; hunger brings Great mischiefs upon men. If there be gods Or furies who avenge the poor, may death O’ertake Antinoüs ere his marriage-day!”
He ended. Then again Eupeithes’ son, Antinoüs, spake:
“Eat, stranger, quietly; Sit still, or get thee hence; our young men else Who hear thy words will seize thee by the feet Or hands, and drag thee forth and flay thee there.”
He spake, and greatly were the rest incensed, And one of those proud youths took up the word:—
“Antinoüs, it was ill of thee to smite That hapless wanderer. Madman! what if he Came down from heaven and were a god! The gods Put on the form of strangers from afar, And walk our towns in many different shapes, To mark the good and evil deeds of men.”
Thus spake the suitors, but he heeded not Their words. Telemachus, who saw the blow, Felt his heart swell with anger and with grief, Yet from his eyelids fell no tear; he shook His head in silence, pondering to repay The wrong. Meantime the sage Penelope Heard of the stranger smitten in her halls, And thus bespake the maidens of her train:—
“Would that Apollo, mighty with the bow, Might smite thee also!”
Then Eurynomè, The matron of the household, said in turn:
“O, were our prayers but heard, not one of these Should look upon the golden morn again!”