But he first encased His limbs in brass; his followers also put Their shining armor on, and took their place Beside the wise Ulysses, eminent In shrewd devices. He, while arrows yet Were ready to his hand, with every aim Brought down a suitor; side by side they fell. But when the shafts were spent, the archer-king Leaned his good bow beside the shining wall, Against a pillar of the massive pile, And round his shoulders slung a fourfold shield, And crowned his martial forehead with a helm Wrought fairly, with a heavy horsehair crest That nodded gallantly above, and took In hand the two stout lances tipped with brass.
In the strong wall there was a postern door, And, near the outer threshold of the pile, A passage from it to a narrow lane, Closed with well-fitting doors. Ulysses bade The noble swineherd take his station there. And guard it well, as now the only way Of entrance. Agelaüs called aloud To all his fellows, and bespake them thus:—
“Friends! will no one among you all go up To yonder postern door, and make our plight Known to the people? Then the alarm would spread, And this man haply will have shot his last.”
Melanthius, keeper of the goats, replied:
“Nay, noble Agelaüs; ’tis too near The palace gate; the entrance of the lane Is narrow, and a single man, if brave, Against us all might hold it. I will bring Arms from the chamber to equip you all; For there within, and nowhere else, I deem, Ulysses and his son laid up their arms.”
Thus having said, the keeper of the goats, Melanthius, climbed the palace stairs, and gained The chamber of Ulysses. Taking thence Twelve shields, as many spears, as many helms Of brass, with each its heavy horsehair plume, He came, and gave them to the suitors’ hands. Then sank the