“O friends, this man will now be forced to stay His fatal hand. See, Mentor leaves his side, After much empty boasting, and those four Are at the entrance gate alone. Now aim At him with your long spears—not all at once, Let six first hurl their weapons, and may Jove Grant that we strike Ulysses down, and win Great glory! For the others at his side We care but little, if their leader fail.”
He spake; they hearkened. Eagerly they cast Their lances. Pallas made their aim to err. One struck a pillar of the massive pile; One struck the panelled door; one ashen shaft, Heavy with metal, rang against the wall.
And when they had escaped that flight of spears, Hurled from the crowd, the much-enduring man, Ulysses, thus to his companions said:—
“Now is the time, my friends, to send our spears Into the suitor-crowd, who, not content With wrongs already done us, seek our lives.”
He spake, and, aiming opposite, they cast Their spears. The weapon which Ulysses flung Slew Demoptolemus; his son struck down Euryades; the herdsman smote to death Peisander, and the swineherd Elatus.
These at one moment fell, and bit the dust Of the broad floor. Back flew the suitor-crowd To a recess; and after them the four Rushed on, and plucked their weapons from the dead.
Again the suitors threw their spears; again Did Pallas cause their aim to err. One struck A pillar of the massive pile, and one The panelled door; another ashen shaft, Heavy with metal, rang against the wall. Yet did the weapon of Amphimedon Strike lightly on the wrist Telemachus. The brass just tore the skin. Ctesippus grazed The shoulder of Eumaeus with his spear, Above the shield; the spear flew over it And fell to earth. Then they who stood beside The sage Ulysses, versed in wiles, once more Flung their keen spears. The spoiler of walled towns, Ulysses, slew