Such chance sayings were regarded as a sign of Heaven’s will, and Telemachus rejoiced in spirit at the old man’s blessing.  And forthwith he stood up in the midst, and, taking the sceptre from the herald’s hand, rushed at once into the subject of which his mind was full.

“Behold me here, old man,” he said, addressing AEgyptus.  “It is I who have called you together, and surely not without a cause.  Is it not enough that I have lost my brave father, whose gentleness and loving-kindness ye all knew, when he was your king?  But must I sit still, day after day, and see the fattest of my flocks and herds slaughtered, and the red wine poured out wastefully, by these men who have come to woo my mother?  Take shame to yourselves, and restrain them; fear the reproach of men, and the wrath of Heaven, and suffer me not thus to be evilly entreated, unless ye harbour revengeful thoughts against my father, for some wrong which he has done you.”

He had spoken thus far, when tears choked his voice, and flinging the sceptre on the ground he returned to his seat.  There was a general feeling of compassion among his hearers, and not one of the suitors ventured to answer him, save only Antinous, who began in his wonted style of brutal insolence, upbraiding Telemachus in violent terms, and throwing all the blame on Penelope, who, he said, had beguiled them for three years by holding out promises which she never meant to fulfil.  Then he told the story of Penelope’s web, and concluded his speech with these words: 

“As long as thy mother continues in this mind, so long will we stay here and consume thy living.  If thou wouldst be quit of us, send her to her father’s house and bid her marry the man of her choice.”

Telemachus replied:  “How can I drive away the mother who bare me and nourished me?  And where shall I find means to pay back her dower?  But most of all I dread my mother’s curse.  No, never shall that word be spoken by me.  Therefore, if ye know aught of fair and honest dealing, depart from my house, and live on your own goods; but if it seems good to you to eat up another man’s living, then will I appeal to the justice of heaven, and pray for vengeance on your heads.”

“Behold, his prayer is answered,” cried Halitherses, a venerable elder, with snow-white beard, who was skilled in augury; and looking up they saw two eagles winging their way at full speed towards the place of assembly.  Now the two great birds hovered over the meeting; and just at this moment they wheeled round and attacked each other fiercely with beak and claw.  After fighting for some time they shot away to the right and were soon lost to view.  Then Halitherses spake again, interpreting the omen:  “Hearken, men of Ithaca, to my words, and to you, the suitors of Penelope, especially do I speak.  Woe is coming upon you; I see it rising and swelling as a wave.  Not long shall Odysseus be absent, but even now he is near at hand hatching mischief for those who sit here.  And many another shall suffer, besides these who have done the wrong.  Therefore, I say, let us stop their evil deeds, or let them cease themselves.  The hour is near at hand which I foretold, when Odysseus embarked for Troy:  I said that after many sufferings, having lost all his comrades, unknown to all in the twentieth year he should come home.  And now all these things are coming to pass.”