He knew his lord;—­he knew, and strove to meet;
  In vain he strove to crawl and kiss his feet;
  Yet (all he could) his tail, his ears, his eyes,
  Salute his master and confess his joys. 
  Soft pity touch’d the mighty master’s soul: 
  Adown his cheek a tear unbidden stole;
  Stole unperceived:  he turn’d his head, and dried
  The drop humane.

Humbly making the rounds of the tables like the beggar he seems, Ulysses is treated kindly by Telemachus, but grossly insulted by the suitors, one of whom, Antinous, actually flings a stool at him.  Such a violation of the rights of hospitality causes some commotion in the palace, and so rouses the indignation of Penelope that she expresses a wish to converse with the beggar, who may have heard of her absent spouse.

Book XVIII. Meantime Ulysses has also come into conflict with the town-beggar (Irus), a lusty youth, who challenges him to fight.  To his dismay, Ulysses displays such a set of muscles on laying aside his robe that the insolent challenger wishes to withdraw.  He is, however, compelled by the suitors to fight, and is thoroughly beaten by Ulysses, whose strength arouses the suitors’ admiration.  Then, in reply to their questions, Ulysses favors them with another of those tales which do far more honor to his imagination than to his veracity.

Meantime Penelope indulges in a nap, during which Minerva restores all her youthful charms.  Then she descends into the hall, to chide Telemachus for allowing a stranger to be insulted beneath his father’s roof.  She next remarks that she foresees she will soon have to choose a husband among the suitors present, as it is only too evident Ulysses is dead, and, under pretext of testing their generosity, induces them all to bestow upon her gifts, which she thriftily adds to her stores.  Beside themselves with joy at the prospect that their long wooing will soon be over, the suitors sing and dance, until Telemachus advises them to return home.

Book XIX. The suitors having gone, Ulysses helps Telemachus remove all the weapons, while the faithful nurse mounts guard over the palace women.  Secretly helped by Minerva, father and son accomplish their task, and are sitting before the fire when Penelope comes to ask the beggar to relate when and how he met Ulysses.  This time the stranger gives so accurate a description of Ulysses, that Penelope, wishing to show him some kindness, summons the old nurse to bathe his feet.  Because she herself dozes while this homely task is being performed, she is not aware that the old nurse recognizes her master by a scar on his leg, and is cautioned by him not to make his presence known.

  Deep o’er his knee inseam’d, remain’d the scar: 
  Which noted token of the woodland war
  When Euryclea found, the ablution ceased;
  Down dropp’d the leg, from her slack hand released: 
  The mingled fluids from the base redound;
  The vase reclining floats the floor around! 
  Smiles dew’d with tears the pleasing strife express’d
  Of grief, and joy, alternate in her breast. 
  Her fluttering words in melting murmurs died;
  At length abrupt—­“My son!—­my king!” she cried.