out his breath;
  Changed to the deep, the bitter draught of death! 
  For fate who fear’d amidst a feastful band? 
  And fate to numbers, by a single hand? 
  Full through his throat Ulysses’ weapon pass’d,
  And pierced his neck.  He falls, and breathes his last.

Grimly announcing his second arrow will reach a different goal by Apollo’s aid, Ulysses shoots the insolent Antinous through the heart and then begins to taunt and threaten the other suitors.  Gazing wildly around them for weapons or means of escape, these men discover how cleverly they have been trapped.  One after another now falls beneath the arrows of Ulysses, who bids his son hasten to the storeroom and procure arms for them both as there are not arrows enough to dispose of his foes.  Through Telemachus’ heedlessness in leaving the doors open, the suitors contrive to secure weapons too, and the fight in the hall rages until they all have been slain.  Then the doors are thrown open, and the faithless maids are compelled to remove the corpses and purify the room, before they are hanged!

Book XXIII. The old nurse has meantime had the privilege of announcing Ulysses’ safe return to his faithful retainers, and last of all to the sleeping Penelope.  Unable to credit such tidings,—­although the nurse assures her she has seen his scar,—­Penelope imagines the suitors must have been slain by some god who has come to her rescue.  She decides, therefore, to go down and congratulate her son upon being rid of those who preyed upon his wealth.  Seeing she does not immediately fall upon his father’s neck, Telemachus hotly reproaches her, but she rejoins she must have some proof of the stranger’s identity and is evidently repelled by his unprepossessing appearance.  Hearing this, Ulysses suggests that all present purify themselves, don fresh garments, and partake of a feast, enlivened by the songs of their bard.  While he is attended by the old nurse, Minerva sheds upon him such grace that, when he reappears, looking like a god, he dares reproach Penelope for not recognizing him.  Then, hearing her order that his bed be removed to the portico, he hotly demands who cut down the tree which formed one of its posts?  Because this fact is known only to Penelope and to the builder of the bed, she now falls upon Ulysses’ neck, begging his pardon.  Their joy at being united is marred only by Ulysses’ determination soon to resume his travels, and pursue them until Tiresias’ prediction has been fulfilled.  That night is spent in mutual confidences in regard to all that has occurred during their twenty years’ separation, and when morning dawns Ulysses and his son go to visit Laertes.

Book XXIV. Mindful of his office as conductor of souls to Hades, Mercury has meanwhile entered the palace of Ulysses, and, waving his wand, has summoned the spirits of the suitors, who, uttering plaintive cries, follow him down to the infernal regions.