Messenians carried off from Ithaca three hundred sheep together with their herdsmen.  In the long quest for these, Ulysses took the journey when he was but a youth; for his father and the other elders sent him forth.  Iphitus, on the other hand, was seeking horses; for twelve mares had been lost, which had as foals twelve hardy mules.  These afterwards became the death and doom of Iphitus when he met the stalwart son of Zeus, the hero Hercules, who well knew deeds of daring; for Hercules slew Iphitus in his own house, although his guest, and recklessly did not regard the anger of the Gods nor yet the proffered table, but slew the man and kept at his own hall the strong-hoofed mares.  It was when seeking these that Iphitus had met Ulysses and given the bow which in old days great Eurytus was wont to bear, and which on dying in his lofty hall he left his son.  To Iphitus Ulysses gave a sharp-edged sword and a stout spear, as the beginning of a loving friendship.  They never sat, however, at one another’s table; ere that could be, the son of Zeus slew godlike Iphitus, the son of Eurytus, who gave the bow.  Royal Ulysses, when going off to war in the black ships, would never take this bow.  It always stood in its own place at home, as a memorial of his honored friend.  In his own land he bore it.

Now when the royal lady reached this room and stood on the oaken threshold,—­which long ago the carpenter had smoothed with skill and leveled to the line, fitting the posts thereto and setting the shining doors,—­then quickly from its ring she loosed the strap, thrust in the key, and with a careful aim shot back the door-bolts.  As a bull roars when feeding in the field, so roared the goodly door touched by the key, and open flew before her.  She stepped to a raised dais where stood some chests in which lay fragrant garments.  Thence reaching up, she took from its peg the bow in the glittering case which held it.  And now she sat her down and laid the case upon her lap, and loudly weeping drew her lord’s bow forth.  But when she had had her fill of tears and sighs, she hastened to the hall to meet the lordly suitors, bearing in hand the curved bow and the quiver for the arrows, and many grievous shafts were in it still.  Beside her, damsels bore a box in which lay many a piece of steel and bronze, implements of her lord’s for games like these.  And when the royal lady reached the suitors, she stood beside a column of the strong-built roof, holding before her face her delicate wimple, the while a faithful damsel stood on either hand.  And straightway she addressed the suitors, speaking thus:—­

“Hearken, you haughty suitors who beset this house, eating and drinking ever, now my husband is long gone; no word of excuse can you suggest except your wish to marry me and win me for your wife.  Well then, my suitors,—­since before you stands your prize,—­I offer you the mighty bow of prince Ulysses; and whoever with his hands shall lightliest bend the bow and shoot through all twelve axes, him will I follow and forsake this home, this bridal home, so very beautiful and full of wealth, a place I think I ever shall remember, even in my dreams.”