“It shall not be so, Eurymachus,” said Antinous, “and you know it yourself.  Today is the feast of Apollo throughout all the land; who can string a bow on such a day as this?  Put it on one side—­as for the axes they can stay where they are, for no one is likely to come to the house and take them away:  let the cupbearer go round with his cups, that we may make our drink-offerings and drop this matter of the bow; we will tell Melanthius to bring us in some goats tomorrow—­the best he has; we can then offer thigh bones to Apollo the mighty archer, and again make trial of the bow, so as to bring the contest to an end.”

The rest approved his words, and thereon men servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing-bowls with wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his drink-offering.  Then, when they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he desired, Ulysses craftily said:—­

“Suitors of the illustrious queen, listen that I may speak even as I am minded.  I appeal more especially to Eurymachus, and to Antinous who has just spoken with so much reason.  Cease shooting for the present and leave the matter to the gods, but in the morning let heaven give victory to whom it will.  For the moment, however, give me the bow that I may prove the power of my hands among you all, and see whether I still have as much strength as I used to have, or whether travel and neglect have made an end of it.”

This made them all very angry, for they feared he might string the bow, Antinous therefore rebuked him fiercely saying, “Wretched creature, you have not so much as a grain of sense in your whole body; you ought to think yourself lucky in being allowed to dine unharmed among your betters, without having any smaller portion served you than we others have had, and in being allowed to hear our conversation.  No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we say among ourselves; the wine must have been doing you a mischief, as it does with all those who drink immoderately.  It was wine that inflamed the Centaur Eurytion when he was staying with Peirithous among the Lapithae.  When the wine had got into his head, he went mad and did ill deeds about the house of Peirithous; this angered the heroes who were there assembled, so they rushed at him and cut off his ears and nostrils; then they dragged him through the doorway out of the house, so he went away crazed, and bore the burden of his crime, bereft of understanding.  Henceforth, therefore, there was war between mankind and the centaurs, but he brought it upon himself through his own drunkenness.  In like manner I can tell you that it will go hardly with you if you string the bow:  you will find no mercy from any one here, for we shall at once ship you off to king Echetus, who kills every one that comes near him:  you will never get away alive, so drink and keep quiet without getting into a quarrel with men younger than yourself.”