Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him, and spake saying:  ’Sir, neither in deed nor word do I harm thee, nor do I grudge that any should give to thee, yea though it were a good handful.  But this threshold will hold us both, and thou hast no need to be jealous for the sake of other men’s goods.  Thou seemest to me to be a wanderer, even as I am, and the gods it is that are like to give us gain.  Only provoke me not overmuch to buffeting, lest thou anger me, and old though I be I defile thy breast and lips with blood.  Thereby should I have the greater quiet to-morrow, for methinks that thou shalt never again come to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes’.

Then the beggar Irus spake unto him in anger:  ’Lo now, how trippingly and like an old cinder-wife this glutton speaks, on whom I will work my evil will, and smite him right and left, and drive all the teeth from his jaws to the ground, like the tusks of a swine that spoils the corn.  Gird thyself now, that even these men all may know our mettle in fight.  Nay, how shouldst thou do battle with a younger man than thou?’

Thus did they whet each the other’s rage right manfully before the lofty doors upon the polished threshold.  And the mighty prince Antinous heard the twain, and sweetly he laughed out, and spake among the wooers: 

’Friends, never before has there been such a thing; such goodly game has a god brought to this house.  The stranger yonder and Irus are bidding each other to buffets.  Quick, let us match them one against the other.’

Then all at the word leaped up laughing, and gathered round the ragged beggars, and Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake among them saying:  ’Hear me, ye lordly wooers, and I will say somewhat.  Here are goats’ bellies lying at the fire, that we laid by at supper-time and filled with fat and blood.  Now whichsoever of the twain wins, and shows himself the better man, let him stand up and take his choice of these puddings.  And further, he shall always eat at our feasts, nor will we suffer any other beggar to come among us and ask for alms.’

So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.  Then Odysseus of many counsels spake among them craftily: 

’Friends, an old man and foredone with travail may in no wise fight with a younger.  But my belly’s call is urgent on me, that evil-worker, to the end that I may be subdued with stripes.  But come now, swear me all of you a strong oath, so that none, for the sake of shewing a favour to Irus, may strike me a foul blow with heavy hand and subdue me by violence to my foe.’

So he spake, and they all swore not to strike him, as he bade them.  Now when they had sworn and done that oath, the mighty prince Telemachus once more spake among them: 

’Stranger, if thy heart and lordly spirit urge thee to rid thee of this fellow, then fear not any other of the Achaeans, for whoso strikes thee shall have to fight with many.  Thy host am I, and the princes consent with me, Antinous and Eurymachus, men of wisdom both.’