’Lo you now, even to the end of my days I shall be a coward and a weakling, or it may be I am too young, and have as yet no trust in my hands to defend me from such an one as does violence without a cause.  But come now, ye who are mightier men than I, essay the bow and let us make an end of the contest.’

Therewith he put the bow from him on the ground, leaning it against the smooth and well-compacted doors, and the swift shaft he propped hard by against the fair bow-tip, and then he sat down once more on the high seat, whence he had risen.

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake among them, saying:  ’Rise up in order, all my friends, beginning from the left, even from the place whence the wine is poured.’

So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.  Then first stood up Leiodes, son of Oenops, who was their soothsayer and ever sat by the fair mixing bowl at the extremity of the hall; he alone hated their infatuate deeds and was indignant with all the wooers.  He now first took the bow and the swift shaft, and he went and stood by the threshold, and began to prove the bow; but he could not bend it; or ever that might be, his hands grew weary with the straining, his unworn, delicate hands; so he spake among the wooers, saying: 

’Friends, of a truth I cannot bend it, let some other take it.  Ah, many of our bravest shall this bow rob of spirit and of life, since truly it is far better for us to die, than to live on and to fail of that for which we assemble evermore in this place, day by day expecting the prize.  Many there be even now that hope in their hearts and desire to wed Penelope, the bedfellow of Odysseus:  but when such an one shall make trial of the bow and see the issue, thereafter let him woo some other fair-robed Achaean woman with his bridal gifts and seek to win her.  So may our lady wed the man that gives most gifts, and comes as the chosen of fate.’

So he spake, and put from him the bow leaning it against the smooth and well-compacted doors, and the swift shaft he propped hard by against the fair bow-tip, and then he sat down once more on the high seat, whence he had risen.

But Antinous rebuked him, and spake and hailed him:  ’Leiodes, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips; a hard word, and a grievous?  Nay, it angers me to hear it, and to think that a bow such as this shall rob our bravest of spirit and of life, and all because thou canst not draw it.  For I tell thee that thy lady mother bare thee not of such might as to draw a bow and shoot arrows:  but there be others of the proud wooers that shall draw it soon.’

So he spake, and commanded Melanthius, the goatherd, saying:  ’Up now, light a fire in the halls, Melanthius; and place a great settle by the fire and a fleece thereon, and bring forth a great ball of lard that is within, that we young men may warm and anoint the bow therewith and prove it, and make an end of the contest.’