’Cease ye from weeping and lamentation, lest some one come forth from the hall and see us, and tell it likewise in the house.  Nay, go ye within one by one and not both together, I first and you following, and let this be the token between us.  All the rest, as many as are proud wooers, will not suffer that I should be given the bow and quiver; do thou then, goodly Eumaeus, as thou bearest the bow through the hall, set it in my hands and speak to the women that they bar the well-fitting doors of their chamber.  And if any of them hear the sound of groaning or the din of men within our walls, let them not run forth but abide where they are in silence at their work.  But on thee, goodly Philoetius, I lay this charge, to bolt and bar the outer gate of the court and swiftly to tie the knot.’

Therewith he passed within the fair-lying halls, and went and sat upon the settle whence he had risen.  And likewise the two thralls of divine Odysseus went within.

And now Eurymachus was handling the bow, warming it on this side and on that at the light of the fire; yet even so he could not string it, and in his great heart he groaned mightily; and in heaviness of spirit he spake and called aloud, saying: 

’Lo you now, truly am I grieved for myself and for you all!  Not for the marriage do I mourn so greatly, afflicted though I be; there are many Achaean women besides, some in sea-begirt Ithaca itself and some in other cities.  Nay, but I grieve, if indeed we are so far worse than godlike Odysseus in might, seeing that we cannot bend the bow.  It will be a shame even for men unborn to hear thereof.’

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him:  ’Eurymachus, this shall not be so, and thou thyself too knowest it.  For to-day the feast of the archer god is held in the land, a holy feast.  Who at such a time would be bending bows?  Nay, set it quietly by; what and if we should let the axes all stand as they are?  None methinks will come to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them away.  Go to now, let the wine-bearer pour for libation into each cup in turn, that after the drink-offering we may set down the curved bow.  And in the morning bid Melanthius, the goatherd, to lead hither the very best goats in all his herds, that we may lay pieces of the thighs on the altar of Apollo the archer, and assay the bow and make an end of the contest.’

So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well.  Then the henchmen poured water on their hands, and pages crowned the mixing-bowls with drink, and served out the wine to all, when they had poured for libation into each cup in turn.  But when they had poured forth and had drunken to their hearts’ desire, Odysseus of many counsels spake among them out of a crafty heart, saying: