’Now in good truth, Melanthius, shalt thou watch all night, lying in a soft bed as beseems thee, nor shall the early-born Dawn escape thy ken, when she comes forth from the streams of Oceanus, on her golden throne, in the hour when thou art wont to drive the goats to make a meal for the wooers in the halls.’

So he was left there, stretched tight in the deadly bond.  But they twain got into their harness, and closed the shining door, and went to Odysseus, wise and crafty chief.  There they stood breathing fury, four men by the threshold, while those others within the halls were many and good warriors.  Then Athene, daughter of Zeus, drew nigh them, like Mentor in fashion and in voice, and Odysseus was glad when he saw her and spake, saying: 

’Mentor, ward from us hurt, and remember me thy dear companion, that befriended thee often, and thou art of like age with me.’

So he spake, deeming the while that it was Athene, summoner of the host.  But the wooers on the other side shouted in the halls, and first Agelaus son of Damastor rebuked Athene, saying: 

’Mentor, let not the speech of Odysseus beguile thee to fight against the wooers, and to succour him.  For methinks that on this wise we shall work our will.  When we shall have slain these men, father and son, thereafter shalt thou perish with them, such deeds thou art set on doing in these halls; nay, with thine own head shalt thou pay the price.  But when with the sword we shall have overcome your violence, we will mingle all thy possessions, all that thou hast at home or in the field, with the wealth of Odysseus, and we will not suffer thy sons nor thy daughters to dwell in the halls, nor thy good wife to gad about in the town of Ithaca.’

So spake he, and Athene was mightily angered at heart, and chid Odysseus in wrathful words:  ’Odysseus, thou hast no more steadfast might nor any prowess, as when for nine whole years continually thou didst battle with the Trojans for high born Helen, of the white arms, and many men thou slewest in terrible warfare, and by thy device the wide-wayed city of Priam was taken.  How then, now that thou art come to thy house and thine own possessions, dost thou bewail thee and art of feeble courage to stand before the wooers?  Nay, come hither, friend, and stand by me, and I will show thee a thing, that thou mayest know what manner of man is Mentor, son of Alcimus, to repay good deeds in the ranks of foemen.’

She spake, and gave him not yet clear victory in full, but still for a while made trial of the might and prowess of Odysseus and his renowned son.  As for her she flew up to the roof timber of the murky hall, in such fashion as a swallow flies, and there sat down.

Now Agelaus, son of Damastor, urged on the wooers, and likewise Eurynomus and Amphimedon and Demoptolemus and Peisandrus son of Polyctor, and wise Polybus, for these were in valiancy far the best men of the wooers, that still lived and fought for their lives; for the rest had fallen already beneath the bow and the thick rain of arrows.  Then Agelaus spake among them, and made known his word to all: