There stood a window near, whence looking down
From o’er the porch appear’d the subject town. 
A double strength of valves secured the place,
A high and narrow; but the only pass: 
The cautious king, with all-preventing care,
To guard that outlet, placed Eumaeus there;
When Agelaus thus:  “Has none the sense
To mount yon window, and alarm from thence
The neighbour-town? the town shall force the door,
And this bold archer soon shall shoot no more.” 
Melanthius then:  “That outlet to the gate
So near adjoins, that one may guard the strait. 
But other methods of defence remain;
Myself with arms can furnish all the train;
Stores from the royal magazine I bring,
And their own darts shall pierce the prince and king.”

He said; and mounting up the lofty stairs,
Twelve shields, twelve lances, and twelve helmets bears: 
All arm, and sudden round the hall appears
A blaze of bucklers, and a wood of spears.

The hero stands oppress’d with mighty woe,
On every side he sees the labour grow;
“Oh cursed event! and oh unlook’d for aid! 
Melanthius or the women have betray’d—­
Oh my dear son!”—­The father with a sigh
Then ceased; the filial virtue made reply;

“Falsehood is folly, and ’tis just to own
The fault committed:  this was mine alone;
My haste neglected yonder door to bar,
And hence the villain has supplied their war. 
Run, good Eumaeus, then, and (what before
I thoughtless err’d in) well secure that door: 
Learn, if by female fraud this deed were done,
Or (as my thought misgives) by Dolius’ son.”

While yet they spoke, in quest of arms again
To the high chamber stole the faithless swain,
Not unobserved.  Eumaeus watchful eyed,
And thus address’d Ulysses near his side: 

“The miscreant we suspected takes that way;
Him, if this arm be powerful, shall I slay? 
Or drive him hither, to receive the meed
From thy own hand, of this detested deed?”

“Not so (replied Ulysses); leave him there,
For us sufficient is another care;
Within the structure of this palace wall
To keep enclosed his masters till they fall. 
Go you, and seize the felon; backward bind
His arms and legs, and fix a plank behind: 
On this his body by strong cords extend,
And on a column near the roof suspend: 
So studied tortures his vile days shall end.”

The ready swains obey’d with joyful haste,
Behind the felon unperceived they pass’d,
As round the room in quest of arms he goes
(The half-shut door conceal’d his lurking foes): 
One hand sustain’d a helm, and one the shield
Which old Laertes wont in youth to wield,
Cover’d with dust, with dryness chapp’d and worn,
The brass corroded, and the leather torn. 
Thus laden, o’er the threshold as he stepp’d,
Fierce on the villain from each side they leap’d,
Back by the hair the trembling dastard drew,
And down reluctant on the pavement threw. 
Active and pleased the zealous swains fulfil
At every point their master’s rigid will;
First, fast behind, his hands and feet they bound,
Then straighten’d cords involved his body round;
So drawn aloft, athwart the column tied,
The howling felon swung from side to side.