ried its cord; and
clear to the touch it sang, voiced like the swallow. Great consternation
came upon the suitors. All faces then changed color. Zeus thundered loud
for signal. And glad was long-tried royal Ulysses to think the son of
crafty Cronos had sent an omen. He picked up a swift shaft which lay
beside him on the table, drawn. Within the hollow quiver still remained
the rest, which the Achaians soon should prove. Then laying the arrow on
the arch, he drew the string and arrow notches, and forth from the bench
on which he sat let fly the shaft, with careful aim, and did not miss an
axe's ring from first to last, but clean through all sped on the
bronze-tipped arrow; and to Telemachus he said,--

"Telemachus, the guest now sitting in your hall brings you no shame. I did
not miss my mark, nor in the bending of the bow make a long labor. My
strength is sound as ever, not what the mocking suitors here despised. But
it is time for the Achaians to make supper ready, while it is daylight
still; and then for us in other ways to make them sport,--with dance and
lyre; for these attend a feast."

He spoke and frowned the sign. His sharp sword then Telemachus girt on,
the son of princely Ulysses clasped his right hand around his spear, and
close beside his father's seat he took his stand, armed with the gleaming
bronze.

C. THE SLAYING OF THE SUITORS

By F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell

Ulysses sprang to the great threshold with the bow and quiver in his hand.
He poured out the arrows at his feet, and shouted to the princes, "So ends
the game you could not play! Now for another mark which no man has ever
hit before!"

With that he shot at Antinous. He, as it chanced, was just lifting a
golden cup from the board, never dreaming that death would meet him there
with all his comrades round him at the feast. But before the wine touched
his lips the arrow struck him in the throat, and the cup dropped from his
hand, and he fell dying to the floor. The princes sprang to their feet
when they saw their comrade fallen, and looked round the walls for armor,
but there was not a spear or shield to be found. Then they turned in fury
on Ulysses: "Madman, are you shooting at men? You have slain the noblest
youth in Ithaca, and you shall not live to draw bow again."

But Ulysses faced them sternly and said, "Dogs, you thought that I should
never return. You have rioted in my home, and outraged the women of my
ho