Then the bow was brought into the midst, and a mark was set up by prince
Telemachus; and lord Antinous, as the chief among the suitors, had the
first offer; and he took the bow, and, fitting an arrow to the string, he
strove to bend it, but not with all his might and main could he once draw
together the ends of that tough bow; and when he found how vain a thing it
was to endeavour to draw Ulysses's bow, he desisted, blushing for shame
and for mere anger. Then Eurymachus adventured, but with no better
success; but as it had torn the hands of Antinous, so did the bow tear and
strain his hands, and marred his delicate fingers, yet could he not once
stir the string. Then called he to the attendants to bring fat and
unctuous matter, which melting at the fire, he dipped the bow therein,
thinking to supple it and make it more pliable; but not with all the helps
of art could he succeed in making it to move. After him Liodes, and
Amphinomus, and Polybus, and Eurynomus, and Polyctorides essayed their
strength, but not any one of them, or of the rest of those aspiring
suitors, had any better luck; yet not the meanest of them there but
thought himself well worthy of Ulysses's wife, though to shoot with
Ulysses's bow the completest champion among them was by proof found too
feeble.

Then Ulysses prayed that he might have leave to try; and immediately a
clamour was raised among the suitors, because of his petition, and they
scorned and swelled with rage at his presumption, and that a beggar should
seek to contend in a game of such noble mastery. But Telemachus ordered
that the bow should be given him, and that he should have leave to try,
since they had failed; "for," he said, "the bow is mine, to give or to
withhold;" and none durst gainsay the prince.

Then Ulysses gave a sign to his son, and he commanded the doors of the