hall to be made fast, and all wondered at his words, but none could divine
the cause. And Ulysses took the bow into his hands, and before he essayed
to bend it, he surveyed it at all parts, to see whether, by long lying by,
it had contracted any stiffness which hindered the drawing; and as he was
busied in the curious surveying of his bow, some of the suitors mocked
him, and said, "Past doubt this man is a right cunning archer, and knows
his craft well. See how he turns it over and over, and looks into it, as
if he could see through the wood." And others said, "We wish some one
would tell out gold into our laps but for so long a time as he shall be in
drawing of that string." But when he had spent some little time in making
proof of the bow, and had found it to be in good plight, like as a harper
in tuning of his harp draws out a string, with such ease or much more did
Ulysses draw to the head the string of his own tough bow, and in letting
of it go, it twanged with such a shrill noise as a swallow makes when it
sings through the air; which so much amazed the suitors that their colours
came and went, and the skies gave out a noise of thunder, which at heart
cheered Ulysses, for he knew that now his long labours by the disposal of
the Fates drew to an end. Then fitted he an arrow to the bow, and drawing
it to the head, he sent it right to the mark which the prince had set up.
Which done, he said to Telemachus, "You have got no disgrace yet by your
guest, for I have struck the mark I shot at, and gave myself no such
trouble in teasing the bow with fat and fire as these men did, but have
made proof that my strength is not impaired, nor my age so weak and
contemptible as these were pleased to think it. But come, the day going
down calls us to supper, after which succeed poem and harp, and all
delights which use to crown princely banquetings."

So saying, he beckoned to his son, who straight girt his sword to his
side, and took one of the lances (of which there lay great store from the
armoury) in his hand, and armed at all points advanced towards his father.