Antinous chided him, and spoke a word, and addressed him:
"Ah wretched one of strangers! thou hast not even a little understanding; art thou not content, that thou feastest quietly amongst us most[1] noble men? nor art thou at all deprived of the banquet, but thou hearest our words and conversation: nor does any other stranger and beggar hear our discourse. Sweet wine hurts thee, which harms others also, whoever takes it too abundantly, nor drinks properly. Wine also inspired the illustrious Centaur Eurytion in the palace of magnanimous Pirithous, when he came to the Lapithæ: but he, when he had injured his mind with wine, in madness did wicked deeds in the house of Pirithous: but grief seized upon the heroes, and rushing upon them, they dragged them out of doors through the vestibule, having cut off their ears and nostrils with the sharp brass; but he, injured in his feelings, went about, enduring that calamity with a frantic mind, from whence there was strife between the Centaurs and men, for overcome with wine he brought the evil upon himself first. So also I declare great mischief to thee, if thou stretchest the bow: for thou wilt not meet with any defence in our house, but we will soon send thee in a black ship to king Echetus, who injures all mortals; and thou wilt not be saved from thence. But drink quietly, nor contend with younger men."
But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "O Antinous, it is not indeed honourable or just to vex the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house. Dost thou expect, if the stranger should bend the great bow of Ulysses, trusting in his hands and his own might, that he would lead me home, and make me his wife? He did not himself ever hope this in his breast. Nor let any one of you, on that account grieving his mind, banquet here; since indeed it is not fit."
But her Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered in turn: "O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, we do not think that he will carry thee home; nor is it likely: but being ashamed of the rumour of men and women, lest at some time some other of the Grecians who is worse should say, Very inferior men indeed woo the wife of a blameless man;
- ↑ Observe this sense of ὑπερφιάλοισι. See Buttm. Lex. p. 414.
