casting you into a black ship, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals; who will cut off thy nose and ears with the cruel brass, and drawing out thy privy parts, will give them raw to the dogs to feed upon."
Thus he spoke: but trembling still more seized upon his limbs: and they brought him into a middle spot, and both held up their hands. Then much-enduring divine Ulysses meditated, whether he should strike him so that life should leave him falling there; or should strike him lightly, and prostrate him on the earth. And thus to him considering it seemed to be better to strike him lightly, that the Grecians might not have any notion of him.[1] Then both uplifting [their hands], Irus struck him on his right shoulder; but he struck his neck under the ear, and broke his bones within: and the purple blood immediately came through his mouth, and he fell stretched in the dust groaning, and gnashed his teeth together, kicking the earth with his feet: but the noble suitors lifting up their hands were ready to die with laughter: but Ulysses, taking him by the foot, dragged him through out of the portico, until he reached the court and the doors of the portico; and he set him down, reclining him against the fence of the court; and he put his staff in his hand, and addressing him, spoke winged words:
"Sit now here, and keep off the dogs and swine; nor do thou, being a pitiful wretch, be the prince of strangers and beggars, lest by chance thou shouldst reap some even greater evil."
He spoke; and threw his unseemly satchel around his shoulders, very tattered; and there was a twisted cord to hold it.[2] And going back to the threshold, he sat down; but they went within laughing pleasantly, and greeted him with words:
"May Jove and the other immortal gods grant thee, O stranger, whatever thou most desirest, and is dear to thy mind, thou, who hast made this insatiable fellow cease to beg amongst the people; for we will soon take him over to Epirus, to king Echetus, the injurer of all mortals."
Thus they spoke; but divine Ulysses rejoiced in the omen; and Antinous placed a large paunch near him, full of fat and blood; and Amphinomus, taking two loaves out of a basket, placed them near him, and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:
