The great marble room suddenly grew cold. The old beggar came up to the splendid Antinous and took the bow from his unresisting hand.
As he plucked the string the gods spake at last. A crash of thunder pealed among them. There was a moment’s silence, and then the bow-string rang beneath the hero’s touch as clear as the note of a swallow.
And in a strange light, which glowed out from the walls and great pillars of bronze, the princes saw no beggar, but a noble form with bronzed face and flashing eyes, and they knew the king had come home again.
Ulysses motioned to his son, and Telemachus drew his sword and with a great shout rushed up the hall after his father.
They turned and stood on the steps.
An arrow sang like a flying wasp, and Antinous lay dying on the floor.
Then the princes rushed to the walls where their armour and swords were wont to hang, but all the pegs were bare.
Only above the steps where Ulysses stood were three spears and three shields, and as they gazed in cold fear Eumæus leapt upon the steps and the three girded on the armour.
Again the great bow sang, and Amphinomus lay dead.
Then Telemachus with a great shout drove his spear through the fat Ctessipus, and he fell gurgling his life away.