At last the greater part of the suitors had fallen. Some had already breathed their last. Most of them were writhing on the spears with which they had been pierced and lay bathed in their own blood. It was a horrible sight. As the four heroes prepared to give the death blow to the few survivors, Leiodes sprang suddenly from behind a column, and clasping Ulysses’ knees, called loudly for mercy. “Give me my life,” he prayed. “I took no part in the evil deeds of the suitors, for I was their priest and only carried out the holy customs when they sacrificed thy steers.”
“If thou hast been their sacrificial priest and prophet, thou must surely have foretold many evil things concerning me and have called down misfortunes upon my head in thy prayers. And for this thou shalt die a well-deserved death,” replied the king with dark looks. He raised his sword and with a quick stroke severed the head of the still-kneeling priest, so that it rolled in the dust.
He searched all the hiding places, but did not find another living soul, and contemplated with astonishment and horror the frightful work of his hands. Then at last he laid down his sword and lifted the bronze helmet from his perspiring brow. “Be quick, Telemachus, and call my old nurse Euryclea, that I may question her,” he said.
Telemachus brought the old woman. She raised her hands and began to rejoice. But Ulysses stopped her and said reprovingly: “Hush, dame! At heart thou mayest exult that justice has been done and punishment meted out, but it is a sin to triumph over fallen men. They have their reward, but it is the gods who through me have accomplished their will. Now tell me of the women in the house, both those who have betrayed me and those who have served faithfully.”
“Gladly I obey thee,” answered the old nurse. “Fifty women serve in the palace. Twelve have proved unfaithful and left the paths of virtue, neither obeying me, nor even the noble Penelope. But let me slip upstairs and wake the queen. She knows not of thy return, for a divinity has closed her eyes in a leaden sleep. How surprised she will be!”
“Nay, mother, do not wake her yet. First command the twelve refractory women hither.” The old woman hastened to obey.
“When they come,” continued Ulysses to his son and the two herdsmen, “they shall first help us clean the dwelling, and when that is done, take them out to the outer courtyard, drive them all into the narrow passageway, and strike them down with your swords, so that their souls may join the shades of the insolent suitors.”
While he was speaking the women entered, frightened at the sight that met their eyes and trembling for their own lives. “Drag out the dead,” commanded Ulysses. “Lay them outside in the gallery.”
They took hold reluctantly, assisted by the herdsmen, and Ulysses saw that all was properly done and set in order, and then Telemachus and the herdsmen conducted the women to their doom. After this they sought out Melantheus and prepared a terrible death for this base wretch.
The work of slaughter was now complete. The herdsmen washed their hands and feet and went back to the hall. Here Ulysses ordered Euryclea to make a fire, fetch sulphur, and with its fumes to turn away the curse from this house of slaughter. The old servants now came crowding about their master to kiss him joyfully. This touched his heart and he pressed their hands in hearty greeting.