IV.—ULYSSES'S RETURN.
Ulysses and his Dog.
1. Ulysses, the lord of Ithaca, went to assist the Greeks in the siege of Troy. For ten long years the war lasted, and when Troy fell, Ulysses was ten more years in reaching his home. He met with so many accidents and adventures that delayed him, that even his stout heart almost gave out as he thought of the wife and children waiting for him through all these weary years. In the mean time his son Telemachus had grown to manhood, and had gone in search of his father.
2. During all this time his wife, Queen Penelope, never lost hope, but lived daily looking for her husband to come sailing over the sea. But while the master was away, more than a hundred young lords laid claim to the hand of Penelope, so as to obtain the power and riches of Ulysses. They lorded it over the palace and people as if they were the owners of both, and they paid no attention to the wishes of Penelope, as she was but a woman, and could not protect herself. Her only safety lay in the fact that the suitors were jealous of each other, and no one could make any advance until Penelope had made her selection.
3. At last Ulysses returned in the disguise of a beggar. No one knew him except his old dog Argus, who, in his excess of joy, died while licking his hands. He made himself known to Eumæus, a faithful servant, and by him was presented to Telemachus, who had just returned. Great was the joy of father and son at thus meeting each other. Then the three laid a plan to punish the suitors and to rid Ithaca of their presence. In carrying out this plan, Telemachus went to his mother's palace publicly, and the suitors bade him welcome, though they secretly hated him, and had tried to take his life. Here he found feasting going on, and, at his request, the supposed beggar was admitted to the foot of the table.
4. Penelope had put off her decision on various pretexts until now, when there appeared no other reason for delay. So she announced that she would accept the one who would shoot an arrow through twelve rings arranged in a line. A bow formerly used by Ulysses was brought in and all other arms removed. All things being ready, the first thing to be done was to attach the string to the bow, which required the bow to be bent. Telemachus tried and failed. Then each of the suitors tried in turn, and all failed. They even rubbed the bow with tallow, but it would not bend.
5. Here Ulysses spoke and said: "Beggar as I am, I once was a soldier, and there is some strength in these old limbs of mine yet. Let me try." The suitors hooted at him, and would have turned him out of the hall; but Telemachus said it was best to gratify the old man, and so put the bow in his hand. Ulysses took it and easily adjusted the cord. Then he selected an arrow and sent it through the twelve rings at the first shot. Before the suitors recovered from their astonishment he sent another through the heart of the most insolent of them. Telemachus, Eumæus, and another faithful servant sprang to their aid. The suitors looked around for arms, but there were none. Ulysses did not let them remain long in doubt; he announced himself as the long-lost chief whose house they had invaded, whose substance they had squandered, and whose wife and son they had persecuted for ten long years, and told them he meant to have ample vengeance. All the suitors were slain but two, and Ulysses was left master of his own palace and the possessor of his kingdom and wife.