The Odyssey: Book 21 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFDGHIJKLMNDIOIP IQRSTUVIAERGWIDEIXYI ZA2B2C2LD2D2E2D2D2F2 B2D2IB2GDOAIG2KIKEC2 OH2I2IAJ2KK2C2JVL2D2 DQIEM2NJDIN2KO2OP2DV NRHC2RIF2Q2KER2S2EB2 DF2C2C2T2KU2DSKV2IW2 IKD2KHKOD2EIX2JDSGY2 RD2IIDGIZ2B2RD2A3B3D C2KQ2QE2HIC3E2D3C3B2 E3F3A2ERG3HIVA2B2IH3 IMI3DF2IJ3IAHRK3IL3C 2IM3N3IIEC2Y2C2J3O3P 3RHC2C2IC2VKHGD2LIQ3 F2AHR3S3A2ADRC2T3KU3 V3N2BIC2C2T3HDC2W3EX 3RVJO3Y3X3C3IKD3OE2N 2A2Y2IZ3N2C2IIA4J3H3 B4DW2RC4IVEKC2B2H3EC 2D2D4OKD2IHC2JIO2TE4 O2D2G3B2OF4G4H4C2IIK HI4J4IIIJONRIE2FHRIS D2K4IE3DG4KD3H4C2C2I KZ2HIAL4W3C3Y2QIIM3

Minerva now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors try	A
their skill with the bow and with the iron axes in contest among	B
themselves as a means of bringing about their destruction She went	C
upstairs and got the store room key which was made of bronze and	D
had a handle of ivory she then went with her maidens into the store	E
room at the end of the house where her husband's treasures of gold	F
bronze and wrought iron were kept and where was also his bow and	D
the quiver full of deadly arrows that had been given him by a friend	G
whom he had met in Lacedaemon Iphitus the son of Eurytus The two	H
fell in with one another in Messene at the house of Ortilochus	I
where Ulysses was staying in order to recover a debt that was owing	J
from the whole people for the Messenians had carried off three	K
hundred sheep from Ithaca and had sailed away with them and with	L
their shepherds In quest of these Ulysses took a long journey while	M
still quite young for his father and the other chieftains sent him on	N
a mission to recover them Iphitus had gone there also to try and	D
get back twelve brood mares that he had lost and the mule foals	I
that were running with them These mares were the death of him in	O
the end for when he went to the house of Jove's son mighty Hercules	I
who performed such prodigies of valour Hercules to his shame killed	P
him though he was his guest for he feared not heaven's vengeance	I
nor yet respected his own table which he had set before Iphitus but	Q
killed him in spite of everything and kept the mares himself It	R
was when claiming these that Iphitus met Ulysses and gave him the bow	S
which mighty Eurytus had been used to carry and which on his death	T
had been left by him to his son Ulysses gave him in return a sword	U
and a spear and this was the beginning of a fast friendship although	V
they never visited at one another's houses for Jove's son Hercules	I
killed Iphitus ere they could do so This bow then given him by	A
Iphitus had not been taken with him by Ulysses when he sailed for	E
Troy he had used it so long as he had been at home but had left it	R
behind as having been a keepsake from a valued friend	G
Penelope presently reached the oak threshold of the store room	W
the carpenter had planed this duly and had drawn a line on it so as	I
to get it quite straight he had then set the door posts into it and	D
hung the doors She loosed the strap from the handle of the door	E
put in the key and drove it straight home to shoot back the bolts	I
that held the doors these flew open with a noise like a bull	X
bellowing in a meadow and Penelope stepped upon the raised	Y
platform where the chests stood in which the fair linen and clothes	I
were laid by along with fragrant herbs reaching thence she took down	Z
the bow with its bow case from the peg on which it hung She sat	A2
down with it on her knees weeping bitterly as she took the bow out of	B2
its case and when her tears had relieved her she went to the	C2
cloister where the suitors were carrying the bow and the quiver with	L
the many deadly arrows that were inside it Along with her came her	D2
maidens bearing a chest that contained much iron and bronze which her	D2
husband had won as prizes When she reached the suitors she stood	E2
by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the cloister	D2
holding a veil before her face and with a maid on either side of her	D2
Then she said	F2
Listen to me you suitors who persist in abusing the hospitality of	B2
this house because its owner has been long absent and without other	D2
pretext than that you want to marry me this then being the prize	I
that you are contending for I will bring out the mighty bow of	B2
Ulysses and whomsoever of you shall string it most easily and send	G
his arrow through each one of twelve axes him will I follow and	D
quit this house of my lawful husband so goodly and so abounding in	O
wealth But even so I doubt not that I shall remember it in my	A
dreams	I
As she spoke she told Eumaeus to set the bow and the pieces of iron	G2
before the suitors and Eumaeus wept as he took them to do as she	K
had bidden him Hard by the stockman wept also when he saw his	I
master's bow but Antinous scolded them You country louts said he	K
silly simpletons why should you add to the sorrows of your	E
mistress by crying in this way She has enough to grieve her in the	C2
loss of her husband sit still therefore and eat your dinners in	O
silence or go outside if you want to cry and leave the bow behind	H2
you We suitors shall have to contend for it with might and main	I2
for we shall find it no light matter to string such a bow as this	I
is There is not a man of us all who is such another as Ulysses for I	A
have seen him and remember him though I was then only a child	J2
This was what he said but all the time he was expecting to be	K
able to string the bow and shoot through the iron whereas in fact	K2
he was to be the first that should taste of the arrows from the	C2
hands of Ulysses whom he was dishonouring in his own house egging	J
the others on to do so also	V
Then Telemachus spoke Great heavens he exclaimed Jove must	L2
have robbed me of my senses Here is my dear and excellent mother	D2
saying she will quit this house and marry again yet I am laughing and	D
enjoying myself as though there were nothing happening But	Q
suitors as the contest has been agreed upon let it go forward It is	I
for a woman whose peer is not to be found in Pylos Argos or	E
Mycene nor yet in Ithaca nor on the mainland You know this as well	M2
as I do what need have I to speak in praise of my mother Come on	N
then make no excuses for delay but let us see whether you can string	J
the bow or no I too will make trial of it for if I can string it and	D
shoot through the iron I shall not suffer my mother to quit this	I
house with a stranger not if I can win the prizes which my father won	N2
before me	K
As he spoke he sprang from his seat threw his crimson cloak from	O2
him and took his sword from his shoulder First he set the axes in	O
a row in a long groove which he had dug for them and had Wade	P2
straight by line Then he stamped the earth tight round them and	D
everyone was surprised when they saw him set up so orderly though	V
he had never seen anything of the kind before This done he went on	N
to the pavement to make trial of the bow thrice did he tug at it	R
trying with all his might to draw the string and thrice he had to	H
leave off though he had hoped to string the bow and shoot through the	C2
iron He was trying for the fourth time and would have strung it	R
had not Ulysses made a sign to check him in spite of all his	I
eagerness So he said	F2
Alas I shall either be always feeble and of no prowess or I am	Q2
too young and have not yet reached my full strength so as to be	K
able to hold my own if any one attacks me You others therefore	E
who are stronger than I make trial of the bow and get this contest	R2
settled	S2
On this he put the bow down letting it lean against the door	E
that led into the house with the arrow standing against the top of	B2
the bow Then he sat down on the seat from which he had risen and	D
Antinous said	F2
Come on each of you in his turn going towards the right from the	C2
place at which the cupbearer begins when he is handing round the	C2
wine	T2
The rest agreed and Leiodes son of OEnops was the first to rise He	K
was sacrificial priest to the suitors and sat in the corner near	U2
the mixing bowl He was the only man who hated their evil deeds and	D
was indignant with the others He was now the first to take the bow	S
and arrow so he went on to the pavement to make his trial but he	K
could not string the bow for his hands were weak and unused to hard	V2
work they therefore soon grew tired and he said to the suitors	I
My friends I cannot string it let another have it this bow shall	W2
take the life and soul out of many a chief among us for it is	I
better to die than to live after having missed the prize that we	K
have so long striven for and which has brought us so long together	D2
Some one of us is even now hoping and praying that he may marry	K
Penelope but when he has seen this bow and tried it let him woo	H
and make bridal offerings to some other woman and let Penelope	K
marry whoever makes her the best offer and whose lot it is to win	O
her	D2
On this he put the bow down letting it lean against the door	E
with the arrow standing against the tip of the bow Then he took his	I
seat again on the seat from which he had risen and Antinous rebuked	X2
him saying	J
Leiodes what are you talking about Your words are monstrous and	D
intolerable it makes me angry to listen to you Shall then this bow	S
take the life of many a chief among us merely because you cannot bend	G
it yourself True you were not born to be an archer but there are	Y2
others who will soon string it	R
Then he said to Melanthius the goatherd Look sharp light a fire	D2
in the court and set a seat hard by with a sheep skin on it bring us	I
also a large ball of lard from what they have in the house Let us	I
warm the bow and grease it we will then make trial of it again and	D
bring the contest to an end	G
Melanthius lit the fire and set a seat covered with sheep skins	I
beside it He also brought a great ball of lard from what they had	Z2
in the house and the suitors warmed the bow and again made trial of	B2
it but they were none of them nearly strong enough to string it	R
Nevertheless there still remained Antinous and Eurymachus who were	D2
the ringleaders among the suitors and much the foremost among them	A3
all	B3
Then the swineherd and the stockman left the cloisters together and	D
Ulysses followed them When they had got outside the gates and the	C2
outer yard Ulysses said to them quietly	K
Stockman and you swineherd I have something in my mind which I am	Q2
in doubt whether to say or no but I think I will say it What	Q
manner of men would you be to stand by Ulysses if some god should	E2
bring him back here all of a sudden Say which you are disposed to do	H
to side with the suitors or with Ulysses	I
Father Jove answered the stockman would indeed that you might	C3
so ordain it If some god were but to bring Ulysses back you should	E2
see with what might and main I would fight for him	D3
In like words Eumaeus prayed to all the gods that Ulysses might	C3
return when therefore he saw for certain what mind they were of	B2
Ulysses said It is I Ulysses who am here I have suffered much	E3
but at last in the twentieth year I am come back to my own	F3
country I find that you two alone of all my servants are glad that	A2
I should do so for I have not heard any of the others praying for	E
my return To you two therefore will I unfold the truth as it	R
shall be If heaven shall deliver the suitors into my hands I will	G3
find wives for both of you will give you house and holding close to	H
my own and you shall be to me as though you were brothers and friends	I
of Telemachus I will now give you convincing proofs that you may know	V
me and be assured See here is the scar from the boar's tooth that	A2
ripped me when I was out hunting on Mount Parnassus with the sons of	B2
Autolycus	I
As he spoke he drew his rags aside from the great scar and when	H3
they had examined it thoroughly they both of them wept about Ulysses	I
threw their arms round him and kissed his head and shoulders while	M
Ulysses kissed their hands and faces in return The sun would have	I3
gone down upon their mourning if Ulysses had not checked them and	D
said	F2
Cease your weeping lest some one should come outside and see us	I
and tell those who a are within When you go in do so separately not	J3
both together I will go first and do you follow afterwards Let this	I
moreover be the token between us the suitors will all of them try	A
to prevent me from getting hold of the bow and quiver do you	H
therefore Eumaeus place it in my hands when you are carrying it	R
about and tell the women to close the doors of their apartment If	K3
they hear any groaning or uproar as of men fighting about the house	I
they must not come out they must keep quiet and stay where they	L3
are at their work And I charge you Philoetius to make fast the	C2
doors of the outer court and to bind them securely at once	I
When he had thus spoken he went back to the house and took the seat	M3
that he had left Presently his two servants followed him inside	N3
At this moment the bow was in the hands of Eurymachus who was	I
warming it by the fire but even so he could not string it and he was	I
greatly grieved He heaved a deep sigh and said I grieve for	E
myself and for us all I grieve that I shall have to forgo the	C2
marriage but I do not care nearly so much about this for there are	Y2
plenty of other women in Ithaca and elsewhere what I feel most is the	C2
fact of our being so inferior to Ulysses in strength that we cannot	J3
string his bow This will disgrace us in the eyes of those who are yet	O3
unborn	P3
It shall not be so Eurymachus said Antinous and you know it	R
yourself To day is the feast of Apollo throughout all the land who	H
can string a bow on such a day as this Put it on one side as for the	C2
axes they can stay where they are for no one is likely to come to the	C2
house and take them away let the cupbearer go round with his cups	I
that we may make our drink offerings and drop this matter of the	C2
bow we will tell Melanthius to bring us in some goats to morrow	V
the best he has we can then offer thigh bones to Apollo the mighty	K
archer and again make trial of the bow so as to bring the contest to	H
an end	G
The rest approved his words and thereon men servants poured water	D2
over the hands of the guests while pages filled the mixing bowls with	L
wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his	I
drink offering Then when they had made their offerings and had drunk	Q3
each as much as he desired Ulysses craftily said	F2
Suitors of the illustrious queen listen that I may speak even as I	A
am minded I appeal more especially to Eurymachus and to Antinous who	H
has just spoken with so much reason Cease shooting for the present	R3
and leave the matter to the gods but in the morning let heaven give	S3
victory to whom it will For the moment however give me the bow that	A2
I may prove the power of my hands among you all and see whether I	A
still have as much strength as I used to have or whether travel and	D
neglect have made an end of it	R
This made them all very angry for they feared he might string the	C2
bow Antinous therefore rebuked him fiercely saying Wretched	T3
creature you have not so much as a grain of sense in your whole body	K
you ought to think yourself lucky in being allowed to dine unharmed	U3
among your betters without having any smaller portion served you than	V3
we others have had and in being allowed to hear our conversation	N2
No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we say among	B
ourselves the wine must have been doing you a mischief as it does	I
with all those drink immoderately It was wine that inflamed the	C2
Centaur Eurytion when he was staying with Peirithous among the	C2
Lapithae When the wine had got into his head he went mad and did	T3
ill deeds about the house of Peirithous this angered the heroes who	H
were there assembled so they rushed at him and cut off his ears and	D
nostrils then they dragged him through the doorway out of the	C2
house so he went away crazed and bore the burden of his crime	W3
bereft of understanding Henceforth therefore there was war	E
between mankind and the centaurs but he brought it upon himself	X3
through his own drunkenness In like manner I can tell you that it	R
will go hardly with you if you string the bow you will find no	V
mercy from any one here for we shall at once ship you off to king	J
Echetus who kills every one that comes near him you will never get	O3
away alive so drink and keep quiet without getting into a quarrel	Y3
with men younger than yourself	X3
Penelope then spoke to him Antinous said she it is not right	C3
that you should ill treat any guest of Telemachus who comes to this	I
house If the stranger should prove strong enough to string the mighty	K
bow of Ulysses can you suppose that he would take me home with him	D3
and make me his wife Even the man himself can have no such idea in	O
his mind none of you need let that disturb his feasting it would	E2
be out of all reason	N2
Queen Penelope answered Eurymachus we do not suppose that	A2
this man will take you away with him it is impossible but we are	Y2
afraid lest some of the baser sort men or women among the Achaeans	I
should go gossiping about and say 'These suitors are a feeble folk	Z3
they are paying court to the wife of a brave man whose bow not one	N2
of them was able to string and yet a beggarly tramp who came to the	C2
house strung it at once and sent an arrow through the iron ' This is	I
what will be said and it will be a scandal against us	I
Eurymachus Penelope answered people who persist in eating up	A4
the estate of a great chieftain and dishonouring his house must not	J3
expect others to think well of them Why then should you mind if men	H3
talk as you think they will This stranger is strong and well built	B4
he says moreover that he is of noble birth Give him the bow and	D
let us see whether he can string it or no I say and it shall	W2
surely be that if Apollo vouchsafes him the glory of stringing it	R
I will give him a cloak and shirt of good wear with a javelin to keep	C4
off dogs and robbers and a sharp sword I will also give him sandals	I
and will see him sent safely whereever he wants to go	V
Then Telemachus said Mother I am the only man either in Ithaca or	E
in the islands that are over against Elis who has the right to let any	K
one have the bow or to refuse it No one shall force me one way or the	C2
other not even though I choose to make the stranger a present of	B2
the bow outright and let him take it away with him Go then	H3
within the house and busy yourself with your daily duties your	E
loom your distaff and the ordering of your servants This bow is a	C2
man's matter and mine above all others for it is I who am master	D2
here	D4
She went wondering back into the house and laid her son's saying in	O
her heart Then going upstairs with her handmaids into her room she	K
mourned her dear husband till Minerva sent sweet sleep over her	D2
eyelids	I
The swineherd now took up the bow and was for taking it to	H
Ulysses but the suitors clamoured at him from all parts of the	C2
cloisters and one of them said You idiot where are you taking	J
the bow to Are you out of your wits If Apollo and the other gods	I
will grant our prayer your own boarhounds shall get you into some	O2
quiet little place and worry you to death	T
Eumaeus was frightened at the outcry they all raised so he put	E4
the bow down then and there but Telemachus shouted out at him from	O2
the other side of the cloisters and threatened him saying Father	D2
Eumaeus bring the bow on in spite of them or young as I am I will	G3
pelt you with stones back to the country for I am the better man of	B2
the two I wish I was as much stronger than all the other suitors in	O
the house as I am than you I would soon send some of them off sick	F4
and sorry for they mean mischief	G4
Thus did he speak and they all of them laughed heartily which	H4
put them in a better humour with Telemachus so Eumaeus brought the	C2
bow on and placed it in the hands of Ulysses When he had done this	I
he called Euryclea apart and said to her Euryclea Telemachus says	I
you are to close the doors of the women's apartments If they hear any	K
groaning or uproar as of men fighting about the house they are not to	H
come out but are to keep quiet and stay where they are at their	I4
work	J4
Euryclea did as she was told and closed the doors of the women's	I
apartments	I
Meanwhile Philoetius slipped quietly out and made fast the gates	I
of the outer court There was a ship's cable of byblus fibre lying	J
in the gatehouse so he made the gates fast with it and then came in	O
again resuming the seat that he had left and keeping an eye on	N
Ulysses who had now got the bow in his hands and was turning it	R
every way about and proving it all over to see whether the worms	I
had been eating into its two horns during his absence Then would	E2
one turn towards his neighbour saying This is some tricky old	F
bow fancier either he has got one like it at home or he wants to	H
make one in such workmanlike style does the old vagabond handle it	R
Another said I hope he may be no more successful in other things	I
than he is likely to be in stringing this bow	S
But Ulysses when he had taken it up and examined it all over	D2
strung it as easily as a skilled bard strings a new peg of his lyre	K4
and makes the twisted gut fast at both ends Then he took it in his	I
right hand to prove the string and it sang sweetly under his touch	E3
like the twittering of a swallow The suitors were dismayed and	D
turned colour as they heard it at that moment moreover Jove	G4
thundered loudly as a sign and the heart of Ulysses rejoiced as he	K
heard the omen that the son of scheming Saturn had sent him	D3
He took an arrow that was lying upon the table for those which	H4
the Achaeans were so shortly about to taste were all inside the	C2
quiver he laid it on the centre piece of the bow and drew the	C2
notch of the arrow and the string toward him still seated on his	I
seat When he had taken aim he let fly and his arrow pierced every	K
one of the handle holes of the axes from the first onwards till it had	Z2
gone right through them and into the outer courtyard Then he said to	H
Telemachus	I
Your guest has not disgraced you Telemachus I did not miss what I	A
aimed at and I was not long in stringing my bow I am still strong	L4
and not as the suitors twit me with being Now however it is time	W3
for the Achaeans to prepare supper while there is still daylight	C3
and then otherwise to disport themselves with song and dance which are	Y2
the crowning ornaments of a banquet	Q
As he spoke he made a sign with his eyebrows and Telemachus	I
girded on his sword grasped his spear and stood armed beside his	I
father's seat	M3

Homer

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