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and get him away from the door； but Telemachus was too quick for
him； and struck him from behind； the spear caught him between the
shoulders and went right through his chest； so that he fell heavily to
the ground and struck the earth with his forehead。 Then Telemachus
sprang away from him； leaving his spear still in the body； for he
feared that if he stayed to draw it out； some one of the Achaeans
might come up and hack at him with his sword； or knock him down； so he
set off at a run； and immediately was at his father's side。 Then he
said：
〃Father； let me bring you a shield； two spears； and a brass helmet
for your temples。 I will arm myself as well； and will bring other
armour for the swineherd and the stockman； for we had better be
armed。〃
〃Run and fetch them；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃while my arrows hold out；
or when I am alone they may get me away from the door。〃
Telemachus did as his father said； and went off to the store room
where the armour was kept。 He chose four shields； eight spears； and
four brass helmets with horse…hair plumes。 He brought them with all
speed to his father； and armed himself first； while the stockman and
the swineherd also put on their armour； and took their places near
Ulysses。 Meanwhile Ulysses； as long as his arrows lasted； had been
shooting the suitors one by one； and they fell thick on one another：
when his arrows gave out； he set the bow to stand against the end wall
of the house by the door post； and hung a shield four hides thick
about his shoulders； on his comely head he set his helmet； well
wrought with a crest of horse…hair that nodded menacingly above it；
and he grasped two redoubtable bronze…shod spears。
Now there was a trap door on the wall； while at one end of the
pavement there was an exit leading to a narrow passage； and this
exit was closed by a well…made door。 Ulysses told Philoetius to
stand by this door and guard it； for only one person could attack it
at a time。 But Agelaus shouted out； 〃Cannot some one go up to the trap
door and tell the people what is going on？ Help would come at once；
and we should soon make an end of this man and his shooting。〃
〃This may not be； Agelaus；〃 answered Melanthius； 〃the mouth of the
narrow passage is dangerously near the entrance to the outer court。
One brave man could prevent any number from getting in。 But I know
what I will do； I will bring you arms from the store room； for I am
sure it is there that Ulysses and his son have put them。〃
On this the goatherd Melanthius went by back passages to the store
room of Ulysses； house。 There he chose twelve shields； with as many
helmets and spears； and brought them back as fast as he could to
give them to the suitors。 Ulysses' heart began to fail him when he saw
the suitors putting on their armour and brandishing their spears。 He
saw the greatness of the danger； and said to Telemachus； 〃Some one
of the women inside is helping the suitors against us； or it may be
Melanthius。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃The fault； father； is mine； and mine only； I
left the store room door open； and they have kept a sharper look out
than I have。 Go； Eumaeus； put the door to； and see whether it is one
of the women who is doing this； or whether； as I suspect； it is
Melanthius the son of Dolius。〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Melanthius was again going to
the store room to fetch more armour； but the swineherd saw him and
said to Ulysses who was beside him； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； it
is that scoundrel Melanthius； just as we suspected； who is going to
the store room。 Say； shall I kill him； if I can get the better of him；
or shall I bring him here that you may take your own revenge for all
the many wrongs that he has done in your house？〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Telemachus and I will hold these suitors in
check； no matter what they do； go back both of you and bind
Melanthius' hands and feet behind him。 Throw him into the store room
and make the door fast behind you； then fasten a noose about his body；
and string him close up to the rafters from a high bearing…post；
that he may linger on in an agony。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said； they went to
the store room； which they entered before Melanthius saw them； for
he was busy searching for arms in the innermost part of the room； so
the two took their stand on either side of the door and waited。 By and
by Melanthius came out with a helmet in one hand； and an old
dry…rotted shield in the other； which had been borne by Laertes when
he was young； but which had been long since thrown aside； and the
straps had become unsewn； on this the two seized him； dragged him back
by the hair； and threw him struggling to the ground。 They bent his
hands and feet well behind his back； and bound them tight with a
painful bond as Ulysses had told them； then they fastened a noose
about his body and strung him up from a high pillar till he was
close up to the rafters； and over him did you then vaunt； O
swineherd Eumaeus； saying； 〃Melanthius； you will pass the night on a
soft bed as you deserve。 You will know very well when morning comes
from the streams of Oceanus； and it is time for you to be driving in
your goats for the suitors to feast on。〃
There； then； they left him in very cruel bondage； and having put
on their armour they closed the door behind them and went back to take
their places by the side of Ulysses； whereon the four men stood in the
cloister； fierce and full of fury； nevertheless； those who were in the
body of the court were still both brave and many。 Then Jove's daughter
Minerva came up to them； having assumed the voice and form of
Mentor。 Ulysses was glad when he saw her and said； 〃Mentor； lend me
your help； and forget not your old comrade； nor the many good turns he
has done you。 Besides； you are my age…mate。〃
But all the time he felt sure it was Minerva； and the suitors from
the other side raised an uproar when they saw her。 Agelaus was the
first to reproach her。 〃Mentor；〃 he cried； 〃do not let Ulysses beguile
you into siding with him and fighting the suitors。 This is what we
will do： when we have killed these people； father and son； we will
kill you too。 You shall pay for it with your head； and when we have
killed you； we will take all you have； in doors or out； and bring it
into hotch…pot with Ulysses' property； we will not let your sons
live in your house； nor your daughters； nor shall your widow
continue to live in the city of Ithaca。〃
This made Minerva still more furious； so she scolded Ulysses very
angrily。 〃Ulysses；〃 said she； 〃your strength and prowess are no longer
what they were when you fought for nine long years among the Trojans
about the noble lady Helen。 You killed many a man in those days； and
it was through your stratagem that Priam's city was taken。 How comes
it that you are so lamentably less valiant now that you are on your
own ground； face to face with the suitors in your own house？ Come
on； my good fellow； stand by my side and see how Mentor； son of
Alcinous shall fight your foes and requite your kindnesses conferred
upon him。〃
But she would not give him full victory as yet； for she wished still
further to prove his