Thus did they converse. Meanwhile
the suitors were hatching a plot to murder Telemakhos: but a bird
flew near them on their left hand - an eagle with a dove in its
talons. On this Amphinomos said, "My friends, this plot of ours to
murder Telemakhos will not succeed; let us go to dinner
instead."
The others assented, so they went
inside and laid their cloaks on the benches and seats. They
sacrificed the sheep, goats, pigs, and the heifer, and when the
inward meats were cooked they served them round. They mixed the wine
in the mixing-bowls, and the swineherd gave every man his cup, while
Philoitios handed round the bread in the breadbaskets, and Melanthios
poured them out their wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good
things that were before them.
Telemakhos deliberately
[kerdos] made Odysseus sit in the part of the room
that was paved with stone; he gave him a shabby-looking seat at a
little table to himself, and had his portion of the inward meats
brought to him, with his wine in a gold cup. "Sit there," said he,
"and drink your wine among the great people. I will put a stop to the
gibes and blows of the suitors, for this is no public house, but
belongs to Odysseus, and has passed from him to me. Therefore,
suitors, keep your hands and your tongues to yourselves, or there
will be trouble."
The suitors bit their lips, and
marveled at the boldness of his speech; then Antinoos said, "We do
not like such language but we will put up with it, for Telemakhos is
threatening us in good earnest. If Zeus had let us we should have put
a stop to his brave talk ere now."
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