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Laertes was delighted when he
heard this. "Good heavens, he exclaimed, "what a day I am enjoying: I
do indeed rejoice at it. My son and grandson are vying with one
another in the matter of valor
[aretê]."
On this Athena came close up to
him and said, "Son of Arceisius - best friend I have in the world -
pray to the gray-eyed damsel, and to Zeus her father; then poise your
spear and hurl it."
As she spoke she infused fresh
vigor into him, and when he had prayed to her he poised his spear and
hurled it. He hit Eupeithes’ helmet, and the spear went right
through it, for the helmet stayed it not, and his armor rang rattling
round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Meantime Odysseus and his
son fell the front line of the foe and smote them with their swords
and spears; indeed, they would have killed every one of them, and
prevented them from ever getting home again, only Athena raised her
voice aloud, and made every one pause. "Men of Ithaca," she cried,
"cease this dreadful war, and settle the matter at once without
further bloodshed."
On this pale fear seized every
one; they were so frightened that their arms dropped from their hands
and fell upon the ground at the sound of the goddess’ voice, and
they fled back to the city for their lives. But Odysseus gave a great
cry, and gathering himself together swooped down like a soaring
eagle. Then the son of Kronos sent a thunderbolt of fire that fell
just in front of Athena, so she said to Odysseus, "Odysseus, noble
son of Laertes, stop this warful strife, or Zeus will be angry with
you."
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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