The trial of the bow

Penelope brings out the great bow of Odysseus, the one Iphitus gave him as a young man, the one no one has touched in twenty years. She announces the contest she invented the night before: whoever can string it and shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axe-heads in a row will be her husband, and she will leave Ithaca with him. The suitors look at the bow with new respect. They have not, until now, considered that Odysseus might have been a serious man.

Telemachus tries first, half-jokingly, half-seriously — as the son of the absent king he has the right. He nearly strings it on his fourth attempt, then catches his father's eye and stops on purpose. The suitors try, one by one. None of them can string it. They warm the bow over the fire to soften the wood; they grease it; nothing helps. Antinous suggests they postpone the contest until tomorrow, after a feast and a sacrifice to Apollo. The beggar, sitting by the door, asks for a turn. The suitors are outraged at the impertinence.

Penelope intercedes — let him try; he will not win her, but the contest is the contest. She is sent upstairs by Telemachus and falls into a deep sleep. Odysseus turns the bow over in his hands like a singer turning over a lyre. He strings it without effort. He plucks the string once — it sings like a swallow's voice. He fits an arrow, draws, and shoots through the twelve axe-heads from his seat. Outside, Zeus thunders. Telemachus draws his sword and stands beside his father. The chapter ends with Odysseus saying, calmly, “Now for another mark…”