" While these
things passed, Telemachus sat and observed all, but held his peace,
remembering the instructions of his father. But secretly he waited for the
sign which Minerva was to send from heaven.
That day there followed Ulysses to the court one of the common sort of
beggars, Irus by name, one that had received alms beforetime of the
suitors, and was their ordinary sport, when they were inclined (as that
day) to give way to mirth, to see him eat and drink; for he had the
appetite of six men, and was of huge stature and proportions of body; yet
had in him no spirit nor courage of a man. This man, thinking to curry
favour with the suitors, and recommend himself especially to such a great
lord as Antinous was, began to revile and scorn Ulysses, putting foul
language upon him, and fairly challenging him to fight with the fist. But
Ulysses, deeming his railings to be nothing more than jealousy and that
envious disposition which beggars commonly manifest to brothers in their
trade, mildly besought him not to trouble him, but to enjoy that portion
which the liberality of their entertainers gave him, as he did quietly;
seeing that, of their bounty, there was sufficient for all.
But Irus, thinking that this forbearance in Ulysses was nothing more than
a sign of fear, so much the more highly stormed, and bellowed, and
provoked him to fight; and by this time the quarrel had attracted the
notice of the suitors, who with loud laughters and shouting egged on the
dispute, and lord Antinous swore by all the gods it should be a battle,
and that in that hall the strife should be determined.
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