284 ODYSSBY • BOOK XVIII [297

two squires brought a pair of ear-rings, each a thing oflamben
beauty with its cluster of three drops; while from the house o
Prince Peisander, Polyctor's son, there came a servant with
necklace which was a lovely piece of jewellery too. Thus each o
the young lords contributed his own valuable gift, andpresend'1
the lady Penelope withdrew to her upper apartment escorted b'
her waiting-women, who carried the magnificent presents.

From then till dusk the Suitors gave themselves up to th
pleasures of dancing and delights of song. When night fell, i
found them making merry still. So they set up three braziers i]
the hall to give them light, heaped them with faggots of dr
wood thoroughly seasoned and newly split, and thrust som
burning brands into each pile. The palace maids took it in turn
to tend the lights, until King Odysseus himself intervened.

'Away, you masterless maids,' he said, *to the apartment
where you'll find your mistress. Give her the pleasure ofseeinj
you sitting at home, turning the spindle at her side or cardinj
wool with your hands. Meanwhile, I shall provide light for th
company, and even if they wish to carry on till the peep ofda^
they won't exhaust me. I am far too tough for that/

The girls laughed and exchanged glances. But the rosy
cheeked Melantho flared up at him. She was a daughter o
Dolius, whom Penelope had reared and looked after as tender!'
as her own child,'giving her all the playthings she could desire
But her care was not requited: the girl had no sympathy fb
Penelope's woes; she loved Eurymachus and had become hi
mistress. Rounding on Odysseus now, she gave him the roug]
side other tongue:(You must be soft in the head, you disreput
able old vagabond! Why not go for your night's lodging to th
smithy or some other hostel, instead of coming here and airinj
your views so boldly and disrespectfully before all these gentle
men? The wine has fuddled your wits, or perhaps you talk sud
nonsense only because they are always like that. Has the drub
bing you gave the beggar Irus gone to your head? Look out,
say^ or a better man. than Irus will stand up to hammer it wit
his great fists and send you packing with a bloody nose/