Page 301 - the-odyssey

shall be dragged out neck and heels. Do you not see that
they are all giving me the wink, and wanting me to turn you
out by force, only I do not like to do so? Get up then, and go
of yourself, or we shall come to blows.’
Ulysses frowned on him and said, ‘My friend, I do you
no manner of harm; people give you a great deal, but I am
not jealous. There is room enough in this doorway for the
pair of us, and you need not grudge me things that are not
yours to give. You seem to be just such another tramp as
myself, but perhaps the gods will give us better luck by and
by. Do not, however, talk too much about fighting or you
will incense me, and old though I am, I shall cover your
mouth and chest with blood. I shall have more peace tomor-
row if I do, for you will not come to the house of Ulysses
any more.’
Irus was very angry and answered, ‘You filthy glutton,
you run on trippingly like an old fish-fag. I have a good
mind to lay both hands about you, and knock your teeth
out of your head like so many boar’s tusks. Get ready, there-
fore, and let these people here stand by and look on. You
will never be able to fight one who is so much younger than
yourself.’
Thus roundly did they rate one another on the smooth
pavement in front of the doorway, {149} and when Antinous
saw what was going on he laughed heartily and said to the
others, ‘This is the finest sport that you ever saw; heaven
never yet sent anything like it into this house. The stranger
and Irus have quarreled and are going to fight, let us set
them on to do so at once.’

00 The Odyssey