_A Suitor._

Nay, nor I, Let him command his own.

Eur. Princes and lords! Have ye not chosen me to rule your feasts? I claim no more precedence; I would urge Nought but your honour, which ye go to shame By such disordered brawling.

Ctes. O, we know thee. ’Tis nought Penelope should deem we lie Under thy thumb!

A suitor. Ay, or what matters else How these old beams may shake?

Ctes. What hast thou done?

Amph. My lords, ye do forget yourselves.

Ctes. O, nay. Why went not Lord Eurymachus himself To seize Telemachus? Doth he not bide For the main chance? Will he not watch the play, The while Antinous is furthered forth? And—O, we know—when Lord Antinous Returns, and saith The thing ye wish is done; Telemachus is dead, and he who now Winneth the widow winneth house and lands And kingship; then the rich Eurymachus Will raise his hands and weep, The very thing I would have stayed. Alas! the neediness And avarice of some!

Amph. Why, good Ctesippus, Seek not a quarrel.

Ctes. Nay, but is’t not so?

Amph. ’Twill never be. The just and equal gods Have yet respect unto Ulysses’ house. And were’t their will Telemachus should die, He that went forth to slay him is the man Whose heart they turned to do it. For me, I say, I willed it not, and think ’twill never be.

Ctes. Thou’rt but a craven!

Eur. Get ye to your seats: Pass we the bowl in peace, and while we drink 910 Let Phemius soothe our rivalries with song. But one can win the prize, and whose ’twill be Lies in the lap of Zeus. Fair play and peace!

Amph. And shame not this good house. Lack we a lord, This courtesy is due unto ourselves.

Ctes. When brave Antinous returns, I say, We shall grow warm again.

Eur. Peace for the bard!