12 Odysseus Shows His Strength

CHAPTER 12 Odysseus Shows His Strength Odysseus was dressed as a beggar, in disguise in his own house. However, in Ithaca there was another beggar who was very well known. He begged all over the city. On this day, he happened to wander into the courtyard where the suitors were feasting. The beggar saw Odysseus and tried to chase him away. "There is only room for one beggar in this city!" he cried. Of course, the suitors thought this was extremely funny. They gathered around the

two beggars. They yelled, "Fight! Fight!" The winner of the beggar's match would be invited to join their feast. Odysseus agreed to fight as long as Telemachus was referee. He said this would make sure the fight was fair. Odysseus pulled off his shirt of rags to prepare for the match. Everyone was amazed and confused. His chest was strong and mighty. His shoulders and arms were muscular. He did not look like a beggar. When the beggar saw him, he became nervous. He tried to back out of the fight. The suitors forced him back into the center of the courtyard. They chanted "Fight! Fight!" until the two beggars began throwing punches. Odysseus easily won. To be kind, he had given the beggar only a gentle hit. Even so, the beggar was too scared to do anything but

lie on the ground. The fight was soon over. Odysseus put his shirt of rags back on. The suitors congratulated him. They kept their promise. Odysseus sat down with them. They offered him food and drink. While the men ate downstairs, Penelope was upstairs. She nervously paced back and forth. Her servants had told her about the "Battle of the Beggars." It made her angry that this was happening in her home. She wanted to go downstairs and take control back. She also wanted to warn Telemachus that the suitors meant to harm him. Penelope decided to go downstairs to the suitors' When she entered the courtyard, all the suitors looked up. They gasped. Athena had cast a spell to make Penelope look even more beautiful. The goddess wanted Odysseus and Telemachus to see how Penelope was prized by others.

Penelope stood at the edge of the courtyard. The suitors fell even more deeply in love. They were enchanted by her. Penelope's husband and son definitely noticed their behavior. One of the suitors approached her. "Queen Penelope. If all the men on the island could see you now, you would have even more suitors in your house. You are even lovelier than you were before." To this, Penelope replied, "Heaven robbed me of my loveliness when my husband was taken from me." The suitor shrank back a little. Athena's spell, it seemed, had also made Penelope brave. "Telemachus," she said, spotting her son. "How could you let this beggar be so poorly treated in our house?" Telemachus nodded. "You are right, Mother," he said. "But I am not a little boy

anymore. I am a man. And men do not behave perfectly all the time." Next, Penelope turned to the group of suitors. "And you," she said, "with all your adoration for me. What have you ever done for me? All you ever do is take things from my home. You all should be more respectful and generous. Why haven't you brought me any gifts?" Instead of being jealous, Odysseus was actually quite proud of his wife. Good for her! he thought. Let her get back some of the value these thieves have taken from our home! One of the suitors stepped forth and said, "Queen Penelope, take as much as you please from us. We will bring you gifts today. But we will not leave here until you have married one of us. Decide who it shall be." Penelope nodded, and the gifts started to

come. Each suitor sent his servant to fetch something for her. Some brought her beautiful dresses. Others brought her valuable gold. Soon she had a pile of pretty things in front of her. She gathered them and went back to her room.