The Beggar at the Door — The Odyssey

At dawn Telemachus put on his sandals and spear and told Eumaeus to bring the beggar into town. He wanted to see his mother Penelope and let the stranger beg where people could give him food. Then he went to the palace alone.

Penelope hugged Telemachus and wept with joy. He told her about Nestor and Menelaus but said he had no certain news of Odysseus. Theoclymenus said a prophecy that Odysseus was already in Ithaca watching the suitors. Meanwhile Odysseus and Eumaeus walked toward town. The goatherd Melanthius insulted them and kicked the beggar, but Odysseus held his anger and kept walking.

Near the palace they passed Argos, Odysseus's old hunting dog lying neglected on a dung heap. The dog wagged his tail when he saw his master but was too weak to come close. Argos died as soon as he recognized him. Inside the hall Odysseus sat on the threshold and begged from the suitors. Most gave him scraps, but Antinous refused and threw a stool that struck his shoulder. Odysseus prayed that the gods would punish Antinous.

When Penelope heard the beggar had been struck, she cursed the suitors and sent for the stranger. She wanted news of her husband. Odysseus told Eumaeus to ask her to wait until evening, when the crowd would thin out. Telemachus sneezed, and Penelope took it as a good omen that the suitors would soon die. Eumaeus went back to his pigs while the suitors spent the evening singing and dancing in Odysseus's hall.