Thursday, March 3, 2011

There have been many strange happenings in the palace, all centered around that old beggar. Not to long after Antinous threw the chair at him, the other vagabond of the town, Irus, came through the door. He challenged the old man, trying to force him out the door. When the beggar would not comply, and stood his ground. Irus then challenged the man to a fight. We didn't believe that the old man stood a chance against the tramp. We were taken aback when the old man took off his rags to reveal a strong chest and arms. He easily knocked Irus out, and as a reward we gave him a blood-sausage. Wherever the old man came, strange events seemed to unfold. Most recently, there was the example of Penelope's archery contest. To choose the man she would wed, Penelope decided to have a contest. The man who could use Odysseus'  bow to shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axes would be the man Penelope would marry. This seemed like an easy enough task at first, and I was confident that I could gain Penelope's favor. However, it soon became apparent that none of the suitors could even string the bow, let alone shoot an arrow so accurately. The old beggar then asked for a turn at the bow. We suitors were quite upset. How could this old man even suggest that he would have a chance of winning the contest and Penelope? Penelope then stipulated that if the man won she would give him new clothes and weapons, not marry him. This quelled my fears, and we let the man try. Lo and behold, the man easily shot the arrow through each and every ax. I do not know if this beggar is man or god, but he is quite peculiar.

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