Seba.Health
The Odyssey 18.227–242
But I am not able to plan all things wisely, for these men here thwart my will, keeping by me, one on this side and one on that, with evil purpose, and I have none to help me. Howbeit, I can tell thee, this battle between the stranger and Irus fell not out according to the mind of the wooers, but the stranger proved the better man. I would, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, that even now the wooers were thus subdued in our halls, and were hanging their heads, some in the court and some within the hall, and that each man's limbs were loosened, even as Irus now sits yonder by the gate of the court, hanging his head like a drunken man, and cannot stand erect upon his feet, or go home to whatsoever place he is wont to go, because his limbs are loosened.”
Thus they spoke to one another. But Eurymachus addressed Penelope, and said:
μῆτερ ἐμή, τὸ μὲν οὔ σε νεμεσσῶμαι κεχολῶσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θυμῷ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,
ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρεια· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἀλλά τοι οὐ δύναμαι πεπνυμένα πάντα νοῆσαι·
ἐκ γάρ με πλήσσουσι παρήμενοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
οἵδε κακὰ φρονέοντες, ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀρωγοί.
οὐ μέν τοι ξείνου γε καὶ Ἴρου μῶλος ἐτύχθη
μνηστήρων ἰότητι, βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἦεν.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
οὕτω νῦν μνηστῆρες ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι
νεύοιεν κεφαλὰς δεδμημένοι, οἱ μὲν ἐν αὐλῇ,
οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμοιο, λελῦτο δὲ γυῖα ἑκάστου,
ὡς νῦν Ἶρος κεῖνος ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν
ἧσται νευστάζων κεφαλῇ, μεθύοντι ἐοικώς,
οὐδʼ ὀρθὸς στῆναι δύναται ποσὶν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι
οἴκαδʼ, ὅπη οἱ νόστος, ἐπεὶ φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.