The Odyssey 21.31–45

as the beginning of loving friendship; yet they never knew one another at the table, for ere that might be the son of Zeus had slain Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like unto the immortals, who gave Odysseus the bow. This bow goodly Odysseus, when going forth to war, would never take with him on the black ships, but it lay in his halls at home as a memorial of a dear friend, and he carried it in his own land. thereon had he also fitted door-posts, and set on them bright doors—straightway she quickly loosed the thong2 from the handle and thrust in the key, and with sure aim shot back the bolts. And as a bull bellows