151) Homer Odyssey 24.367

   [365] Meanwhile the Sicilian handmaid bathed great-hearted Laertes in his house, and anointed him with oil, and about him cast a fair cloak. 
   But Athena drew near, and made greater the limbs of the shepherd of the people, and made him taller than before and mightier to behold. 
   [370] Then he came forth from the bath, and his dear son marveled at him, seeing him in presence like unto the immortal Gods. 
   And he spoke, and addressed him with winged words: 
   -Father, surely some one of the Gods that are forever has made you better to behold in comeliness and in stature. 

   [375] Then wise Laertes answered him: 
   -I would, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, that in such strength as when I took Nericus, the well built citadel on the shore of the mainland, when I was lord of the Cephallenians, even in such strength I had stood by your side yesterday in our house [380] with my armor about my shoulders, and had beaten back the suitors. 
   So should I have loosened the knees of many of them in the living rooms, and your heart would have been made glad within you. 

   But Athena spoke to Zeus, son of Cronus, saying: 
   -Father of us all, you son of Cronus, high above all lords, tell to me that ask you what purpose your mind now hides within you. 
   [475] Will you yet further bring to pass evil war and the dread din of battle, or will you establish friendship between the two? 

   Then Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, answered her, and said: 
   -My child, why do you ask and question me of this?
   Did you not yourself devise this plan, [480] that really Ulysses should take vengeance on these men at his coming? 
   Do as you will, but I will tell you what is fitting. 
   Now that goodly Ulysses has taken vengeance on the suitors, let them swear a solemn oath, and let him be king all his days, and let us on our part [485] bring about a forgetting of the slaying of their sons and brothers; and let them love one another as before, and let wealth and peace abound. 
   So saying, he roused Athena, who was already eager, and she went darting down from the heights of Olympus. 

   [500] But when they had clothed their bodies in gleaming bronze, they opened the doors and went forth, and Ulysses led them. 
   Then Athena, daughter of Zeus, drew near them in the likeness of Mentor both in form and in voice, and the much-enduring, goodly Ulysses was glad at sight of her, [505] and straightway spoke to Telemachus, his dear son: 
   -Telemachus, now shall you learn this -- having yourself come to the place of battle, where the best warriors are put to the trial -- to bring no disgrace upon the house of your fathers, for we have ever excelled in strength and in valor over all the earth. 
   [510] And wise Telemachus answered him: 
   -You shall see me, if you will, dear father, in my present temper, bringing no disgrace upon your house, even as you say. 

   So said he, and Laertes was glad, and spoke, saying: 
   -What a day is this for me, kind Gods! 
   [515] Truly right glad am I: my son and my son's son are competing with one another in valor.
   Then bright-eyed Athena came near him and said: 
   -Son of Arceisius, far the dearest of all my friends, make a prayer to the bright-eyed maiden and to father Zeus, and then straightway raise aloft your long spear, and hurl it. 

   [520] So spoke Pallas Athena, and breathed into him great might. 
   Then he prayed to the daughter of great Zeus, and straightway raised aloft his long spear, and hurled it, and smote Eupeithes through the helmet with cheek-piece of bronze. 
   This stayed not the spear, but the bronze passed through, [525] and he fell with a thud, and his armor clanged about him. 

   Then on the foremost fighters fell Ulysses and his glorious son, and thrust at them with swords and double-pointed spears. 
   And now would they have slain them all, and cut them off from returning, had not Athena, daughter of Zeus, who bears the aegis, [530] shouted aloud, and checked all the host, saying: 
   -Refrain, men of Ithaca, from grievous war, that with all speed you may part, and that without bloodshed. 

   So spoke Athena, and pale fear seized them. 
   Then in their terror the arms flew from their hands [535] and fell one and all to the ground, as the Goddess uttered her voice, and they turned toward the city, eager to save their lives. 

   Terribly then shouted the much-enduring, goodly Ulysses, and gathering himself together he swooped upon them like an eagle of lofty flight, and at that moment the son of Cronus cast a flaming thunderbolt, [540] and down it fell before the bright-eyed daughter of the mighty sire. 
   Then bright-eyed Athena spoke to Ulysses saying: 
   -Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, Ulysses of many devices, stay your hand, and make the strife of equal war to cease, that unfortunately the son of Cronus be wroth with you, constant Zeus, whose voice is borne afar.