August 21, 2014

Day 20, Book 20

More laughter from the suitors:

. . . Athena set off uncontrollable laughter in the suitors,
crazed them out of their minds—mad, hysterical laughter
seemed to break from the jaws of strangers, not their own,
and the meat they were eating oozed red with blood—
tears flooded their eyes, hearts possessed by grief. (385–89)

At that
they all broke into peals of laughter aimed at the seer—
Plybius' son Eurmachus braying first and foremost, (398–400)

So they jeered . . . (428)


Are they meant to look insipid? rude? verging on madness?