E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Ulysses’ Bow.
Only Ulysses could draw his own bow, and he could shoot an arrow through twelve rings. By this sign Penel’op recognised her husband after an absence of twenty years.
1
Ulysses’ bow was prophetic. It belonged at one time to Eu’rytus of Œehal’ia.
2
“This bow of mine sang to me of present war … ‘I have heard but once of such a weapon … the bow of Odysseus,’ said the queen.”—H. Rider Haggard: The World’s Desire, bk. ii. chap. i.
recognised her husband after an absence of twenty years.
