The Bow is Strung — Penelope's contest and Odysseus takes the bow

Book 21 of The Odyssey by Homer

Athena now put it into Penelope's mind to fetch the bow and the grey iron axes, and to set them for the suitors as a contest and as the beginning of their doom. She went up the high staircase to the treasure chamber where the bow of Odysseus lay, a great weapon that Iphitus son of Eurytus had given him long ago, before Heracles murdered Iphitus in his own house. Penelope took the key in her strong hand, a fine key of bronze with an ivory handle, and went with her women to the innermost room. There on a peg hung the bow in its shining case, and she took it down and sat with it on her knees and wept aloud as she drew it from its covering. When she had wept her fill, she carried it down to the suitors in the great hall.

Penelope stood by the doorpost of the hall, holding her shining veil before her face, and spoke to the suitors. She said that they had used this house as a place to eat and drink in while her husband was long away, and that their only excuse was their desire to marry her. Now she would set them a contest. Here was the bow of great Odysseus; whoever could string it most easily and shoot an arrow through every one of the twelve axe-heads, with him she would go, leaving this house of her wedded life, so beautiful and so full of abundance, which she would remember even in her dreams.

Eumaeus brought the bow forward, weeping as he laid it down, and the cowherd Philoetius wept too when he saw his master's weapon. Telemachus spoke up boldly, saying he would try the bow himself — and if he strung it, his mother need not leave the house with any stranger. He set up the axes in a long trench, stamping the earth firm around them, and all who watched marveled at how neatly he did it, though he had never seen the trick before. Then he took his stand upon the threshold and tried the bow. Three times the wood quivered and his strength almost answered, and on the fourth attempt he would have strung it, but Odysseus shook his head slightly. Telemachus understood and set the bow aside, saying his strength was not yet enough.