Such a violation of the rights of hospitality causes some commotion in the palace, and so rouses the indignation of Penelope that she expresses a wish to converse with the beggar, who may have heard of her absent spouse.
_Book XVIII._ Meantime Ulysses has also come into conflict with the town-beggar (Irus), a lusty youth, who challenges him to fight.

To his dismay, Ulysses displays such a set of muscles on laying aside his robe that the insolent challenger wishes to withdraw.

He is, however, compelled by the suitors to fight, and is thoroughly beaten by Ulysses, whose strength arouses the suitors' admiration.

Then, in reply to their questions, Ulysses favors them with another of those tales which do far more honor to his imagination than to his veracity.
Meantime Penelope indulges in a nap, during which Minerva restores all her youthful charms.

Then she descends into the hall, to chide Telemachus for allowing a stranger to be insulted beneath his father's roof.