Postpone

But come, let the cupbearer pour wine in the cups for a drink-offering, and let us put aside the bent bow. In the morning tell Melanthios, the goatherd, to bring in she-goats, those who are the best in the herd, so that we may lay thight pieces on the altar to Apollo, famous for his bow. Then we may try our hands at the bow and put an end to this contest.

Antinoös doesn't want to try to string the bow, he is postponing the contest to tomorrow. It is time to join the people at Pyrgi, for the feast of Apollo.

Odyssey Book 21 line 232-236 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 21 line 333-335 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 21 line 342-343 Barry B Powell
Odyssey Book 21 line 369-372 Barry B Powell

Shooting through the iron

You see, they want to go to the altar of Apollo, to the feast in the woods of Apollo. But Odysseus asks them to let him try to string the bow. All suitors were agaist, however both Penelope and Telemachos interfered and allowed it.

... Eumaios carried the bow through the hall and, coming up to war-minded Odysseus, he placed the bow in his hand. Then Eumaios called out for the nurse Eurykleia.

Eurykleia knows what this means. She closed the doors between the feast-hall and theirs. This is the moment, Odysseus can not allow the suitors to leave.

Everything is ready now, for Odysseus to string his own bow.

Philoitios leaped up and went outside in silence. He barred the gates of the court with its thick walls.

Taking the arrow, he laid it on the thick part of the bow, still sitting on his stool, and he fired the arrow, aiming carefully. He did not miss a single hole.