"No, no, stranger," wise Penelope demurred,
"whatever form and feature I had, what praise I’d won,
the deathless gods destroyed that day the Achaeans
sailed away to Troy, my husband in their ships,
Odysseus – if he could return to tend my life
the renown I had would only grow in glory.
Now my life is torment."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 19, lines 137-143. Penelope responds to Odysseus-the-beggar’s praise in which he compares her to a flawless king. She says that whatever renown she had was destroyed the day her husband sailed for Troy. But if he could return, that fame would grow in glory. Penelope remains loyal to Odysseus and struggles without him, saying that her life is torment.