A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Penelope
PENELOPE,
Daughter of Icarus, married Ulysses, King of Ithaca, by whom she had Telemachus. During the absence of Ulysses, who went to to the siege of Troy, and was absent twenty years, several princes, charmed with Penelope's beauty, told her that Ulysses was dead, and urged her to marry one of them. She promised compliance on condition that they would allow her to finish a piece of tapestry she was weaving; but she undid at night what she had woven in the day, and thus eluded their importunity till the return of Ulysses.
Her beauty and conjugal fidelity have won for her the praises of poets, and a warm place in the heart of every pure-minded woman. Her character and example appear most lovely when contrasted with her celebrated contemporary Helen. The character of Telemachus, as drawn by Fenelon, is such as we should imagine would be displayed by the son of Penelope,—her wise influence would be his Mentor.