Page 343 - the-iliad

Euphorbus would not listen, and said, ‘Now indeed,
Menelaus, shall you pay for the death of my brother over
whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her
bridal chamber, while you brought grief unspeakable on
his parents. I shall comfort these poor people if I bring your
head and armour and place them in the hands of Panthous
and noble Phrontis. The time is come when this matter shall
be fought out and settled, for me or against me.’
As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield, but
the spear did not go through, for the shield turned its point.
Menelaus then took aim, praying to father Jove as he did
so; Euphorbus was drawing back, and Menelaus struck him
about the roots of his throat, leaning his whole weight on the
spear, so as to drive it home. The point went clean through
his neck, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell
heavily to the ground. His hair which was like that of the
Graces, and his locks so deftly bound in bands of silver and
gold, were all bedrabbled with blood. As one who has grown
a fine young olive tree in a clear space where there is abun-
dance of water—the plant is full of promise, and though the
winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts forth its white
blossoms till the blasts of some fierce hurricane sweep down
upon it and level it with the ground—even so did Menelaus
strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after he had
slain him. Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the
pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as
it is feeding—first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws,
and then gorges on her blood and entrails; dogs and shep-
herds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand aloof

The Iliad