Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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
abundance 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 shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand
aloof and will not come close to him, for they are pale with feareven
so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaus. The son
of Atreus would have then carried off the armour of the son of
Panthous with ease, had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the
guise of Mentes chief of the Cicons incited Hector to attack him.
“Hector,” said he, “you are now going after the horses of the noble
son of Aeacus, but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in
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