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 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.