Page:The Story of the Iliad.djvu/217

Rh sat on Olympus, kept back from the battle by the will of Zeus. Great was the fight about the dead man and his arms, for Deïphobus snatched away the helmet, but Meriones leapt forward, and struck him through the wrist with a spear. Straightway he dropped the helmet which he had seized, and Polites, his brother, led him out of the battle. And he climbed into his chariot and went back to the city. Then Peisander came against King Menelaüs; but it was an evil fate that brought him. First the son of Atreus cast his spear, but missed his aim. Then Peisander cast his spear against the shield of the King, but he could not pierce it, and the spear-head was broken off. Next the son of Atreus drew his silver-studded sword, and sprang on Peisander; and he drew from beneath his shield a goodly axe of bronze, set on a handle of olive wood. He struck the helmet of the King, beside the plume; but Menelaüs struck him in the face above the nose, and laid him dead upon the ground.

Then Menelaüs set his foot upon his breast, and spake: "Thus shall ye have the ships, ye haughty men of Troy. Ye never want for