BOOK XIII.
Menelaus in the Iliad is one of my favorite characters so far, and I think he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Like, he's saddened by the war, he has these momentary breakdowns where he questions his actions. And suddenly, he is fighting like this offended, but above all, HURT warrior.
And Menelaus set his foot upon his chest, stripped him of his armour, and in triumph spake:
— “Thus shall ye leave the ships of the horse-taming Danaans, O forsworn men, never filled with grievous war. No outrage, no foul shame did ye spare me, ye evil hounds, that fear not the wrath of Zeus the Thunderer, Zeus the guardian of guests, who in time shall utterly cast down your high-built citadel. For without cause, when ye were welcomed as friends, ye stole from me my wedded wife, and bore away with her all my countless wealth. O father Zeus! Ever do we hear that thou surpassest all men in wisdom, yet from thee come these woes. Wherefore, then, dost thou favour these Trojans forsworn, impious of heart, who are never sated with ruinous war?”
