by Sappho （Translated by Jim Powell）

    Some say thronging cavalry， some say foot soldiers，

    others call a fleet the most beautiful of

    sights the dark earth offers， but I say it's what-

    ever you love best.

    And it's easy to make this understood by

    everyone， for she who surpassed all human

    kind in beauty， Helen， abandoning her

    husband——that best of

    men——went sailing off to the shores of Troy and

    never spent a thought on her child or loving

    parents： when the goddess seduced her wits and

    left her to wander，

    she forgot them all， she could not remember

    anything but longing， and lightly straying

    aside， lost her way. But that reminds me

    now： Anactória，

    she's not here， and I'd rather see her lovely

    step， her sparkling glance and her face than gaze on

    all the troops in Lydia in their chariots and

    glittering armor.