Sappho - Sappho's Poem 16 lyrics

Author: Sappho Title: Sappho's Poem 16 Source: Sappho. "Excerpts from Sappho: a new translation of the complete works" Trans. Diane Rayor. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Print. Page 33 lines 1-24 Some say an army of horsemen, others Say foot soldiers, still others say a fleet Is the finest thing on the dark earth. I say it is whatever one loves. Everyone can understand this – consider That Helen, far surpa**ing the beauty Of mortals, left behind The best man of all To sail away to Troy. She remembered Neither daughter nor dear parents As [Aphrodite] led her away * [un]bending… mind …lightly…thinks. …reminding me now Of Anaktoria gone. I would rather see her lovely step And the radiant sparkle of her face Than all the war chariots in Lydia And soldiers battling in arms. Impossible… to happen …human, but to pray for a share … and for myself *