An Ancient Poem by Sappho (trans. Mary Barnard, 2012)

[To an army wife, in Sardis:]

To an army wife, in Sardis:

Some say a cavalry corps,

some infantry, some, again,

will maintain that the swift oars

of our fleet are the finest

sight on dark earth; but I say

that whatever one loves, is.

This is easily proved: did

not Helen—she who had scanned

the flower of the world’s manhood—

choose as first among men one

who laid Troy’s honor in ruin?

warped to his will, forgetting

love due her own blood, her own

child, she wandered far with him.

So Anactoria, although you

being far away forget us,

the dear sound of your footstep

and light glancing in your eyes

would move me more than glitter

of Lydian horse or armored

tread of mainland infantry

 
 
Source: Sappho, Translated by Mary Barnard (University of California Press, 2012)