Fragment 16

Some say an army on horseback,
some say on foot, and some say ships
are the most beautiful things
     on this black earth,
                                        but I say
it is whatever you love.

It’s  easy to show this. Just look
at Helen, beautiful herself
beyond everything human,
                  and she left
her perfect husband and went
                  sailing off to Troy,

without a thought for her child
or her dear parents, led astray

lightly

reminding me of Anactoria,
                                    who is gone
and whose lovely walk
                  and bright
                        shimmering face
I would rather see
                  than all the chariots
and armed men in Lydia

                  but it cannot be

humans
                        pray to share

                        unexpectedly

- Sappho