Today's Reading: Fragment IV - Sappho

Some say an army of horsemen, others

say foot-soldiers, still others, a fleet,

is the fairest thing on the dark earth:

I say it is whatever one loves.

Everyone can understand this --

consider that Helen, far surpassing

the beauty of mortals, leaving behind

the best man of all,

sailed away to Troy. She had no

memory of her child or dear parents,

since she was led astray

[by Kypris] . . .

*

. . . lightly

. . . reminding me now of Anaktoria

being 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 shining bronze.