To any 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 Sappho tr. Barnard