Some celebrate the beauty
 of knights, or infantry, 
or billowing flotillas
 at battle on the sea.
Warfare has its glory, 
 but I place far above
these military splendors
 the one thing that you love.

For proof of this contention
 examine history: 
we all remember Helen, 
 who left her family, 
her child, and royal husband, 
 to take a stranger's hand: 
her beauty had no equal, 
 but bowed to love's command.

As love then is the power
 that none can disobey, 
so too my thoughts must follow
 my darling far away: 
the sparkle of her laughter
 would give me greater joy
than all the bronze-clad heroes