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