Sappho: Fragment 16

Sweetbitter | Mary Magdalene

Some men say and army of horses and some men say an army on foot

and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing

on the black earth. But I say it is

what you love.

Easy to make this understood by all.

For she who overcame everyone

in beauty (Helen)

left her fine husband

behind and went sailing to Troy.

Not for her children nor her dear parents

had she a thought, no-

]led her astray

]for

]lightly

]reminded me now of Anaktoria

who is gone.

I would rather see her lovely step

and the motion of light on her face

than chariots of Lydians or ranks

of footsoldiers in arms

] not possible to happen

] to pay for a share

]

]

]

]

]

toward[

]

]

]

out of the unexpected.

Translation by Carson

Sappho, , and Anne Carson. If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho. , 2002.

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