Parerga/Description of Helen
< Parerga
DESCRIPTION OF HELEN
WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO TROY.
FROM THE AGAMEMNON. (1737.)
Παῤ αὐτὰ δ᾽ ἐλθεῖν ἐς Ἰλίου πόλιν
Λέγοιμ' ἃν φρόνημα μὲν νηνέμου γαλᾱνας,
Ἀκασκαῖον δ᾽ ἄγαλμα πλούτου,
Μαλθακὸν ὀμμάτων βέλος,
Δηξίθυμον Ἔρωτος ἄνθος.
Λέγοιμ' ἃν φρόνημα μὲν νηνέμου γαλᾱνας,
Ἀκασκαῖον δ᾽ ἄγαλμα πλούτου,
Μαλθακὸν ὀμμάτων βέλος,
Δηξίθυμον Ἔρωτος ἄνθος.
When first she came to Ilion's shore,
You might have sung of one who bore
A spirit gentle as the sea
In its summer-noon tranquillity—
Of one to whom by wealth was lent
Each blameless grace and ornament.
Then of the glance your lay might speak
The soft sweet glances of her eye,
The bloom of love upon her cheek,
That woke the incautious gazer's sigh.
You might have sung of one who bore
A spirit gentle as the sea
In its summer-noon tranquillity—
Of one to whom by wealth was lent
Each blameless grace and ornament.
Then of the glance your lay might speak
The soft sweet glances of her eye,
The bloom of love upon her cheek,
That woke the incautious gazer's sigh.