Beauty

by: Anacreon (c.572-488 BC)

Horns to bulls wise Nature lends;
Horses she with hoofs defends;
Hares with nimble feet relieves;
Dreadful teeth to lions gives;
Fishes learn through streams to slide;
Birds through yielding air to glide;
Men with courage she supplies;
But to women these denies.
What then gives she?
Beauty, this Both their arms and armor is:
She, that can this weapon use, Fire and sword with ease subdues.

TRANSLATED BY THOMAS STANLEY, 1651