O, beauty never knew such tragedy
As when with such a selfish goddess bribed,
Switch’d humanity for petty pageantry,
When owning such the men presumptuous claimed.
O, never say that any ever bore
A face or form that “launched a thousand ships”;
Among such men who eagerly wage war,
The blame falls not on woman’s coral lips.
Yet as the thief indicts his neighbour pure,
And as the rich blame poor men for their state,
False blame did Queen Laconia endure,
Resigned eternal to her grievous fate.
This told, I sorrow, yet my purpose quench’d;
The burden from her name these words had wrench’d.