Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HELEN AND THETIS by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE

First Line: NOT THEE, O WORLD'S DESIRE
Last Line: BECAUSE OF HELEN, DIED.
NOT thee, O world's desire
Did Peleus bear away
As bride from her sea-sire;
When on his wedding-day
He bade the immortals come
And feast in Cheiron's home.
No; but a maiden chaste
Was she whom he embraced,
A princess of the sea;
And when a year had passed
She bare a son, and he
Of demigods was best,
Driving his chestnut yoke,
A charioteer of pride;
But Troy, and all her folk,
Because of Helen, died.



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