Collected Works

It is safer to have lain on a couch: to have held a girl:
To have plucked the Thracian lyre with one's fingers:
Than to have held shields in one’s hands: and a sharp-pointed spear:
And a helmet with hair pressed underneath.
But to you, instead of safety, glorious deeds were pleasing:
And glory won by fighting was sweet.
Or were you only approving of fierce wars while you were winning me?
And with my homeland conquered, your praise lies low.
May the gods grant better things: and I pray, may the spear of Pelias the spear of Achilles, fashioned from an ash tree on Mount Pelion, vibrated by a strong arm,
Pierce the side of Hector.
Send me away, Greeks: I will act as an envoy to my master:
And I will carry many kisses mingled with my commands.
I will accomplish more than Phoenix: more than the eloquent Ulysses:
More than the brother of Teucer Ajax the Great, believe me.
It is something to have touched a neck with accustomed arms:
And to have admonished one’s eyes with one’s own breast.
Even if you are harsh: and more ferocious than your mother Thetis, a sea goddess and the waves:
So that I may remain silent: you will be softened by my tears.
Now also, may Peleus the father fill all these years:
May Pyrrhus Neoptolemus, son of Achilles go to arms under your auspices:
Look back at the anxious Briseis, brave Achilles.
And do not burn miserable me with slow delay.
But if your love has turned into weariness of me:
Compel me to die, as you compel me to live without you.
And as you are doing, you will compel me: my body and color have gone.
Yet one hope of spirit sustains this for you.
If I am deprived of it: I will seek my brothers and my husband.
And it is not magnificent for you that a woman should be ordered to die.
But why would you order it? Seek my body with a drawn sword.
I have blood that can flow from a pierced breast.
Let that weapon of yours seek me: which, if a goddess had allowed,
Was about to enter the heart of the son of Atreus Agamemnon.
But rather save our life, a gift of yours:
What you had given as a victor, I ask for as a friend.
The Neptunian built by Neptune/Poseidon Pergama Troy offers those you can better destroy.
Seek the material for slaughter from the enemy.
Just let me: whether you are preparing to drive the fleet with rowers:
Or whether you remain: order me to come in the manner of a mistress.

If you do not grant it, she who is herself about to perish from lack of health,
The girl from Crete Ariadne's sister sends this to the Amazonian man Hippolytus, son of the Amazon Hippolyta.
Read through whatever this is: what harm will a read letter do?
There may be something in this for you as well: that might please you.