by Brett Rutherford
After Theognis, Elegies, 15-18
O what a fête,
the union of Cadmus
and Harmonia! Down
from Mount Helicon flock
the Graces and Muses.
From high Olympus gods
invisible descend.
One line they sing
in common refrain:
Otti kalon philon esti,
to d’ou kalon ou
philon esti.
The beautiful we love,
but from the plain
we turn our eyes away.
Cruel gods! Each guest
less fair in form
than the perfect groom
and his statuesque
bride, must wince
and go home downcast.
Bless’d by the gods
are the beautiful.
The others, plain,
or lame, or broken,
gap-toothed and riven
with skin less pure
than alabaster white,
must fend for themselves.
Fair ones, beware
the crows of envy!
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