Thou hast Hera’s eyes, Melite, and Athene’s hands, the breasts of Aphrodite [the Paphian], and the feet [ankles] of Thetis. Blessed is he who looks on thee, thrice blessed he who hears thee talk, a demigod who kisses thee, and a god he who takes thee to wife.
Ὄμματ᾽ ἔχεις Ἥρης, Μελίτη, τὰς χεῖρας Ἀθήνης,
τοὺς μαζοὺς Παφίης, τὰ σφυρὰ τῆς Θέτιδος.
εὐδαίμων ὁ βλέπων σε: τρισόλβιος ὅστις ἀκούει:
ἡμίθεος δ᾽ ὁ φιλῶν ἀθάνατος δ᾽ ὁ γαμῶν.
τοὺς μαζοὺς Παφίης, τὰ σφυρὰ τῆς Θέτιδος.
εὐδαίμων ὁ βλέπων σε: τρισόλβιος ὅστις ἀκούει:
ἡμίθεος δ᾽ ὁ φιλῶν ἀθάνατος δ᾽ ὁ γαμῶν.
Original text (Ancient Greek)
Share this quote
Source, in full
Thou hast Hera’s eyes, thou hast Pallas’ hands, / And the feet of the Queen of the yellow sands, / Thou hast beautiful Aphrodite’s breast, / Thou art made of each goddess’s loveliest! / Happy is he who sees thy face, / Happy who hears thy words of grace, / And he that shall kiss thee is half divine, / But a god who shall win that heart of thine!
Notes from Wikiquote
W. R. Paton, Greek Anthology, i, pp. 172-3 | Andrew Lang, Grass of Parnassus (1888), p. 118 | Anth. Pal. v. 255.