RUFINUS

(ca. 2nd century BCE?)

Her foot sparkled like silver

splashing bath water

on her golden apple breasts,

grown heavy with their milk.

Her curving hip,

smooth as water, shifted,

making waves, her hand

covering her mons veneris,

hiding but a part of it.

§

 

How could I have known

Kythereia was in her bath,

her lovely hands letting

her hair laugh about her throat.

May she, my queen, have mercy—

my eyes saw what was not meant for me.

Her unspeakable beauty, her graces

have shamed even the Goddess.

§