Was this the face that launched a thousand shipsAnd burned the topless towers of Illium?Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss:Her lips suck forth my soul, see where it flies.Come Helen, come, give me my soul again.Here will I dwell, for heaven be in these lipsAnd all is dross that is not Helena.I will be Paris and, for love of thee,Instead of Troy shall Wittenberg be sacked;And I will combat with weak MenelausAnd wear thy colours on my plumed crest;Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heelAnd then return to Helen for a kiss.O, thou art fairer than the evening air,Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;Brighter art thou than flaming JupiterWhen he appeared to hapless Semele,More lovely than the monarch of the skyIn wanton Arethusa's azure arms,And none but thou shalt be my paramour.
From Doctor Faustus ("Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?")
written byChristopher Marlowe
© Christopher Marlowe