The Second Ode of Anacreon

NATURE the Bull with horns supplies, The horse with hoofs she fortifies, The fleeting foot on hares bestows, On lions teeth, two dreadful rows! Grants fish to swim, and birds to fly, And on their skill bids men rely.

Women alone defenceless live, To women what does nature give? Beauty she gives instead of darts, Beauty, instead of shields, imparts; Nor can the sword, nor fire, oppose The fair, victorious where she goes.