In Sparta by C. P. Cavafy

He didn’t know, King Kleomenis, he didn’t dare—

he just didn’t know how to tell his mother

a thing like that: Ptolemy’s demand,

to guarantee their treaty, that she too go to Egypt

and be held there as a hostage—

a very humiliating, indecorous thing.

And he would be about to speak yet always hesitate,

would start to tell her yet always stop.

But the magnificent woman understood him

(she’d already heard some rumors about it)

and she encouraged him to get it out.

And she laughed, saying of course she’d go,

happy even that in her old age

she could be useful to Sparta still.

As for the humiliation—that didn’t touch her at all.

Of course an upstart like the Lagid

couldn’t possibly comprehend the Spartan spirit;

so his demand couldn’t in fact humiliate

a Royal Lady like herself:

mother of a Spartan king.

Rating:

In Sparta