Helen quotes

I wish I were where Helen lies, Night and day on me she cries; O that I were where Helen lies, On fair Kirkconnell lea!

-Ballads
'Helen of Kirkconnell', opening lines.

Helen, did Homer never see Thy beauties, yet could write of thee?

- Ben Jonson
The Underwood,'An Ode' (published1640).

Past ruined Ilion Helen lives, Alcestis rises from the shades; Verse calls them forth; 'tis verse that gives Immortal youth to mortal maids.

-Walter Savage Landor
  'To Ianthe'.

Helen, whose beauty summoned Greece to arms, And drewa thousand ships toTenedos.

- Christopher Marlowe
  Tamburlaine the Great (published1590), pt.2, l.3055^6.

   Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? 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 lips, And all is dross that is not Helena.

- Christopher Marlowe
c.1592  Doctor Faustus (published1604), act 5, sc.1.

Beauty is but a flower Which wrinkles will devour; Brightness falls from the air; Queens have died young and fair; Dust hath close'  d Helen's eye. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us!

-Thomas Nashe
  'A Litany in Time of Plague'.

Whose love isgiven over-well Shall look on Helen's face in hell Whilst they whose love is thin and wise Shall see John Knox in Paradise.

- Dorothy ne  e Rothschild Parker
  Not So Deep as AWell,'Partial Comfort'.