to all on whom the shining . . .
everywhere glory . . .
and you in Acheron’s . . .
67.
67A.
and this . . .
destructive god . . .
truly did not love . . .
now because of . . .
the cause neither . . .
nothing much . . .
67B.
not . . .
these . . .
more . . .
around . . .
love . . .
68.
68A.
. . . for me from the
. . . yet became
. . . her like the gods
. . . sinful
. . . Andromeda
. . . blessed one
. . . way
. . . did not restrain insolence
. . . the sons of Tyndareus
. . . kindly
. . . innocent no longer
. . . Megara
68B.
. . . difficult for me
69.
. . . sinful
70.
. . . I will go
. . . of harmony
. . . chorus
. . . sweet-voiced
. . . to all
71.
. . . Mica
. . . I will not allow you
. . . you chose the love of the house of Penthilus
. . . evil betrayer
. . . sweet song
. . . voice like honey
. . . gentle breezes
. . . wet with dew
73.
73A.
. . . Aphrodite
. . . sweet words of love
. . . cast away
. . . having
. . . sits
. . . dew
74.
74A.
. . . goatherd
. . . roses
74B.
. . . longing
74C.
. . . sweat
76.
. . . I want
. . . to hold
78.
. . . not
. . . longing
. . . suddenly
. . . blossom
. . . longing
80.
. . . all
. . . but not the same
81.
. . . reject
. . . as quickly as possible
But you, Dica, weave lovely garlands in your hair,
tying stems of anise with your soft hands.
For the blessed Graces prefer to look on those adorned
with flowers and turn away from those without crowns.
82.
82A.
Mnasidica more finely shaped than tender Gyrinno . . .
82B.
. . . and
. . . nothing
. . . but now
. . . not
. . . more finely shaped
83.
. . . right now
. . . again
. . . for
84.
. . . delicate
. . . Artemis
85.
85B.
. . . like the old man
86.
. . . peaceful
. . . aegis-bearing
. . . Cytherea I pray
. . . holding my heart
. . . hear my prayer if ever
. . . leaving behind
. . . to my
. . . difficult
87.
87A.
. . . rumor
. . . lock of hair
. . . together
. . . human
87B.
. . . worry
87C.
. . . daring
87D.
. . . youth
87E.
. . . queen
87F.
. . . for you
88.
88AB.
. . . loosen
. . . you would be willing
. . . few
. . . to be carried
. . . me . . . more sweetly
. . . you yourself know
. . . someone would say
. . . for I will love
. . . as long as there is in me
. . . will care
. . . I say that I have been a faithful lover
. . . painful
. . . bitter
. . . but know this
. . . whatever you
. . . I will love
. . . for
. . . of arrows
91.
. . . never have I found you more harmful, Irana
92.
robe . . .
saffron . . .
purple robe . . .
cloaks . . .
crowns . . .
beautiful . . .
purple . . .
93.
. . . I have
. . . of virgins
94.
. . . “I honestly wish I were dead.”
Weeping she left me
with many tears and said this:
“Oh, this has turned out so badly for us, Sappho.
Truly, I leave you against my will.”
And I answered her:
“Be happy and go—and remember me.
for you know how much we loved you.
But if not, I want to remind
you . . .
. . . and the good times we had.
For many crowns of violets
and roses and . . .
. . . you put on by my side,
and many woven garlands
made from flowers
around your soft throat,
and with much perfume
costly . . .
fit for a queen, you anointed yourself.
And on a soft bed
delicate . . .
you let loose your desire.
And not any . . . nor any
holy place nor . . .
from which we were absent.
No grove . . . no dance
. . . no sound
95.
Gongyla . . .
surely some sign . . .
especially for children . . .
came in . . .
I said: “O master . . .
not the blessed . . .
I take no pleasure . . .
a kind of longing has seized me to die
and see the dewy banks of Acheron
covered in lotus . . .
96.
. . . Sardis
. . . often turning her thoughts to this
. . . you like a goddess
and in your song she delighted most of all.
Now she stands out among
the women of Lydia,
like the rosy-fingered moon after sunset
surpasses all the stars. Its light
spreads alike over the salty sea
and fields rich in flowers.
The dew is poured forth in beauty,
roses bloom along with tender chevil
and flowering melilot.
She wanders to and fro remembering
gentle Atthis, and her tender
heart is consumed.
to go there . . .
much . . .
says . . .
For us it isn’t easy to rival the goddesses
in lovely form . . .
. . . love
. . . Aphrodite
. . . poured nectar
from golden cups . . .
. . . with hands Persuasion
. . . to the Geraesteum
. . . beloved
97.
flying about . . .
ivory . . .
98.
98A.
For my mother used to say
that when she was young it was
a great ornament if someone had her hair
bound in a purple headband.
But for a girl whose hair
is yellower than
a flaming torch . . .
crowns adorned with
blooming flowers.
Recently a decorated headband
. . . from Sardis
. . . cities
98B.
But for you, Cleis, I have no beautiful headband
nor do I know how to get one.
But the one in Mytiline . . .
. . . to have
. . . adorned
. . . these things of the family of Cleanax
. . . exile
. . . memories dreadfully wasted away
100.
. . . and covered her completely with soft woven cloth
101.
. . . hand cloths
. . . purple
. . . sent from Phocaea
. . . expensive gifts
102.
Truly, sweet mother, I cannot weave on the loom,
for I am overcome with desire for a boy because of slender Aphrodite.
103.
1. . . . for speak
2. . . . the bride with beautiful feet
3. . . . the child of Zeus with violets in her lap
4. . . . putting away anger, the one with violets in her lap
5. . . . holy Graces and Muses of Pieria
6. . . . when songs, the mind
7. . . . hearing a clear song
8. . . . bridegroom, vexing
9. . . . her hair, putting down the lyre
10. . . . golden-sandaled Dawn
103Aa.
. . . small
. . . many
. . . many
. . . their
. . . Gorgo
103Ab.
. . . to Cypris
103B.
. . . chamber
. . . bride with beautiful feet
. . . now
. . . for me
103Ca.
. . . to carry
. . . Archeanassa
. . . once in the past
. . . beloved
103Cb.
. . . they heard
. . . maidens
104.
104A.
Evening, you gather together all that shining Dawn has scattered.
You bring back the sheep, you bring back the goat, you bring back
the child to its mother.
104B.
. . . most beautiful of all the stars
105.
105A.
. . . like the sweet apple that grows red on the lofty branch,
at the very top of the highest bough. The apple-pickers have forgotten it
—no, not forgotten, but they could not reach it.
105B.
. . . like the hyacinth shepherds tread underfoot
in the mountains, and on the ground the purple flower
106.
superior, as the singer of Lesbos to those of other lands
107.
Do I still long for my virginity?
108.
O beautiful one, O graceful one
109.
We will give, says the father
110.
The door-keeper’s feet are as long as seven outstretched arms,
and his sandals are made from five ox-hides,
ten cobblers labored hard to make them.
111.
Raise high the roof—
Hymenaeus!
Raise it up, carpenters—
Hymenaeus!
The bridegroom is coming, the equal of Ares,
and he’s much bigger than a big man.
112.
Blessed bridegroom, your wedding has been accomplished
just as you prayed and you have the maiden bride you desired.
Your form is graceful and your eyes . . .
honey-sweet. Love pours over your lovely face . . .
. . . Aphrodite has greatly honored you
113.
for never,
bridegroom, was there another girl like this one.
114.
“Virginity, virginity, where have you gone? You’ve deserted me!”
“Never again will I come to you, never again will I come.”
115.
To what, dear bridegroom, can I in handsomeness compare you?
To a slender sapling most of all I do compare you.
116.
Farewell, bride, farewell, much-honored bridegroom.
117.
May you fare well, bride, and may the bridegroom fare well.
117A.
of polished doors
118.
Come, divine lyre, speak to me
and become a voice
119.
a handkerchief dripping
120
But I am not one of those with spiteful passions.
I have a gentle heart.
121.
But if I am your friend, choose the bed of someone younger.
For I cannot bear to live with you if I am the older one.
122.
so delicate a girl picking flowers
123.
just now golden-sandaled Dawn
124.
and you yourself, Calliope
125.
I myself used to weave crowns of flowers
126.
May you sleep on the bosom of your gentle companion.
127.
Come here again, Muses, leaving the golden . . .
128.
Come here now, tender Graces and Muses with beautiful hair.
129.
129A.
but you have forgotten me
129B.
or you love another more than me
130.
Once again limb-loosening Love makes me tremble,
that bittersweet, irresistible creature.
131.
But Atthis, it’s become hateful to you to think
of me, and you’ve flown off to Andromeda.
132.
I have a beautiful child who is like golden flowers
in form, my beloved Cleis, for whom
I would not take all of Lydia or lovely . . .
133A.
Andromeda has a fine revenge
133B.
Sappho, why? Aphrodite rich in blessings . . .
134.
I talked with you in a dream, Cyprus-born
135.
Why, Irana, does Pandion’s daughter, the swallow, me . . .
136.
Messenger of spring, the nightingale with a voice of longing
137.
“I want to say something to you, but
shame prevents me . . .”
“But if you had a desire for things that are good or beautiful
and your tongue weren’t busy stirring up evil,
shame would not lower your eyes,
but you would speak about what is just.”
138.
Stand before me, dear one,
and spread forth the grace in your eyes.
139.
the gods . . . quickly, the one without tears
140.
“Delicate Adonis is dying, Cytherea—what should we do?”
“Beat your breasts, girls, and tear your clothes.”
141.
But there a bowl of ambrosia
had been mixed.
And Hermes taking the jug poured wine for the gods.
They all held
drinking-cups
and offered libations and prayed for all good things
for the bridegroom.
142.
Leto and Niobe were beloved companions
143.
. . . and golden chickpeas were growing on the banks
144.
. . . they have had their fill indeed of Gorgo
145.
Don’t move small stones
146.
I want neither the honey nor the bee
147.
Someone, I say, will remember us in time to come
148.
Wealth without virtue is no harmless neighbor,
but a mixture of both brings the height of happiness.
149.
when all night long it pulls them down
150.
It is not right in the house of those serving the Muses
for there to be lamenting. That would not be fitting for us.
151.
and on the eyes the black sleep of night
152.
mingled with all kinds of colors
153.
the virgin with the sweet voice
154.
The moon in its fullness appeared,
and when the women took their places around the altar . . .
155.
I wish the daughter of the house of Polyanax much joy
156.
far more sweet-sounding than a lyre . . .
more golden than gold . . .
157.
. . . Lady Dawn
158.
. . . when anger is swelling in the chest
to guard against the vainly-barking tongue
159.
. . . you and my servant Love
160.
. . . and now for my companions
I will sing these songs beautifully
161.
guard her . . . bridegrooms . . . kings of cities
162.
with what eyes?
163.
my beloved one
164.
she calls her son
165.
That man seems to himself . . .
166.
They say that Leda once found
an egg, hyacinth-colored, covered . . .
167.
. . . far whiter than an egg
168.
Oh, for Adonis
168A.
who loves children more than Gello
168B.
The moon has set
and the Pleiades. It’s the middle
of the night and time goes by.
I lie here alone.
168C.
the earth is adorned
with many crowns . . .
169.
I would lead
169A.
wedding gifts
170.
Aiga
171.
innocent
172.
pain-giver
173.
a vine growing up a tree
174.
channel
175.
dawn
176.
lyre
177.
transparent dress
179.
purse
180.
the Holder