starters from SAPPHO’S POEMS translated in 1958 by mary barnard ( part i )
“it’s no use.”
“you may blame aphrodite, soft as she is, she has almost killed me with love.”
“what shall we do now?”
“young ( name ) is dying!”
“people do gossip.”
“when i saw eros on his way down from heaven, he wore a soldier’s cloak dyed purple.”
“sleep, darling.”
“i wouldn’t take all croesus’ kingdom with love thrown in, for her.”
“she who wears flowers attracts the happy graces: they turn back from a bare head.”
“the evening star is the most beautiful of all stars.”
“it is time now for you who are so pretty and charming to share in games that the pink - ankled graces play.”
“o never!”
“i shall be a virgin always.”
“o graces, o rosy - armed perfection: god’s daughters.”
“aphrodite has surely outdone herself in doing honour to you.”
“she is a bride who is charming to look at, with eyes as soft as honey, and a face that love has lighted with his own beauty.”
“we drink your health.”
“come now to your bedroom to your bed and play there sweetly, gently.”
“where will you go when i lose you?”
“i’m off to a place i shall never come back from.”
“i shall never come back to you. never!”
“why am i crying?”
part ii // part iii
