Complete Works of Sappho Read online

  The Complete Works of

  SAPPHO

  (630 c.-570 BC c.)

  Contents

  Introduction

  Brief Biography

  Pronouncing Ancient Greek

  The Fragments

  Poem Table of Contents

  Delphi Classics 2012

  Version 2

  The Complete Works of

  SAPPHO

  By Delphi Classics, 2012

  Introduction

  This Delphi Classics (Dual Texts) eBook provides a complete classical reading experience. Each fragment is given in the original Greek and is accompanied with a precise English translation. A brief biography, as well as an Ancient Greek pronunciation guide, have also been provided.

  Brief Biography

  Sappho was an Ancient Greek poetess, born on the island of Lesbos sometime between 630 and 612 BC, and she died around 570 BC. Sadly, very little is known about her life. She appears to have suffered exile once in Sicily, indicating a political life. She is most famously known for the homosexual love expressed in her work, yet she also composed lines to a heterosexual lover, and the Suda records the name of a husband called Cercyclas of Andros, a wealthy man. However, some believe this to be false information.

  The majority of her poetry, which was greatly admired throughout antiquity, has been lost. However, her vast reputation has endured through surviving fragments. Although many are little more than a few words, they all reveal telling signs of her beautiful and consummate artistry. As recently as 2005 a new poem was discovered by archaeologists, the papyrus having been used to mummify a body two thousand years ago and so surviving to our modern age. This last, almost complete, poem has also been included at the end of the eBook, fragment 117.

  Lesbos – Sappho’s place of birth

  Pronouncing Ancient Greek

  Here is a brief guide to pronouncing Ancient Greek, allowing you to voice aloud Sappho’s original text. You may wish to bookmark this page for future reference.

  The Letters

  Like the Roman alphabet, Greek has separate capitals and lowercase letters, which are all provided here with their Roman equivalents.

  Α, α a

  Β, β b

  Γ, γ g

  Δ, δ d

  Ε, ε e

  Ζ, ζ z

  Η, η ê

  Θ, θ th

  Ι, ι i

  Κ, κ k

  Λ, λ l

  Μ, μ m

  Ν, ν n

  Ξ, ξ x

  Ο, ο o

  Π, π p

  Ρ, ρ r

  Σ, σ, ς s

  Τ, τ t

  Υ, υ y

  Φ, φ ph

  Χ, χ ch

  Ψ, ψ ps

  Ω, ω ô

  Consonants

  Most of the consonants are pronounced exactly as in English, except for:

  The g is always hard as in ‘golf’, never soft.

  z is pronounced zd.

  x is pronounced with a ks sound.

  r is rolled as in Spanish or Italian.

  ps is always pronounced as two sounds

  With aspirated consonants ph, th, ch and rh, ignore the h.

  The ch should be pronounced the same as a k.

  Diphthongs

  ai as in aisle

  ei as in vein

  oi as in oil

  au as ow in cow

  eu as e of get followed by oo

  ou as in soup

  The Fragments

  ‘Sappho and Alcaeus’ by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

  1

  Ποικιλόθρον᾽ ὰθάνατ᾽ ᾽Αφροδιτα,

  παῖ Δίοσ, δολόπλοκε, λίσσομαί σε

  μή μ᾽ ἄσαισι μήτ᾽ ὀνίαισι δάμνα,

  πότνια, θῦμον.

  ἀλλά τυίδ᾽ ἔλθ᾽, αἴποτα κἀτέρωτα

  τᾶσ ἔμασ αύδωσ αἴοισα πήλγι

  ἔκλυεσ πάτροσ δὲ δόμον λίποισα

  χρύσιον ἦλθεσ

  ἄρμ᾽ ὐποζεύξαια, κάλοι δέ σ᾽ ἆγον

  ὤκεεσ στροῦθοι περὶ γᾶσ μελαίνασ

  πύκνα δινεῦντεσ πτέῤ ἀπ᾽ ὠράνω

  αἴθεροσ διὰ μέσσω.

  αῖψα δ᾽ ἐχίκοντο, σὺ δ᾽, ὦ μάσαιρα

  μειδιάσαισ᾽ ἀθάνατῳ προσώπῳ,

  ἤρἐ ὄττι δηὖτε πέπονθα κὤττι

  δἦγτε κάλημι

  κὤττι μοι μάλιστα θέλω γένεσθαι

  μαινόλᾳ θύμῳ, τίνα δηὖτε πείθω

  μαῖσ ἄγην ἐσ σὰν φιλότατα τίσ τ, ὦ

  Πσάπφ᾽, ἀδίκηει;

  καὶ γάρ αἰ φεύγει, ταχέωσ διώξει,

  αἰ δὲ δῶρα μὴ δέκετ ἀλλά δώσει,

  αἰ δὲ μὴ φίλει ταχέωσ φιλήσει,

  κωὐκ ἐθέλοισα.

  ἔλθε μοι καὶ νῦν, χαλεπᾶν δὲ λῦσον

  ἐκ μερίμναν ὄσσα δέ μοι τέλεσσαι

  θῦμοσ ἰμμέρρει τέλεσον, σὐ δ᾽ αὔτα

  σύμμαχοσ ἔσσο.

  Divine Aphrodite of the glittering throne, daughter of Zeus, weaver of troubles, I pray you, do not defeat my soul with anguish and cares, my Queen. But come here if ever before you did hear my voice and hearken, leaving the golden house of your Father; that time you came with chariot yoked, swift birds drawing you, their swift wings fluttering over the shady earth, from heaven through the mid air. Quickly they came and you blessed me with immortal expression, as smiling you asked what has now befallen me and why do I call and what do I desire most in my heart's madness? What beautiful lover would you now make me love you? Who wrongs you, my Sappho? For even if she flees you, she shall soon follow; and if she refuses your gifts, she shall shortly give them and if she does not love, she shall soon love, however unwilling. Come, I implore you, release me from harsh concerns, and let my heart achieve all that it is desired, so long as you are my ally.

  Poem Table of Contents

  2

  φάινεταί μοι κῆνοσ ἴσοσ τηέοισιν

  ἔμμεν ὤνερ ὄστισ ἐναντίοσ τοι

  ἰζάνει καὶ πλασίον ἀδυ

  φωνεύσασ ὐπακούει

  καὶ γαλαίσασ ἰμμερόεν τὸ δὴ ᾽μάν

  καρδίαν ἐν στήθεσιν ἐπτόασεν,

  ὠσ γὰρ εὔιδον βροχέωσ σε, φώνασ

  οὐδὲν ἔτ᾽ ἔικει,

  ἀλλὰ κάμ μὲν γλῳσσα ϝέαγε, λέπτον

  δ᾽ αὔτικα χρῷ πῦρ ὐπαδεδρόμακεν,

  ὀππάτεσσι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ορημ᾽,

  ἐπιρρόμβεισι δ᾽ ἄκουαι.

  ἀ δέ μ᾽ ί᾽δρωσ κακχέεται, τρόμοσ δὲ

  παῖσαν ἄγρει χλωροτέρα δὲ ποίασ

  ἔμμι, τεθνάκην δ᾽ ὀλιγω ᾽πιδεύϝην

  φαίνομαι [ἄλλα].

  πᾶν τόλματον [......]

  That person seems to me the equal of the gods, who sits in your presence and listens to your sweet voice and beautiful laughter; indeed it makes my heart beat swiftly in my breast. When I see you for a short time, I am speechless, my t
ongue becomes useless and suddenly a deft flame steals under my skin; my eyes see nothing, my ears chime, while sweat pours and my entire body is seized with convulsions. I am paler than grass and in my madness I believe I am almost dead, but I must dare…

  Poem Table of Contents

  3

  Αστερεσ μέν ἀμφι κάλαν σελάνναν

  ἆιψ ἀπυκρύπτοισι φάεννον εἶδοσ,

  ὄπποτα πλήθοισα μάλιστα λάμπησ

  ἀργυρια γᾶν.

  The stars around the wide moon lose all their shining beauty, as she illuminates the whole earth with silver.

  Poem Table of Contents

  4

  Ο]ἰ μὲν ἰππήων στρότον οἰ δὲ πέσδων

  οἰ δὲ νάων φαῖσ᾽ ἐπὶ γᾶν μέλαιναν

  ἔ]μμεναι κάλλιστον ἔγω δὲ κῆν᾽

  ὄττω τὶσ ἔπαται.

  πά]γχυ δ᾽ εὔμαρεσ σύνετον πόησαι

  πά]ντι τ[οῦ]τ᾽. ἀ γὰρ πόλυ περσκόπεισα

  κά]λλοσ ἀνθρώπων Ἐλένα [τὸ]ν ἄνδρα

  [κρίννεν ἄρ]ιστον,

  ὂσ τὸ πὰν] σέβασ τροΐα[σ ὄ]λεσσ[ε,

  κωὐδὲ πα]ῖδοσ οὔδε [φίλ]ων το[κ]ήων

  μᾶλλον] ἐμνάσθη, ἀ[λλὰ] παράγαγ᾽ αὔταν

  πῆλε φίλει]σαν,

  Ὠροσ. εὔκ]αμπτον γαρ [ἀεὶ τὸ θῆλυ]

  αἴ κέ] τισ κούφωσ τ[ὸ πάρον ν]οήσῃ.

  οὐ]δὲ νῦν, Ἀνακτορί[α, τ]ὺ μέμναι

  δὴ] παρειοῖσασ,

  τᾶ]σ κε βολλοίμαν ἔρατόν τε βᾶμα

  κ]αμάρυγμα λάμπρον ἴδην προσώπω

  η τὰ λύδων ἄρματα κἀν ὄπλοισι

  πεσδομ]άχεντασ

  εὶ μεν ἴδ]μεν οὔ δύνατον γένεσθαι

  λῷστ᾽] ὀν᾽ ἀνθρώποισ, πεδέχην δ᾽ ἄραστηαι,

  [τῶν πέδειχόν ἐστι βρότοισι λῷον]

  [ἢ λελάθεσθαι.]

  Some say that the most beautiful thing on the dark Earth is a host of cavalry, and some claim a host of foot soldiers, and others say a fleet of ships; but for me it is my lover. And anyone can understand this. When Helen, the most beautiful of all, chose love, destroying the honour of Troy, though little more than a child or parent herself, yet she was led by Love, giving her heart away, since woman is easily lead astray, when she takes little account of those dear to her. Thus, Anactoria, it appears you do not remember that when she is with you, I would rather hear the gentle sound of her footfall than see all of Lydia’s chariots and armoured footmen. In this world, I know that man cannot have the best; yet to pray for a part is better than to go without...

  Poem Table of Contents

  5

  αμφὶ δ᾽ ὔδωρ

  ψῖχρον ὤνεμοσ κελάδει δἰ ὔσδων

  μαλίνων, αἰθυσσομένων δὲ φύλλων

  κῶμα κατάρρει.

  By the cool stream, the breeze murmurs through apple boughs and slumbers whisper from trembling leaves.

  Poem Table of Contents

  6

  Ἤ σε κύπροσ καὶ Πάφοσ ἢ Πάνορμοσ

  If you, Cyprus or Paphos or Panormos…

  Poem Table of Contents

  7

  Σοί δ᾽ ἔγο δεύκασ ἔπι βῶμον ἄιγοσ

  ...

  καπιλείψω τοι ...

  But for you I will bring to the altar a young, white goat and add a libation.

  Poem Table of Contents

  8

  ... Ἕλθε, Κύπρι,

  Χπρυσίασιν ἐν κυλίκεσσιν ἄβραισ

  συμμεμιγμένον θαλίαισι νέκταρ

  οἰνοχόεισα.

  Come, goddess of Cyprus, and with golden cups serve nectar blended with joys...

  Poem Table of Contents

  9

  Αἴθ᾽ ἔγο χρυσοστέφαν᾽ Ἀφρόδιτα,

  τόνδε τὸν πάλον λαχόην.

  May I be the victor of this prize, O golden-crested Aphrodite.

  Poem Table of Contents

  10

  Αἴ με τιμίαν ἐπόησαν ἔργα

  τὰ σφὰ δοῖσαι;

  Who offered me gifts, honouring me?

  Poem Table of Contents

  11

  ... Τάδε νῦν ἐταίραισ

  ταῖσ ἔμαισι τέρπνα κάλωσ ἀείσω.

  I will sing this skilfully to please my friends.

  Poem Table of Contents

  12

  ... Ὄττινασ γὰρ

  εὖ θέω κῆνοί με μάλιστα σίννονται

  For you, that I do good, harms me the most.

  Poem Table of Contents

  13

  Ἕγω δὲ κῆν᾽ ὄττω τισ ἔπαται.

  But that which you desire…

  Poem Table of Contents

  14

  ταῖσ καλαισ ὔμμιν [τὸ] νόημα τὦμον

  οἰ διάμειπτον.

  To you, beautiful maidens, my mind does not change.

  Poem Table of Contents

  15

  ....Ἕγων δ᾽ ἐμαύτα

  τοῦτο σύνοιδα.

  And this I feel too.

  Poem Table of Contents

  16

  ταισι [δὲ] ψῦχροσ μέν ἔγεντο θῦμοσ

  πὰρ δ᾽ ἴεισι τὰ πτέρα ...

  Yet the soul within them turned cold and down dropped their wings.

  Poem Table of Contents

  17

  ... κατ᾽ ἔμον στάλαγμον,

  τὸν δ᾽ ἐπιπλάζοντεσ ἄμοι φέροιεν

  καὶ μελεδώναισ.

  From my suffering, let gathering winds bear it and all my cares away.

  Poem Table of Contents

  18

  Αρτίωσ μ᾽ ἀ χρυσοπέδιλλοσ Ἀύωσ.

  Just then golden-sandalled Dawn called…

  Poem Table of Contents

  19

  ... Πὸδασ δέ

  ποίκιλοσ μάσλησ ἐκάλυπτε, Λύδιον κάλον ἔργον.

  A broidered band of beautiful Lydian work clad her feet.

  Poem Table of Contents

  20

  ... Παντοδάπαισ μεμιγμένα χροίαισιν.

  Pierced with countless colours.

  Poem Table of Contents

  21

  Ἕμεθεν δ᾽ ἔχεισθα λάθαν.

  You forget me…

  Poem Table of Contents

  22

  ... Ἤ τιν᾽ ἄλλον

  [μᾶλλον] ἀνθρώπων ἔμεθεν φιλησθα.

  Or love another more than me…

  Poem Table of Contents

  23

  Οὔ τι μοι ὔμμεσ.

  You are nothing to me.

  Poem Table of Contents

  24

  Σκιδναμένασ ἐν στήθεσιν ὄργασ

  μαψυλάκαν γλῶσσαν πεφυλάχθαι.

  When anger stirs the breast, stop your tongue from barking foolishly.

  Poem Table of Contents

  25

  Αἰ δ᾽ ἦχεσ ἔσλων ἴμερον ἤ κάλων,

  καὶ μή �
�ι ϝείπεν γλῶσσ᾽ ἐκύκα κάκον,

  αἴδωσ κέ σ᾽ οὐ κίχανεν ὄππατ᾽

  ἄλλ᾽ ἔλεγεσ περὶ τῶ δικαίωσ.

  If you had wished for good or noble things, rather than use your tongue for wicked speech, shame would not have shown from your eyes, though you spoke with honesty.

  Poem Table of Contents

  26

  Στᾶθι κἄντα φίλοσ,....