Poems of Sappho: An Interpretative Rendition into English — Phaon
Linger long on thy olden Note as in days remembered;
Ere the Boatman that knew Aphrodite Ravished my vision.
Fatal glamor of beauty, Beauty of Gods made mortal;
Ah, before its delight I am ever Fearful of heaven.
Spring in breeze and the blossom, Grasses and leaves and odors, On my heart with the breath of a vanished April is shaken;
Shaken with thrill and regret of Lost caresses and kisses;
Anactoria's memory, Atthis Never forgotten.
Philomel in my garden, Messenger sweet of springtide, From the bough of the olive tree utter Tidings ecstatic.
GOLDEN PULSE
Golden pulse grew on the shore, Ferns along the hill, And the red cliff roses bore Bees to drink their fill;
Bees that from the meadows bring Wine of melilot, Honey-sups on golden wing To the garden grot.
But to me, neglected flower, Phaon will not see, Passion brings no crowning hour, Honey nor the bee.
THE SWALLOW
Daughter of Pandion, lovely Swallow that veers at my window, Swift on the flood of the sunshine Darting thy shadow;
What is thy innocent purpose, Why dost thou hover and haunt me?
Is it a kinship of sorrow Brings thee anear me?
Must thou forever be tongueless, Flying in fear of Tereus?
Must he for Itys pursue thee, Changed to a lapwing?
Tireless of pinion and never Resting on bush or the branches, Close to the earth, up the azure, Over the treetops;
After thy wing in its madness Follows my glance, as a flitting Child on the track of its mother Hastens in silence.
Daughter of Pandion, lovely Swallow that veers at my window, Hast thou a message from Cyprus Telling of Phaon?
TIDINGS
She wrapped herself in linen woven close, Stuffs delicate and texture-fine as those The dark Nile traders for our bartering From Egypt, Crete and far Phocea bring.
Love lent her feet the wings of winds to reach (Whose steps stir not the shingle of the beach) My marble court and, breathless, bid me know My lover's sails across the harbor blow.
He seemed to her, as to himself he seems, Like some bright God long treasured in her dreams;
She saw him standing at his galley's prow-- My Phaon, mine, in Mitylene now!
HESPERUS
Hesperus shines Low on the eastern wave, Off toward the Asian shore;
Over faint lines Whose grays and purples pave Where seas night-calmed adore.
Fair vesper fire, Fairest of stars, the light Benign of secret bliss;
Star of desire, Bringing to me with night Dreams and my Phaon's kiss.
DAWN
Just now the golden-sandalled Dawn Peered through the lattice of my room;
Why must thou fare so soon, my Phaon?
Last night I met thee at the shore, A thousand hues were in the sky;
The breeze from Cyprus blew, my Phaon!
I drew, to lave thy heated brow, My kerchief dripping from the sea;
Why hadst thou sailed so far, my Phaon?
Far up the narrow mountain paths We heard the shepherds fluting home;
Like some white God thou seemed, my Phaon!
And through the olive trees we saw The twinkle of my vesper lamp;
Wilt kiss me now as then, my Phaon?
Nay, loosen not with gentle force The clasp of my restraining arms;
I will not let thee go, my Phaon!
See, deftly in my trailing robe I spring and draw the lattice close;
Is it not night again, my Phaon?
THE FAREWELL
Beloved, stand face to face, And, lifting lids, disclose to me the grace, The Paphic fire that lingers yet and lies Reflected in thy eyes.
Phaon, my sole beloved, Stand not to my mad passion all unmoved;
O let, ere thou to far Panormus sail, One hour of love prevail.
Dear ingrate, come and let Thy breath like odor from a cassolet, Thy smile, the clinging touch of lips and heart Anoint me, ere we part.
Phaon, I yearn and seek But thee alone; and what I feel must speak In all these fond and wilful ways of mine, O mortal, made divine!
My girl friends now no more Hang their sweet gifts of garlands at my door;
Dear maids, with all your vanished empery Ye now are naught to me.
Phaon, thy galley rides Within the harbor's mouth and waits the tides And favoring winds, far to the west to fly And leave me here to die.
The brawny rowers lean To bend long-stroking oars; and changing scene And fairer loves than mine shall soon efface This last divine embrace.
Phaon, the lifting breeze!
See, at thy feet I kneel and clasp thy knees!
Go not, go not!
O hear my sobbing prayer, And yield to my despair!
DARK-EYED SLEEP
Dark-eyed Sleep, child of Night, Come in thy shadow garment to my couch, And with thy soothing touch, Cool as the vesper breeze, Grant that I may forget;
Bestow condign release, A taste of rest that comes with endless sleep;
Lure off the haunting dreams, The dire Eumenides That torture my repose.
For I would live a space Though Phaon has forsaken me, nor yet Be found on shadow fields Among the lilies tall Of pale Persephone.
THE CLIFF OF LEUCAS
Afar-seen cliff Stands in the western sea Toward Cephallenian lands.
Apollo's temple crowns Its whitened crest, And at its base The waves eternal beat.
Its leap has power To cure the pangs Of unrequited love.
Thither pale lovers go With anguished hearts To dare the deep and quench Love's slow consuming flame.
Urged to the edge By maddening desire, I, too, shall fling myself Imploring thee, Apollo, lord and king!
Into the chill Embraces of the sea, Less cold than thine, O Phaon, I shall fall-- Fall with the flutter of a wounded dove;
And I shall rise Indifferent forever to love's dream, Or find below The sea's eternal voice, Eternal peace.
EPIGRAMS
