From the many fragments that remain of her poetry, I have chosen those that best reflect something of this beauty. The text used is that of Lobel and Page [ Poetarium Lesbiorum Fragmenta, Oxford 1955 ] - and the numbering of the Fragments in this present work follows that of their text.
.... in the text indicates a break in the fragment; [ ] indicates a conjecture.
Deathless Aphrodite - Daughter of Zeus and maker of snares -
On your florid throne, hear me!
My lady, do not subdue my heart by anguish and pain
But come to me as when before
You heard my distant cry, and listened:
Leaving, with your golden chariot yoked, your father's house
To move beautiful sparrows swift with a whirling of wings
As from heaven you came to this dark earth through middle air
And so swiftly arrived.
Then you my goddess with your immortal lips smiling
Would ask what now afflicts me, why again
I am calling and what now I with my restive heart
Desired:
Whom now shall I beguile
To bring you to her love?
Who now injures you, Sappho?
For if she flees, soon shall she chase
And, rejecting gifts, soon shall she give.
If she does not love you, she shall do so soon
Whatsoever is her will.
Come to me now to end this consuming pain
Bringing what my heart desires to be brought:
Be yourself my ally in this fight.
For some - it is horsemen; for others - it is infantry; For some others - it is ships which are, on this black earth, Visibly constant in their beauty. But for me, It is that which you desire. To all, it is easy to make this completely understood For Helen - she who greatly surpassed other mortals in beauty - Left her most noble man and sailed forth to Troy Forgetting her beloved parents and her daughter Because [ the goddess ] led her away .... Which makes me to see again Anactoria now far distant: For I would rather behold her pleasing, graceful movement And the radiant splendour of her face Than your Lydian chariots and foot-soldiers in full armour ....
Gather your [ lyre ] and sing for me [ Soon ] As desire once again [ enhances ] your beauty: Your dress excites, and I rejoice For I once doubted Aphrodite But now have asked that soon You will be with me again ....
I see he who sits near you as an equal of the gods For he can closely listen to your delightful voice And that seductive laugh That makes the heart behind my breasts to tremble. Even when I glimpse you for a moment My tongue is stilled as speech deserts me While a delicate fire is beneath my skin - My eyes cannot see, then, When I hear only a whirling sound As I shivering, sweat Because all of me trembles; I become paler than drought-grass And nearer to death ...
Awed by her brightness Stars near the beautiful moon Cover their own shining faces When she lights earth With her silver brilliance Of love ....
When I look at you I know that even Hermione Was not such as you - Fairer to compare you to Helen The golden-haired ....
Beautiful girls, towards you My thoughts will never change ....
Love shook my heart Like the mountain wind Falls upon tress of oak ....
I can reveal to you that I wished to die - For with much weeping she left me Saying: "Sappho - what suffering is ours! For it is against my will that I leave you." In answer, I said: "Go, happily remembering me For you know what we shared and pursued - If not, I wish you to see again our [ former joys ] ..... The many braids of rose and violet you [ wreathed ] Around yourself at my side And the many garlands of flowers With which you adorned your soft neck: With royal oils from [ fresh flowers ] You anointed [ yourself ] And on soft beds fufilled your longing [ For me ] ....
She honoured you like a goddess And delighted in your choral dance. Now she is pre-eminent among the ladies of Lydia As the rose-rayed moon after the sinking of the Sun Surpasses all the stars and spresads it's light upon the sea And the flowers of the fields To beautify the spreading dew, freshen roses Soft chervil and the flowering melilot ..... Restless, she remembers gentle Atthis - Perhaps her subtle judgemnet is burdened By your [ fate ] ..... For us, it is not easy to approach Goddesses in the beauty of their form But you ....
Age seizes my skin and turns my hair From black to white: My knees no longer bear me And I am unable to dance again Like a fawn. What could I do? I am not ageless: My youth is gone. Red-robed Dawn, immortal goddess, Carried [ Tithonus ] to earth's end Yet age siezed him Despite the gift from his immortal lover .... I love delicate softness: For me, love has brought the brightness And the beauty of the sun ....
May you sleep on the breasts Of your tender companion ....
Once again, desire - That looser of limbs and bitterly sweet - Makes me to tremble You are irresistible ....
Believe me, in the future someone Will remember us ..... Because you love me Stand with me face to face And unveil the softness in your eyes .....