Sappho Translations III

Sappho Translations III by Michael R. Burch Bed the bride with the beautiful feet, or bring her to me! —Sappho, fragment 103b, translation by Michael R. Burch I long helplessly for love. Gazing into your eyes not even Hermione compares. Who is your equal? I compare you only to goldenhaired Helen among mortal women. Know your love would free me from every care, and keep me awake nightlong beside dewy deltas. —Sappho, fragment 22, translation by Michael R. Burch Aphrodite, do you not love the windlike dances of beautiful, apple-cheeked Abanthis? —Sappho, fragment 301, translation by Michael R. Burch The black earth absorbed grief-stricken tears along with the interred sons of Atreus. —Sappho, fragment 297, translation by Michael R. Burch Menelaus, son of Atreus, lies returned to the black earth, finally beyond agony. —Sappho, fragment 27, translation by Michael R. Burch Atthis, so charming in the bedroom, but otherwise hateful, proud and aloof, her teeth clicking like castanets. —Sappho, fragment 87a, translation by Michael R. Burch I sought the Goddess in your body's curves and crevasses. —Sappho, translation by Michael R. Burch Mnemosyne was stunned into astonishment when she heard honey-tongued Sappho, wondering how mortal men merited a tenth Muse. —Antipater of Sidon, translated by Michael R. Burch Sappho, fragment 136 translation by Michael R. Burch 1. Nightingale, how handsomely you sing your desire, sweet crier of blossoming spring. 2. Nightingale, enticing-songed harbinger of spring. Sing! Sappho, fragment 93 translation by Michael R. Burch Gongyla, wear, I beg, that revealing white dress when you come, so that desire surrounds you, descending in circling flight as you dance to the strains of Abanthis's lyre while I compose hymns to your loveliness, both of us stirred by your beauty and that dress! Wherefore I once prayed to Aphrodite: "I want" and she reprimanded me. Sappho, fragment 24 translation by Michael R. Burch Remember how we did such things in our youth? Many lovely and beautiful things in the city of dangerous enticements! We lived face-to-face with great daring amid those who inflict pain. Daring even to believe in golden-haired, slender-voiced Love … Sappho, fragment 33 translation by Michael R. Burch Golden-crowned Aphrodite, don't be a glory-hog! Share a little of your luck with me! Keywords/Tags: Sappho, love, beauty, beautiful, dress, desire, tears, earth, goddess, bride, Atthis, spring, wedding