The Poems of Sappho Part 2

Here an hour past soul-enravished they listened While my rapt heart breathed its paean impa.s.sioned, Chanted its wild prayer to thee, Aphrodite, Daughter of Cyprus;

Now to their homes are they gone in the city, Pensive to dream limb-relaxed while the languid Slaves come and lift from the tresses they loosen, Flowers that have faded.

Thou alone, Sappho, art sole with the silence, Sole with night and dreams that are darkness, weaving Thoughts that are sighs from the heart and their meaning Vague as the shadow;

When the great silence shall come to thee, sad one, Men that forget shall remember thy music, Murmur thy name that shall steal on their pa.s.sion Soft as the sleep wind.

THE REPROACH

Kypris, hear my prayer to thee and the Nereids!

Safely bring the s.h.i.+p of my brother homewards, Bring him back unharmed to the heart that loves him, Throbbing remorseful;

Fair Immortal, banish from mind, I pray thee, Every discord's hint that of yore estranged us; Grant that never again dissension's hateful Wrangle shall part us;

May he never in days to come remember Keen reproach of mine that had grieved him sorely; Words that broke my very heart when I heard them Uttered by others;

Words that wounded deep and recurring often, Bowed his head with shame at the public banquet; Where my scorn, amid festal joy and laughter, Sharpened the covert

Jests that stung his pride and a.s.sailed his folly, Slave-espoused when he, a Lesbian n.o.ble, Might have won the fairest in Mitylene, Virgins the n.o.blest;

Open slurs that linked his name with Doricha, Lovely slave that Xanthes had sold in Egypt; She whose wondrous charms the wealth of Charaxus Ransomed from bondage.

Now that he is gone and my anger vanished, Keen regret and grief for the pain I gave him Pierce my heart, and fear of loss that is anguish Darkens the daylight.

LONG AGO

Long ago beloved, thy memory, Atthis, Saddens still my heart as the soft aeolic Twilight deepens down on the sea, and fitful Winds that have wandered

Over groves of myrtle at Amathonte Waft forgotten pa.s.sion on breaths of perfume.

Long ago, how madly I loved thee, Atthis!

Faithless, light-hearted

Loved one, mine no more, who lovest another More than me; the silent flute and the faded Garlands haunt the heart of me thou forgettest, Long since thy lover.

EPITHALAMIA

THRENODES

HYMENAIOS

Artisans, raise high the roof beam!

Tall is the bridegroom as Ares, Taller by far than the tallest, O Hymenaeus!

Ay! towering over his fellows, As over men of all other Lands towers the Lesbian singer, O Hymenaeus!

Well-favored, too, is the maiden, Eyes that are sweeter than honey, Fair both in face and in figure, O Hymenaeus!

For there was never another Virgin in loveliness like her, By Aphrodite so honored, O Hymenaeus!

O happy bridegroom, the wedding Comes to the point of completion; Thou hast the maid of thy choosing, O Hymenaeus!

See how a paleness suffuses Soft o'er her exquisite features, Pa.s.sion's benign premonition, O Hymenaeus!

Go to the couch unreluctant, Rejoicing and sweet to the bridegroom; He in his turn is rejoicing, O Hymenaeus!

May Hesperus lead thee, and Hera, She whom to-night that ye honor, Silver-throned G.o.ddess of marriage, O Hymenaeus!

BRIDAL SONG

Bride, that goest to the bridal chamber In the dove-drawn car of Aphrodite, By a band of dimpled Loves surrounded;

Bride, of maidens all the fairest image Mitylene treasures of the G.o.ddess, Rosy-ankled Graces Are thy playmates;

Bride, O fair and lovely, thy companions Are the gracious hours that onward pa.s.sing For thy gladsome footsteps Scatter garlands.

Bride, that blus.h.i.+ng like the sweetest apple On the very branch's end, so strangely Overlooked, ungathered By the gleaners;

Bride, that like the apple that was never Overlooked but out of reach so plainly, Only one thy rarest Fruit may gather;

Bride, that into womanhood has ripened For the harvest of the bridegroom only, He alone shall taste thy h.o.a.rded sweetness.

EPITHALAMIUM

Vesper is here! behold Faint gleams that welcome s.h.i.+ne!

Rise from the feast, O youths, And chant the fescennine!

Before the porch we sing The hymeneal song; Vesper is here, O youths!

The star we waited long.

We lead the festal groups Across the bridegroom's porch; Vesper is here, O youths!

Wave high the bridal torch.

Hail, n.o.ble bridegroom, hail!

The virgin fair has come; Unlatch the door and lead Her timid footsteps home.

Hail, n.o.ble bridegroom, hail!

Straight as a tender tree; Fond as a folding vine Thy bride will cling to thee.

PIERIA'S ROSE