This text was started on June 19th 2026, and is a translation of fragments 104-117 by Sappho. The majority of it is pending publication and will be published later on.
104A
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English Evening Star, you bring home all that radiant Dawn has scattered: you bring the sheep, you bring the lamb, you bring the child to the mother. |
Aeolic Greek Ἔσπερε πάντα φέρων ὄσα φαίνολις ἐσκέδασ’ Αὔως †φέρεις ὄιν, φέρεις† αἶγα, φέρεις {ἄπυ} μάτερι παῖδα. |
104B
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English Fairest of all the stars… |
Aeolic Greek ἀστέρων πάντων ὀ κάλλιστος . . . |
105A
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English Like the sweet apple reddening high upon the utmost bough - the highest on the highest branch - forgotten by the apple-pickers. Not forgotten - only beyond their reach. |
Aeolic Greek οἶον τὸ γλυκύμαλον ἐρεύθεται ἄκρῳ ἐπ’ ὔσδῳ, ἄκρον ἐπ’ ἀκροτάτῳ, λελάθοντο δὲ μαλοδρόπηες· οὐ μὰν ἐκλελάθοντ’, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐδύναντ’ ἐπίκεσθαι. |
105B
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English Like the hyacinth in the mountain fields, trampled beneath shepherds' feet, its purple blossom fallen to the ground… |
Aeolic Greek οἴαν τὰν ὐάκινθον ἐν ὤρεσι ποίμενες ἄνδρες πόσσι καταστείβοισι, χάμαι δέ τε πόρφυρον ἄνθος . . . |
106
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English Superior, as the Lesbian songstress to those of other lands… |
Aeolic Greek πέρροχος ὠς ὄτ’ ἄοιδος ὀ Λέσβιος ἀλλοδάποισιν |
107
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English Am I still to think of maidenhood? |
Aeolic Greek ἦρ’ ἔτι παρθενίας ἐπιβάλλομαι; |
108
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English O beautiful one, O gracious one… |
Aeolic Greek ὦ καλή, ὦ χαρίεσσα· |
109
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English "We shall give her," said her father... |
Aeolic Greek ‘δώσομεν,’ ἦσι πάτηρ |
110
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English The doorkeeper's feet are seven fathoms long; his sandals are made from five ox-hides; ten cobblers toiled to fashion them. |
Aeolic Greek ⊗ θυρώρῳ πόδες ἐπτορόγυιοι, τὰ δὲ σάμβαλα πεμπεβόηα, πίσσυγγοι δὲ δέκ’ ἐξεπόναισαν. |
111
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English Lift high the roof-beam! Hymenaon! Raise it, carpenters! Hymenaon! The bridegroom enters like Ares; Hymenaon! Greater than a great man! Hymenaon! |
Aeolic Greek ⊗ Ἴψοι δὴ τὸ μέλαθρον, ̓ Υμήναον, ἀέρρετε, τέκτονες ἄνδρες· ̓ Υμήναον. 5.γάμβρος † (εἰσ)έρχεται ἶσος † Ἄρευι, ̓ Υμήναον. ἄνδρος μεγάλω πόλυ μέσδων. ̓ Υμήναον. |
112
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English Blessed bridegroom, your marriage now is fulfilled as you prayed; the maiden you longed for is yours... How lovely is your form, and your eyes... Desire is poured across your lovely face; … beyond all others Aphrodite has honoured you. |
Aeolic Greek ⊗ ὄλβιε γάμβρε, σοὶ μὲν δὴ γάμος ὠς ἄραο ἐκτετέλεστ’, ἔχῃς δὲ πάρθενον ἂν ἄραο . . . σοὶ χάριεν μὲν εἴδος, ὄππατα δ’ . . . μέλλιχ’, ἔρος δ’ ἐπ’ ἰμέρτῳ κέχυται προσώπῳ . . . τετίμακ’ ἔξοχά σ’ Ἀφροδίτα |
113
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English For there is not Another maiden now, O bridegroom, such as she. |
Aeolic Greek οὐ γὰρ ἀτέρα νῦν πάις, ὦ γάμβρε, τεαύτα |
114
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English (Bride:) Maidenhood, maidenhood, where have you gone and left me? (Maidenhood:) No more will I come to you, no more will I come. |
Aeolic Greek (νύμφη).παρθενία, παρθενία, ποῖ με λίποισ’ ἀποίχῃ; (παρθενία).†οὐκέτι ἤξω πρὸς σέ, οὐκέτι ἤξω†. |
115
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English To what shall I well compare you, dear bridegroom? To a slender sapling I compare you most. |
Aeolic Greek ⊗ τίῳ σ’, ὦ φίλε γάμβρε, καλῶς ἐικάσδω; ὄρπακι βραδίνῳ σε μάλιστ’ ἐικάσδω. |
116
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English Farewell, bride; farewell, honoured bridegroom. Many… |
Aeolic Greek χαῖρε, νύμφα, χαῖρε, τίμιε γάμβρε, πόλλα |
117
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English Rejoice, bride; and may the bridegroom rejoice as well! |
Aeolic Greek ⊗ † χαίροις ἀ νύμφα †, χαιρέτω δ’ ὀ γάμβρος |
117A
|
English The smooth doorway. |
Aeolic Greek ξοάνων προθύρων· |
117B
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English (a)Hesperus - Hymenaon! (b)O Adonis... |
Aeolic Greek (a) Ἔσπερ’ ̓Υμήναον (b)ὦ τὸν Ἀδώνιον |