Sappho Lecture

Muse, tell me the things done by golden Aphrodite,the one from Cyprus, who arouses sweet desire for godsand who subdues the races of mortal humans,and birds as well, who fly in the sky, as well as all beasts—all those that grow on both dry land and the sea.

Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (1-5)

But you, O blessed one,smiled in your deathless faceand asked what (now again) I have suffered and why(now again) I am calling out

Sappho, 1. Hymn to Aphrodite (15-7)

with spring flowers and breezeslike honey are blowing

2

to whatO beloved bridegroom

may I compare you?to a slender sapling

most of alldo I compare you 115

Eros shook mymind like a mountain wind falling on oak trees

47

you came and I was crazy for youand you cooled my mind that burned with longing

48

you burn me38

I simply want to be dead.

94

Eros the melter of limbs (now again) stirs me – sweetbitter unmanageable creature who steals in

130

“Seizure”

31

He seems to me equal to gods that manwhoever he is who opposite yousits and listens close

to your sweet speakingAnd lovely laughing– 31

Equal to Jove that youth must be —Greater than Jove he seems to me —Who, free from Jealousy’s alarms,Securely views thy matchless charms.

Byron, 1820

I watch thy grace; and in its placeMy heart a charmed slumber keeps, While I muse upon thy face;And a languid fire creeps

Tennyson, 1850

That man is peer of the gods, whoface to face sits listeningto your sweet speech and lovely laughter.

William Carlos Williams, 1958

In my eyes he seems like a god's co-equal,he, if I dare say so, eclipses godhead,who now face to face, uninterrupted,watches and hears yousweetly laughing –

Catullus, 51

Sappho, 31

He seems to me equal to gods that manwhoever he is who opposite you

φαίνεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισινἔμμεν' ὤνηρ, ὄττις ἐνάντιός τοι

In my eyes he seems like a god's co-equal,he, if I dare say so, eclipses godhead,

Catullus, 51

ille me par esse deo uidetur,ille, si fas est, superare diuos,

Sappho, 31

sits and listens closeto your sweet speaking

and lovely laughing,

ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί -σας ὐπακούεικαὶ γελαίσας ἰμέροεν,

qui sedens aduersus identidem tespectat et auditdulce ridentem Catullus, 51

who now face to face, uninterrupted,watches and hears yousweetly laughing,

I will love Lalage sweetly laughing,sweetly talking

Horace, 1.22

dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,dulce loquentem.

But all is to be dared, because even a person of poverty…

Sappho, 31

Leisure, Catullus, is dangerous to you: leisureurges you into extravagant behavior: leisure in time gone by has ruined kings and prosperous

cities.

Catullus, 51

But all can be borne, since you, Kupris,would subdue nobleman and beggar in equal measure;for indeed, you once destroyed kings and

flourishing cities

Armand D’Angour, 2006