Цитаты из книги Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics

LXXXVI

Love is so strong a thing, The very gods must yield, When it is welded fast With the unflinching truth.

Love is so frail a thing A word, a look, will kill. Oh, lovers, have a care How ye do deal with love.

LXXIV

If death be good, Why do the gods not die? If life be ill, Why do the gods still live?

If love be naught, Why do the gods still love? If love be all, What should men do but love?

LXX

Lo, these are wiser than the wise. And not for all our questioning Shall we discover more than joy, Nor find a better thing than love!

Let pass the banners and the spears, The hate, the battle, and the greed; For greater than all gifts is peace, And strength is in the tranquil mind.

LVI

For I was born for love, And fashioned for desire, Beauty, passion, and joy.

LI

Is the day long, O Lesbian maiden, And the night endless In thy lone chamber In Mitylene?

XXXIX

For the heart of man must seek and wander, Ask and question and discover knowledge; Yet above all goodly things is wisdom, And love greater than all understanding.

XXVI

I recall thy white gown, cinctured With a linen belt, whereon Violets were wrought, and scented With strange perfumes out of Egypt.

And I know thy foot was covered With fair Lydian broidered straps; And the petals from a rose-tree Fell within the marble basin.

XXIV

I shall be ever maiden, If thou be not my lover, And no man shall possess me Henceforth and forever.

But thou alone shalt gather This fragile flower of beauty, - To crush and keep the fragrance Like a holy incense.

XX

From the ilex grove there comes soft laughter, - My companions at their glad love-making, - While that curly-headed boy from Naxos With his jade flute marks the purple quiet.

XVIII

And then her mouth, more delicate Than the frail wood-anemone, Brushes my cheek, and deeper grow The purple shadows.

XVII

Pale rose leaves have fallen In the fountain water; And soft reedy flute-notes Pierce the sultry quiet.

XII

The sun that is strong, the gods that are wise, The loving heart, Deeds and knowledge and beauty and joy, - But before all else was desire.

IX

Nay, but always and forever Like the bending yellow grain, Or quick water in a channel, Is the heart of man.

VII

She shall be kindly favoured, And fair and fashioned well, As befits the Lesbian maidens And those who are fated to love.

III

Power and beauty and knowledge, - Pan, Aphrodite, or Hermes, - Whom shall we life-loving mortals Serve and be happy?