Fragment 1

Fragment 1

by

Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind,

Child of Zeus, who twists lures, I beg you

Do not break with hard pains,

O lady, my heart

But come here if ever before

You caught my voice far off

And listening left you father’s

Golden house and came,

Yoking your car. And fine birds brought you,

Quick sparrows over the black earth

Whipping their wings down the sky

Through midair–

They arrived. But you, O blessed one,

Smiled in your deathless face

And asked what (now again) I have suffered and why

(Now again) I am calling out

And what I want to happen most of all

In my crazy heart. Whom should I persuade (now again)

To lead you back into her love? Who, O

Sappho, is wronging you?

For if she flees, soon she will pursue.

If she refuses gifts, rather will she give them.

If she does not love, soon she will love

Even unwilling.

Come to me now: loose me from hard

Care and all my heart longs

To accomplish, accomplish. You

Be my ally.