The Poems of Sappho Part 10

I drew, to lave thy heated brow, My kerchief dripping from the sea; Why hadst thou sailed so far, my Phaon?

Far up the narrow mountain paths We heard the shepherds fluting home; Like some white G.o.d thou seemed, my Phaon!

And through the olive trees we saw The twinkle of my vesper lamp; Wilt kiss me now as then, my Phaon?

Nay, loosen not with gentle force The clasp of my restraining arms; I will not let thee go, my Phaon!

See, deftly in my trailing robe I spring and draw the lattice close; Is it not night again, my Phaon?

THE FAREWELL

Beloved, stand face to face, And, lifting lids, disclose to me the grace, The Paphic fire that lingers yet and lies Reflected in thy eyes.

Phaon, my sole beloved, Stand not to my mad pa.s.sion all unmoved; O let, ere thou to far Panormus sail, One hour of love prevail.

Dear ingrate, come and let Thy breath like odor from a ca.s.solet, Thy smile, the clinging touch of lips and heart Anoint me, ere we part.

Phaon, I yearn and seek But thee alone; and what I feel must speak In all these fond and wilful ways of mine, O mortal, made divine!

My girl friends now no more Hang their sweet gifts of garlands at my door; Dear maids, with all your vanished empery Ye now are naught to me.

Phaon, thy galley rides Within the harbor's mouth and waits the tides And favoring winds, far to the west to fly And leave me here to die.

The brawny rowers lean To bend long-stroking oars; and changing scene And fairer loves than mine shall soon efface This last divine embrace.

Phaon, the lifting breeze!

See, at thy feet I kneel and clasp thy knees!

Go not, go not! O hear my sobbing prayer, And yield to my despair!

DARK-EYED SLEEP

Dark-eyed Sleep, child of Night, Come in thy shadow garment to my couch, And with thy soothing touch, Cool as the vesper breeze, Grant that I may forget;

Bestow condign release, A taste of rest that comes with endless sleep; Lure off the haunting dreams, The dire Eumenides That torture my repose.

For I would live a s.p.a.ce Though Phaon has forsaken me, nor yet Be found on shadow fields Among the lilies tall Of pale Persephone.

THE CLIFF OF LEUCAS

Afar-seen cliff Stands in the western sea Toward Cephallenian lands.

Apollo's temple crowns Its whitened crest, And at its base The waves eternal beat.

Its leap has power To cure the pangs Of unrequited love.

Thither pale lovers go With anguished hearts To dare the deep and quench Love's slow consuming flame.

Urged to the edge By maddening desire, I, too, shall fling myself Imploring thee, Apollo, lord and king!

Into the chill Embraces of the sea, Less cold than thine, O Phaon, I shall fall-- Fall with the flutter of a wounded dove;

And I shall rise Indifferent forever to love's dream, Or find below The sea's eternal voice, Eternal peace.

EPIGRAMS

THE DUST OF TIMAS

This is the dust of Timas! Here inurned Rest the dear ashes where so late had burned Her spirit's flame. She perished, gentle maid, Before her bridal day and now a shade, Silent and sad, she evermore must be In the dark chamber of Persephone.

When life had faded with the flower and leaf, Each girl friend sweet, in token of her grief, Resigned her severed locks with bended head, Beauty's fair tribute to the lovely dead.

THE PRIESTESS OF ARTEMIS

Maidens, that pa.s.s my tomb with laughter sweet, A voice unresting echoes at your feet; Pause, and if any would my story seek, Dumb as I am, these graven words will speak; Once in the vanished years it chanced to please Arista, daughter of Hermocleides, To dedicate my life in virgin bliss To thee, revered of women, Artemis!

O G.o.ddess, deign to bless my grandsire's line, For Saon was a temple priest of thine; And grant, O Queen, in thy benefic grace, Unending fame and fortune to his race.

PELAGON

Above the lowly grave of Pelagon, Ill-fated fisher lad, Meniscus' son, His father placed as sign of storm and strife The weel and oar, memorial of his life.

FINISH.