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Book/Sappho 31

Author:: Sappho of Lesbos

Reading Status::{{or: read | to read | reading | abandoned}}

Date Finished::December 27th, 2020

Tags:: book poetry


Content::

That man seems to me to be equal to the gods who is sitting opposite you and hears you nearby speaking sweetly

and laughing delightfully, which indeed makes my heart flutter in my breast; for when I look at you even for a short time, it is no longer possible for me to speak

but it is as if my tongue is broken and immediately a subtle fire has run over my skin, I cannot see anything with my eyes, and my ears are buzzing

a cold sweat comes over me, trembling seizes me all over, I am paler than grass, and I seem nearly to have died.

but everything must be dared/endured, since (?even a poor man)

31

That man to me seems equal to the gods, the man who sits opposite you and close by listens to your sweet voice

and your enticing laughter— that indeed has stirred up the heart in my breast. For whenever I look at you even briefly I can no longer say a single thing,

but my tongue is frozen in silence; instantly a delicate flame runs beneath my skin; with my eyes I see nothing; my ears make a whirring noise.

A cold sweat covers me, trembling seizes my body, and I am greener than grass. Lacking but little of death do I seem.

Compiled

That man to me seems equal to the gods, the man who sits opposite you close enough to listen to your sweet voice