SIVACRACY.NET

For centuries scholars and poetry fans have been wondering about the brilliant Helenic poet Sappho. Only fragments of her work has remained.

This week the Times Literary Supplement published a long-lost fourth complete poem by Sappho. It was assembled and translated by Martin West.

Here it is:

"[You for] the fragrant-blossomed Muses’ lovely gifts [be zealous,] girls, [and the] clear melodious lyre:

[but my once tender] body old age now
[has seized;] my hair’s turned [white] instead of dark;

my heart’s grown heavy, my knees will not support me,
that once on a time were fleet for the dance as fawns.

This state I oft bemoan; but what’s to do?
Not to grow old, being human, there’s no way.

Tithonus once, the tale was, rose-armed Dawn,
love-smitten, carried off to the world’s end,

handsome and young then, yet in time grey age
o’ertook him, husband of immortal wife."