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81 " If you are squeamishDon't prod thebeach rubble. "
― Sappho , Sappho
82 " stars around the beautiful moonhide back their luminous formwhenever all full she shineson the earthsilvery "
― Sappho , If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho
83 " Although they are only breath, words which I command are immortal "
― Sappho
84 " Girls, be good to these spirits of music and poetrythat breast your threshold with their scented gifts.Lift the lyre, clear and sweet, they leave with you.As for me, this body is now so arthriticI cannot play, hardly even hold the instrument.Can you believe my white hair was once black?And oh, the soul grows heavy with the body.Complaining knee-joints creak at every move.To think I danced as delicate as a deer!Some gloomy poems came from these thoughts:useless: we are all born to lose life,and what is worse, girls, to lose youth.The legend of the goddess of the dawnI’m sure you know: how rosy Eosmadly in love with gorgeous young Tithonusswept him like booty to her hiding-placebut then forgot he would grow old and greywhile she in despair pursued her immortal way. "
85 " Although only breath, words which I speak are immortal. "
86 " She who loves roses must be patient and not cry out when she is pierced by thorns. "
87 " Because I prayedthis word:I want "
88 " [I was dreaming of you but]just thenDawn, in her golden sandals [woke me] "
― Sappho , Poems and Fragments
89 " When they were tiredNight rained herthick dark sleepupon their eyes. "
90 " Some men say an army of horse and some men say an arm on foot / and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing / on the black earth. But I say it is / what you love. "
91 " Some say an army of horsemen,some of footsoldiers, some of ships,is the fairest thing on the black earth,but I say it is what one loves.It's very easy to make this clearto everyone, for Helen,by far surpassing mortals in beauty,left the best of all husbandsand sailed to Troy,mindful of neither her childnor her dear parents, butwith one glimpse she was seduced byAphrodite. For easily bent...and nimbly...[missing text]...has reminded me nowof Anactoria who is not here;I would much prefer to see the lovelyway she walks and the radiant glance of her facethan the war-chariots of the Lydians ortheir footsoldiers in arms. "
92 " Then you my goddess with your immortal lips smilingWould ask what now afflicts me, why againI am calling and what now I with my restive heartDesired: Whom now shall I beguile To bring you to her love? Who now injures you, Sappho? For if she flees, soon shall she chase And, rejecting gifts, soon shall she give. If she does not love you, she shall do so soon Whatsoever is her will.Come to me now to end this consuming painBringing what my heart desires to be brought:Be yourself my ally in this fight. "
93 " I don't know what to dotwo states of mind in me "
94 " For me, neither the honey nor the bee. "
95 " Mere air, these words, but delicious to hear. "
96 " I simply want to be dead.Weeping she left mewith many tears and said this:Oh how badly things have turned out for us.Sappho, I swear, against my will I leave you.And I answered her:Rejoice, go andremember me. For you know how we cherished you. "
97 " For the man who is beautiful is beautiful to see but the good man will at once also beautiful be "
98 " of all stars the most beautiful "
99 " Eros once again limb-loosener whirls me sweetbitter, impossible to fight off, creature stealing up...I don't know what I should do: two states of mind in me... "
100 " I am weary of all your words and soft, strange ways. "
― Sappho , Fragments