Sappho: Fragment 94

Sweetbitter | Mary Magdalene

I simply wish to die.

Weeping she left me.

and told me this, too:

We've suffered terribly, Sappho.

I leave you against my will.

I answered: Go happily

and remember me --

you know how we cared for you.

If not, let me remind you

*

. . . the lovely times we shared.

Many crowns of violets,

roses, and crocuses together

. . . you put on by my side

and many scented wreaths

woven from blossoms

around your delicate throat.

And . . . with pure, sweet oil

[for a queen] . . .

you anointed . . .

and on soft beds

. . . delicate . . .

you quenched your desire.

Not any . . .

no holy site . . .

we left uncovered,

no grove . . . dance

. . . sound

Translation by Rayor.

Rayor, Diane. Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works, Cambridge University Press, 2014. Introduction & notes by André Lardinois.

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Our guests this episode were Marguerite Johnson, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Sandra Boehringer (translation by Annie McCarthy) and Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.

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