Gruppu 1:
Amuri ca scùtula u cori
1: Â Çìpridi
Comu pò quaṛcunu nun cutturiari
L'aṛma sò pi cu ama, e nun vuliri
Canciđđari a pena cchiù 'i tuttu, dea
Cipride? Comu
Fai pi suppurtari 'i střaziari a mmia
Chî třimuri u cori, e ṙi ncimiđđiari
Cû disìu i mè jammi? Tu nun m'odiavi
Propiu pi nenti:
Nun mi mpriggiunari, ti preju! Vogghiu
Smettiri 'i suffriri accussì! [u-x]
[-u-x]; iu pi me stissa chistu
Beni lu sazzu.
1: Â Çìpridi
Comu pò quaṛcunu nun cutturiari
L'aṛma sò pi cu ama, e nun vuliri
Canciđđari a pena cchiù 'i tuttu, dea
Cipride? Comu
Stai cuntenta ṙ'allazzarari a mmia
Chî třimuri u cori, e ṙi ncimiđđiari
Cû disìu i mè jammi? Tu nun m'odiavi
Propiu pi nenti:
Nun mi mpriggiunari, ti preju! Vogghiu
Accabbari 'i chistu suffriri! [-x]
[-u-x]; iu ṙi me stissa chistu
Beni lu sazzu.
2: Dui pinzieri
Tegnu ṙuï pinzieri, nun sacciu chi ṙìçiri.
3: O matři ṙuçi
O ṙuçi matři, cchiù nun pozzu tèssiri a me tela,
Ṙû amuri 'i nu carusu Afrodite m'havi inchiuta.
4: L'amuri mi scutulau u cori
L'amuri lu cori a mmia,
Comu u ventu li cerzi ntê munti, mi scutulau.
[
O macari: Comu scùtula i cerzi lu ventu]
5: Amuri ṙuçi e amaru
N'autřa vota m'allàzara u corpu a mmia
Ṙuçi e amaru, l'amuri, firoçi assai.
Attide, òra tu òdi pinzari a mmia,
Verzu Andromeda sulu currennu vai.
6: O Àttide!
Attide, ṙi nui autři luntana assai
A nostř'Anattorìa sta,
Spessu 'i Sardi firzinia u sò pinzieru 3
Verz'a nnui e a comu stavamu nui
Nzèmmula: eri a sò dëa tu,
Era china ṙi ggioia si cantavi. 6
Brilla đđà třa li fimmini Lidi assai,
Comu quannu u suli si nn'jìu
E chî ìrita 'i řosa sò la luna 9
Brilla cchiù ṙ'ogni stiðða, e diffunni a sò
Luçi pi tuttu u mari e pi
La campagna ch'è tutta china 'i çiuri. 12
Nc'esti poi n'acquazzina ch'è beđđa assai,
E cciurèru i cerfogghi chî
Řosi e cû melilotu chinu 'i cciuri 15
Spissu iđđa, çiđđiannu, ṙâ tènnira
Attide s'ařřicorda, e u sò
Cori a pena cunzuma, e u sò pinzieru 18
Lu disìu: grida forti ca jìssimu
Đđà, e a notti chî ricchi sò
Senti, e pi tuttu u mari nni fa l'ecu. 21
Addivintari beðði comu li dèi
Pi nüautři 'un è sempliçi
xx-uu beððu comu Adoni 24
–u– xx–uu–ux
Cchiù u–u pi l'àrïa
xx–uu–u Afrodite 27
Puru a nui nettare nni virzàü di
Na quartara ndurata x
Chî sò mònfrici manu a Persuasiuni 30
–u– xx–uu vosi x
xx–uu spissu x
xx–uu–u–u–x 33
–u– xx a lu Gerestiu
xx cari u–ux
Nun surprenni pi nenti zoccu –x 33
–ux Aj'a vvìniri ô tempiu x
7: Innu pi Anattorìa
Furtunatu comu nu diu mi pari
Chiđđu ca, assittatu ṙavanti a ttia,
U suřřisu tò ca fa nnammurari
Viṙi e talìa,
E a tò vuçi china 'i ṙuçizza scuta.
Unni è iđđu, a mmia mi si scutulassi [*]
Ṙintř'ô pettu u cori: si iò ti viṙu
Sulu n'istanti,
[*]
O macari: a mmia si scutularìa
A mè vuçi mòri, si řumpi a lingua,
Mi si 'nfòca tuttu lu corpu, e l'occhi
Su' cuperti di nira notti, e i ricchi
Allàpanu assai,
U siduri tutta mi nzuppa, e třemu
Comu na fugghiuzza, cchiù 'i l'erba sugnu
Pàllida, e ntô cori sicura sugnu:
Prestu mi mòru.
Gruppu 2: Biđđizza
8: Ti prèju, Gongyla
Now, my dear, I truly beseech you: taking
Your milky-white robe, oh Gongyla,
And make your appearance: again Desire itself
Flutters around you,
The beautiful one; for that dress
Shakes me up when I see it, and I rejoice:
Indeed the Cyprus-Goddess herself
Blames this of you;
I pray her…
This word…
I want…
… ]
9: Innu a na fìmmina beđđa
[……………………
……………………
…] suffered for love
……
For when I see you before [me],
Then Hermione [herself] seems to not have been
Such [a beauty] to me, and comparing you to blonde Helen
[Seems] not at all unseemly,
If it's allowed of mortals; know this, that to your
Beauty, of all my cares
I would make a sacrifice, and worth all
My desires I believe you.
To Acheron's dewy banks
I would go if you died, your fame'
I will increase as much as I can, and I crave
To spend a whole night with you.
10: Tu ṙi Gaia e Uranu cchiù amata figghia
(a)
Nc'è cu ṙiçi ca supra a teřřa nira
A cchiù beđđa cosa è na flotta 'i navi
O nu esercitu. Iò vi ṙicu: è chiđđu
Ca piaçi cchiùi.
È pi tutti façili assai capiri
Chistu: infatti Èlena, chi teneva
N'omu accussì beđđu, u cchiù bonu 'i tutti,
L'abbannunau:
Si nni jìu a Troia câ navi, e i cari
Sò parenti e a figghia si li scurdau.
Si nni jìu luntanu: era china 'i amuri,
E la guidava
Afrodite. Iđđa mai nun s'ařřenni:
Sempri façilmenti fa tuttu chiđđu
Ch'iđđa voli. Tegnu accussì mtâ menti
Anattoria.
Chiđđu lustřu ca ntâ sò facci teni
E u sò camminari aggrazziatu a mmia
Cchiù mi piaçi vìṙiri ca i cavađđi
E i carri Lidi.
L'alligrizza n'omu n'a pò tiniri:
Pò surtantu priari 'i tiniri parti
Di lu beni. Iu pi me stissa chistu
Beni lu sazzu.
[Střofi persi, forsi.]
... avviniri
... jutu in àutu
... nivi; ma iđđa spessu
Verzu...
Comu... li purtaru via
... pò; e cu tegnu caru,
Iđđu cchiù ṙi l'autři mi va a firiri
All'impruvvisu.
L'alligrizza ntera n'a pò tiniri
N'omu: sulu priari 'i tiniri parti
Ṙi stu beni pò. Iù 'i me stissa chistu
Beni lu sazzu.
[Střofi persi, forsi.]
... avviniri
... jutu in àutu
... nivi; ma iđđa spessu
Verzu...
Comu... li purtaru via
... pò; e cu tegnu caru,
Iđđu cchiù ṙi l'autři mi va a firiri
A la ntřasatta.
L'alligrizza ntera n'a pò tiniri
N'omu: sulu priari 'i tiniri parti
Ṙi stu beni pò. Iù 'i me stissa chistu
Beni lu sazzu.
[Střofi persi, forsi.]
... avviniri
... jutu in àutu
... nivi; ma iđđa spessu
Verzu...
Comu [–u] foru purtati via
[–u] pò; e chiđđi chi tegnu cari,
Iđđi cchiù ṙi l'autři m'hann'a firiri
A la ntřasatta.
11: Kleis
Tegnu na figghiola iù ch'è cchiù beđđa ṙi li rosi
E ṙi tutti quanti i ciuri, mè Cleide tantu cara,
Mancu pi la Lidia ntera, o a mè Lesbo tantu cara
Nun la cancirìa iù mai.
12: I stiđđi e a luna
Tutti i stiđđi ntornu a la luna beđđa
A sò luçi ammùccianu n'autřa vota
Òra ch'iđđa è china, e i sò řaggi 'i argentu
Jìnchiunu a teřřa.
Gruppu 3:
Di la gioia ṙ'amuri
ê visioni ṙî dee
13: Vinisti
You came, you did good, I yearned for you,
You cooled my heart which was burning with desire:
May you enjoy many good situations, equal in number to [your] life.
14: Idìlliu cu Afrodite
Lassa Creta e veni a stu tempiu santu,
Unni nc'esti nu grazïusu boscu
Ṙ'àrvuli ṙi mèlu, e l'incenzu brucia
Supr'a l'aṛtari.
Třa li rami 'i melu nci scurri acqua
Frisca, e tutta a teřřa è cuperta 'i řosi,
E ṙi fogghi u scrusciu nni fa durmiri
Prufunnamenti.
Nci cciuriu nu pratu ch'è chinu 'i cciuri
Ṙi la Primavera, e lu ventu sciuscia
Ṙuçi comu u meli, e di supr'ê chianti
Ṙuçi iđđu scinni.
Mitti i tò curuni ṙi cciuri e vèni,
Cipride, e ntê calici nostři d'oru
Nettari mmiscatu pâ festa verza
Comu nu vinu.
15: Saṛvietti
Tonight you sat me down,
O golden-garlanded Aphrodite,'
In [my] dream braiding of your immortal
Head the divine hair,
And hanging down from your hair,
Purple handcloths, which Timas
Sent you from Phocæa,
Precious gifts [hanging] down from you hair.
16: Innu pi Afrodite
Ornate-throned immortal Aphrodite,
Wile-weaving daughter of Zeus, I beg you:
Do not overpower with ache and anguish,
O queen, my heart,
But come here, if ever in other times,
Hearing my voice from far away,
You listened, and leaving [your] father's golden
House, you came,
Yoking [your] cart, and rapid pretty
Sparrows led you over black earth,
Frequently flapping [their] wings, from the sky
Through the middle of the ether,,
And quickly they arrived; and you, o Blessed one,
A smile on [your] immortal face,
Asked what I'd suffered again, and why
I was invoking [you] again,
And what I wanted the most to happen to me,
Crazy at heart: «Whom again should I persuade
To lead you to your love as well? Who,
o Sappho, is wronging you?
Indeed if she flees, she will soon chase [you],
If she doesn't take [your] gifts, she'll give [her own],
If she doesn't love [you], she will soon,
Even if she doesn't want to».
Come to me now as well, and set me free
From oppressive anxieties, and what my heart craves
To see happen to me, make it happen; and you yourself
Be my ally.
17: Era riggina
Let your graceful, roaring feast,
Queen Hera, be brought around me,
Which the songs of Atreus, the kings,
Prayed for,
Having completed great deeds
First around Troy, then
Having set sail hither; they could not find
Their way
Before seeking you and Zeus god of the suppliants,
And the lovely son of Thyne.
Now we too, following the old [tradition],
Make these majestic, holy,
And beautiful [rites] for you; a cowd
Of maidens and praying women makes its way hither:
They want to, packed tightly around your altar,
Measuredly cry aloud.
]
… to be …
(come to the temple?)
18: Comu cilibbrari na festa
…
They call unto…
Totally; Don'e you have a way that I could,
O mother, perform
A shining feast at the [proper] time? That is
A joy to those who live but a day; may it happen
To me to be cheerful, until the gods grant us
To hear the sound
Of the harps; this…
… than now…
…giving…
…made;
. . . . .
…
… ready …
… fulfil that
… I totally …
… tongue …
…
… then you needed
… of loves
…
Gruppu 4: Canzuni pî matřimoni
19: Èttore e Andròmaca
Cyprus… ̣[ 22-24 letters ]αι ̣
The messenger came running, pushed forth by the might of [his] legs,
The speedy messenger of Ida, bearing these tidings:
«[
One ore more lines are missing, the last of which
Probably ended with Of Troy]
And of the rest of Asia these things were the undecaying glory;
Hector and his companions are leading
From sacred Thebes and ever-flowing Placia
The quick-glancing tender Andromacha by ship over the briny
Sea; and many golden bracelets, and purple
Robes, and beautiful flower embroideries, motley adornments,
And countless silver wine-cups, and ivory.
Thus spoke he; and readily dear father leapt up;
And the news went through the spacious city to [his] loved ones;
At once the sons of Ilium to the well-running chariots
Yoked the mules; and the whole crowd came
Of women and of tender-ankled maidens;
Separately went the daughters of Priam,
And the men yoked the horses to the chariots, and together went
All the unmarried men, and far and wide went the great
People, and the charioteers led the excelling foals
With white patches outside the dear city then.
Everyone says that some lines are missing here.
When once again on the carriages there went the god-like
Hector and Andromacha, then all together
The people of Troy went to set out to sacred Ilium.
And the sweet-sounding flute and the cithara mixed together
With the sound of castanets, and clear-tonedly the maidens
Sang a sacred song, and to the air there went
A divinely sweet echo, laughter …
And everywhere in the streets there was …
Bowls and cups …
Myrrh and cassia and incense [the fire] accepted [within itself].̣
And all the elder women cried aloud,
And all the men cried out a delightful high-pitched
Pæana, calling unto the far-darting sweet-lyred [Apollo],
To sing of Hector and Andromacha, the god-like ones.
The second time where I said «Missing lines here»,
Perhaps another poem by Sappho started there.
20: Ca tu dorma
May you sleep in the bosom of a tender girlfriend .
21: Cantemu pî sposi!
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Night…
Maidens before these doors
Are staying up all night, very happy bridegroom,
May they sing the love of you and of
The violet-bosomed bride.
But wake up, fetch those of your age,
And set off, so that we may see
Even less sleep that the sweet-voiced
Bird will.
22: Imenèo
Up high the roof,
Hymenæum,
Raise ye, o carpenters:
Hymenæum,
The groom is equal to Ares,
Hymenæum,
Much larger than a large man,
Hymenæum,
Superior, like the Lesbian
Hymenæum,
Singer to those of foreign lands.
Hymenæum.
23: Pomu ṙuçi
Era abbitudini 'i Saffo paraunari a sposta cu nu pomu:
As the sweet apple blushes on the high branch,
High on the highest [branch], and the pluckers forget it:
Indeed they don't forget, but can't reach [it]…
[Era macari na sò abbitudini] ṙìçiri ca u sposu era simili,
a Achille, e mèntiri u giùvini â pari cu chiđđ'eroe pî sò mprisi.
14: Giacintu
Like the hyacinth on the mountains is treaded on
By the feet of the shepherds, and the purple flower on the ground...
15: Sposu filiçi
Happy bridegroom, to you the wedding that you yearned for
Has been fulfilled, and you have the maiden you yearned for.
You have graceful looks, o bride, and honey-sweet
Eyes, and love has been poured on your lovable face:
With these evident things Aphrodite has exceedingly honored you.
Gruppu 5: Duluri,
raggia, inimicizzia
16: Mi lassasti
Mi lassasti. Ahimè! Forsi mi scurdasti,
Cara, amuri mè? O ṙi n'autřu forsi
Cchiù ca 'i mïa tu ti si' nnammurata?
Iđđu cu è?
27: Ntřabbunau a luna
E già ntřabbunau a luna
E i Pleiadi puru; u tempu
Abbola, già è menzanotti;
E sula iu sto a durmiri.
27: Ntřabbunau a luna
E già ntřabbunaru a luna
E i Pleiadi; u tempu vola,
Già vinni la menzanotti;
E iù m'addurmisciu sula.
28: Campagnola
Ma chi fimmina è chista cafuna chi sta ntornu a ttia,
Cu n'urribbili vistitu 'i campagna, e ammaga u cori tò,
E nun sapi tirari a sò pudìa/pirìa supr'ê cavigghi sò?
29: Stammi ṙavanti
E Saffu a cu è třoppu ammiratu
pû sò aspettu e cunzidiratu
beđđu nci ṙiçi:
Ṙavanti a mmia tu mittiti, amicu miu,
L'ucchiuzzi beđđi tò lassa ch'iu talìi.
30: Muruta hai a jàçiri
Dead shalt thou lie, and never memory
Of thee will be until the end, for thou
Hast no share in the roses of Pieria,
But having flown 'midst lightless dead souls, thou,
Even in Hades' house uncouth, shalt wander.
31: Quaṛcunu s'hâ řicurdari
Nsin'â fini quaṛcunu ṙi nu s'ařřicurdirà
32: Cuntř'a Andròmeda
…peaceful…
…having received from ægis-bearing Zeus…
…Cytherea, succour me as I pray [to you]…
…having a gracious heart…
…hear my prayers, if even in another time…
…having left Cyprus…
…you came to my cry…
…by painful solicitude…
[Three lost lines]
…
…
From the blessed gods … having obtained …
May you wish to cut off this calamity as well for me, you of all
The goddess with the most astute heart, oh, fulfil my wish:
You indeed loved [me] and used to grant everything for which I invoked
Now due to this defend me once more according to my wish! [ [you],
«This cause is not unbecoming», said [she], «and what you wish to obtain
Is not at all much to get, for even Andromeda cannot 7
Overtly fight me, and what she did confiding in a voluptuous lifestyle
Is not [possible] to forget for the gods; and indeed you know well
That Nemesis strikes the one who is familiar with evil, and prevails over
Sappho, loving you the venerable queen of Cyprus fit wheels [ everyone».
To [her] carriages, and for you she quickly went to entreat Zeus,
And a great gift the son of Cronus nodded assent for her to grant to you:
To all those whom the shining Sun surrounds with [its] beams,
Everywhere [your] noble fame [will arrive ?] …
And you on Acheron's [banks ?] …
…
[6 lost lines]
33: Riguardu ô sò disteřřu
… for out of my land
A conflict suddenly chased me … however the memory
Was not … but … equal to the gods.
Now though I'm roused against the culprit of these griefs
And vexations, and with the pains will Artemis the blessed one,
Who rules from above, lead elderly Andromeda under [her] cart,
And she will be ashamed of her character, not gentle, but stubborn,
For no-one halted the arrogance in her, [so she] doesn't hold back [her]
She/One could indeed quickly offer a herd of lambs to the [insolence.
[And] enjoy the peace of music in in a graceful [sons of Tyndar,
Delightful place of dance, ah, if honest no longer …
[With?] Megara the mild having taken [her] clear-toned harp,
… possible to them …
… to everyone …
…
34: Cutř'ê Polianàttidi
… after a short while …
… the Polyanactids …
… to the Samian women …
Make to resonate in the plectrum-welcoming
Strings, firendlily banqueting
With such people,
The harp is made to vibrate gently,
And, sweet-voiced, through the bones
It slithers, and once it's in, runs through the marrow.
35: A Apollo
Son of Leto and Zeus,
… come to the feast,
Leaving woody Grynea
And your famous oracle
…
…
… in days
… feast
…
… sing …
[And?] … sister …
Like a child …
No-one … want …
They show … again of the Polyanactids
I want to put the glutton on display.
36: Malidizziuni
… blessed one …
… [good for sailing ?]
… of the head and …
…
For what mistakes he made before, he made amends
…
With good luck … harbor …
…
Cypris, may she find you very bitter,
May Doricha not be loud-spoken
Saying that she came to a desired love
A second time.
Gruppu 6: Saffo
e u sò frati
37: Ê Nerèidi
Queen Nereids, grant me
That my brother may come here unscathed,
And whatever he may wish in his heart,
Fulfil it;
[Let him] make amend for all his past mistake,
And be a joy for his friends
And a grief for his enemies; and for us
May nobody ever be one;
And may he wish to make his sister
More greatly honored, and may he free
From mournful grievances those, whose hearts
He formerly crushed with his
Mourning, hearing a reproach, which used to devour
Even us in [my] flesh because of the citizens' blame,
As ever, not differently, but he realized it
Not at all after long,
And even more [will he understand] if he learns
What fame is like among mortals; and you, queen Cypris,
Burying up an unbearable offense,
Be persuaded by us.
38: Urazziuni p'ařřasari i viaggi buřřascusi
. . . . . . . . . .
… you persuaded, o blessed one,
… brightness and
. . . . .
… with good luck
… to reach a harbor
… black earth
[. . . . .
In violent storms, sailors,
Fearing for the great winds,
Throw away their cargo, and towards land
They steer the ship;
May I above all not set sail from anywhere
When a storm has arisen, nor throw
All the cargo I had into the deep sea, whether precious
Or worthless;
If Nereus, in his flowing pageant
In the sea, should happen to receive my
Cargo, I pray him to let it come to me
As quick as possible.
… works
… land
…
. . . . . ]
39: Puisia ṙî frati
«We have indeed suffered much, but may there come
Charaxus to us now with a full ship!»:
Indeed we suffer much still now, and the pain
Has reached you, wet nurse,
But you always chatter for Charaxus to come
With a full ship, which, I believe, Zeus
And all the gods know, but you needn't
Think about that,
But rather send me [out], and pray me
Tu pray queen Hera a lot
So that Charaxus may come here steering
A safe and sound ship,
And find us safe and sound; All
The rest, let us entrust to the gods:
For fair weather from great winds
Are quickly born;
And those whom the king of Olympus wants
A helper god to lead out
Of suffering, those remain blessed
And full of joy.
And we, if Larichus raises
His head, and sometime becomes a real man,
Would be set free even
From [our] great heaviness of heart.
40: A Carasso
Virsioni 1
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
… give.
If you fly to renowned men
And not handsome and good ones, and say goodbye
To your loved ones, and pain me, saying that I
Have become your reproach,
Swollen in your heart, may your satisfy
Your heart with such things, and be satiated; for my thought
Does not easily yield to the rage
Of children;
But err not: a trap
Won't catch old birds; I know you,
To how much evilness you previously set forth,
And what foe
I'm up against. Therefore, thinking about better things,
Change your thoughts; for, since I've nurtured
An easily-satisfied mind, I know with certainty that the blessed [gods]-
Are on my side.
Virsioni 2
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
You might find it wise to not
Return my favor.
You keep away the lovers of words
Noble and beautiful, born for the seven-toned
Lyres, and pain me, and hurl
Reproach at me.
Perhaps all swollen up in this reproach, with the outrage
Satiate your heart, for my thought
Is not so easily affected
By your rage.
… nor(?) …
Gruppu 7:
Nustalgia pâ giuvintuti
41: Macari tu eri na picciriđđa tènnira
Virzioni 1
. . . . . . . . . .
…
…
…
For you also once were a tender child
And loved to sing: come, tell yourself
All these things, and from that heart
Generously gratify us;
For we're going to a wedding; and well and clearly
You also see this; but as fast as possible
Send away all the maidens, and may the gods
Find no dishonour.
The road to great Olympus is untrodden
… for man …
[................
................]
Virzioni 2
Indeed it were no matter for wonder
If some blamed you for coming to me
Or talking with me as you have done, and for showing such favour
To one to whom you should not ;
For we walk everywhere. But let us say this,
You and me, 'Is it possible for any maid
On earth to be far apart from the woman
She loves ?'.
42: Oh fìmmini tènniri
To them I said: «Tender women,
Such things as will be remembered near old age,
We too indeed in out bright youths
Have done them.
Many things indeed both beautiful and good we worked out
Back then; and to me, as I saw
You'd left the city, desire
Bit the heart
With sharp griefs.
43: Si tinissi ancora latti
If my teats still had a share
Of milk, or my womb was still fit
For child-making, then with untrembling feet
I would go to another
Bed; but now already old age
Surrounds my body with a myriad wrinkles,
And Eros the pain-giver no longer
Flies toward me;
… of the noble …
… taking
The sweet-voiced harp, sing to us
Of the violet-bosomed one.
… above all of loves
… as long as (s)he wanders
…
…
44: I doni ṙî Musi
Hasten ye toward the beautiful gifts of the violet-bosomed Muses,
Oh children, and [toward] the song-loving clear-toned lyre;
My once-tender body old age already
Has seized, and [my] hair, from black, has turned white,
And my heart has turned heavy, and my knees support me no longer,
Which were once as nimble in dancing as the fawns.
I often lament these things, but what could I ever do?
It's impossible for him who is human to become ageless.
Indeed once they said that rosy-fingered Dawn, because of love,
Climbed onto the bowl [of Helios], bringing Tithonus to the ends of þ
When he was handsome and young, but still grey old age, [Earth,
In time, seized him, who had an immortal wife.
Gruppu 8: Riguardu ô cantari
45: Ca iđđa dia successu â vucca migghiuri
… I called …
… around …
…
… since she fled …
… be bitten by the tooth of a snake …
… the gods totally; but you, Calliope, her …
…
[Once she] has called you of many names …
May progress be given to the better mouth.
46: Nci sia festa òra
Virsioni 1
… not …
… I pray …
May there now be festivity …
And underground may [] have
The great glory of the Muses, having gifts as is becoming.
And everywhere] they would marvel at me while, as I am on earth,
They call [me] a clear-toned swallow if, having taken the harp,
Or the barbiton or that lyre, I sing to wedding beds.
Virsioni 2
… not …
… I pray …
For me and my companions may there now be festivity,
And after, grown old, I die and end up underground,
Though I will keep the noble privilege of the servants of the Muses, as is befitting,
They would not marvel at me as they do now as I'm on earth;
Let [my] clear-toned song shine if, having taken the harp,
For my loved ones …, o Muse, I should sing beautiful things.
47: Â lira
Come indeed, divine lyre, to me
Start now to speak.
48: Pî mè cumbagni
These things now I will sing
Beautifully, delighting my friends.
Gruppu 9: Puisìi pi amici,
cunzigghi
49: A Dica
But Sappho expresses more simply the reason
for our practice of wearing garlands when she says:
But you, o Dica, put lovely garlands around your hair,
Having bound stems of anise together with your tender hands;
For it happens that even the blessed Graces had rather see
Flowery things, and turn away from the ungarlanded.
50: Riguardu â stati
Wet your lung with wine, for the star is coming round,
The hour is harsh, everything is in thirst under the burning heat,
There sings from the leaves the sweet cicada, and from below the wings
It constantly pours down a clear song, when the fiery
Summer, having flown down to earth, dries everything up.
There blooms the artichoke; now women are at their ugliest,
But men are feeble, for Sirius their heads and knees
Parches.
51: A Mica
… nor is it licit for you, Mica,
… to laugh, but I will not let you
… you chose the friendship of the women of the house of Penthilus
… this, o wily one, has bitten our hearts,
For to those, not to us, you gift a sweet song,
But now there has formed a sweet-sounding harmony of breezes:
It is not indeed the flute singing this, but the shrill winds.
52: Nun zi pirmètti lamèntu
It is not licit for there to be in the house of those who serve the Muses
An unending mourning, Kleis: nor would such a thing become us.
53: Cu è beđđu
He who is fair remains fair [only] to be seen,
He who is also good, will immediately also be fair.
54: U dinaru senza a virtuti
Money, not when it is alone by itself, but being also
embellished by virtue, opportunely enjoys the benefits of its own and those
of virtue, and has a wise concern for pursuing good things.
For each of these two on its own is not sweet:
Money without virtue is not a safe neighbour;
In the use of both lies the height of happiness.
55: Tegnu a menti ṙuçi
… for I am not one of those spiteful
with rage, but have a gentle mind. …
56: Lingua chi abbaia a vòtu
As anger spreads through [your] chest,
Guard ye your idly-barking tongue.
57: Nun mi spittu
I don't expect touch the sky with two arms.
58: Nun crèṙu ca nuđđa
I do not believe that any maiden who has seen
The light of the sun will, at any time, be
So skilful.
Gruppu 10: Mituluggia
59: Scinninnu ṙû çièlu
Si ṙiçi ca fu Saffo a prima a pařřari 'i na clàmide,
quannu ṙissi accussì ṙû mantellu ṙi Eros:
Cu na clamide ṙi purpura ṙû çièlu iđđu nni scinnìu.
60: Leda
Sutt'ê fiuri 'i giacintu - accussì ṙicunu -
Leda un jornu třuvau n' ovu ṙi cignu.
61: Riguardu ê palummi
Friddu comu u jacciu si fiçi u còri
Ṙ'iđđi, e li ali si nni cadèru.
62: Cìçiri d'oru
Supr'â riva rû mari nascèru ri çìçiri d'oru.
63: Latona e Niobe
Macari oggi i fìmmini e i picciotti giòvini
chiàmanu ê sò amici cari e střitti ἔταιραι "cumbagni",
comu Saffo:
Eranu Niobe e Latona cumbagni carissimi, è veru.
64: Pi sempri aj'a èssiri puseđđa
…
To golden-haired Phoebus, whom the daughter of Coeus bore,
Having mingled with the great-named son of Cronus, god
Artemis swore the gods' great oath: [of the high clouds,
«Yea, by your head, I will forever be a maiden
Unwed, hunting on the tops of the lonely
Mountains: come, grant this for my sake».
Thus spoke [she]; and the father of the blessed gods granted it,
And both gods and men call her by the great title
Of virgin, deer shooter, huntress.
To her body-melting Eros never goes near.
…
65: Sta a mòriri, o Citerèa
Mori u tènniru Adone: Citerèa, c'amm'a fari?
Ci âmm'a bàttiri u pettu e li vistiti âmm'a střappari
Gruppu 11:
Disìu 'i mòriri
66: Vinni Ermes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
…
…
…
And Gongyla said: "You could never know this,
Or did you want to leave some sign
To your children?" "Of course" I replied; Hermes
Came to us, the minister of Zeus; to him
I spoke thus: "O lord of the seven-toned lyre,
Indeed by the blessed goddess
I get no pleasure from being raised too much into happiness,
But some desire to die possesses me,
And to see the dewy, lotus-covered
Banks of Acheron …
And to go down to Hades' home, and to see
The dead I crave …
… nobody …
67: Vulissi aviri murutu
«I will never see Atthis,
And I truly wish I were dead».
And crying a lot she was leaving
Me, and told me this:
«Alas, what terrible things we've suffered,
O Sappho: unwilling indeed I leave you»
To her I replied thus:
«Leave with joy, and of me
Remember: for you know we cared for you.
If not, then I want you
To remember (which you will forget)
What dear and beautiful things we have experienced;
For many a garland of violets
And of roses and crocuses likewise
You would put round your head beside me,
And many woven
Necklaces garlands round your tender neck,
Made of dear flowers,
And with much perfume, costly
And regal, your beautiful hair
You generously anointed,
And on soft mattresses
By your tender addentants
You satisfied your longing for young women
And there never was hill nor
Temple nor spring of water
From which we kept away
Nor by springtime did noise
Fill any wood,
But our sweet singing».
Gruppu 12: Epigrammi
68: Epigramma 'i Timas
Chista è a cèniri 'i Timas, chi senza maritu murìu
E ṙi Afrodite la cammara 'i nozzi a accugghìu.
Mentři ca a mòriri stava, affilata pi chistu la spata,
Tutti i capiđđi sò ogni sò amica tagghiau.
69: Epigramma 'i Pelagon
Pi Pelagon piscaturi sò patři, Menisco, ccà misi
A řeti e u řemu: ṙâ sò vita nu signu essi su'.
70: Ufferta a Artèmide
Fimmini, a chiđđa ca spia, puru senza na vuçi, iu pařřu,
Cu chista vuçi ca sutt'a li peri mi sta.
Ad Etopìa figghia 'i Leto mi ṙesi Arista, a figghia
Di Ermocleidàs figghiu ṙi Saunaiadàs,
A serva tüa, riggina ṙî fimmini; ṙ'iđđa cuntenta,
A mè famigghia tu tantu putissi anurà!