by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Translation by Constantine Athanasius Trypanis (1909 - 1993)

Φαίνεταί μοι κῆνοσ ἴͅσοσ θέοισιν
Language: Aeolic Greek 
Φαίνεταί μοι κῆνοσ ἴͅσοσ θέοισιν
ἔμμεν’ ὤνηρ, ὄττισ ἐνάντιόσ τοι
ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί‑
    σασ ὐπακούει

καὶ γελαίσασ ἰμέρσεν, τό μ’ ἦ μὰν
καρδίαν ἐν στήθεσιν ἐπτόαισεν.
ὠσ γὰρ ἔσ σ’ ἴδω βρόχε’ ὤσ με φώνη‑
    σ’ οὐδὲν ἔτ’ εἴκει,

ἀλλ’ ἄκαν μὲν γλῶσσα μ’ ἔαγε, λέπτον
β’ αὔτικα χρῶι πῦρ ὐπαδεδρόμακεν,
ὀππάτεσσι δ’ οὐδὲν ὄρημμ’, ἐπιβρό‑
    μεισι δ’ ἄκουαι,

κὰδ δέ μ’ ἴδρωσ κακχέεται, τρόμοσ βὲ
λαῖσαν ἄγρει, χλωροτέρα βὲ ποίασ
ἔμμι, τεθνάκην δ’ ὀλίγω ’πιδεύησ
    φαίνομ’ ἔμ’ αὔται.

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Text Authorship:

  • by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 81

Language: English  after the Aeolic Greek 
But my tongue is frozen, and at once a
delicate fire flickers under my skin.  I no
longer see anything with my eyes, and
my ears are full of strange sounds.

Sweat pours down me, and trembling
Seizes me all over.  I am paler than grass,
And I seem to be little short of death.

Composition:

    Set to music by Liza Lim (b. 1966), "Voodoo Child", 1989, first performed 1990 [ soprano and instrumental ensemble ]

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-02-14
Line count: 7
Word count: 55