by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Translation by Diane J. Rayor
δεῦρύ μ’ ἐκ Κρήτας ἐπὶ τόνδε ναῦον
Language: Aeolic Greek
δεῦρύ μ’ ἐκ Κρήτας ἐπ[ὶ τόνδ]ε ναῦον ἄγνον, ὄππ[ᾳ τοι] χάριεν μὲν ἄλσος μαλί[αν], βῶμοι τεθυμιάμε- νοι [λι]βανώντῳ· ἐν δ’ ὔδωρ ψῦχρον κελάδει δι’ ὔσδων μαλίνων, βρόδοισι δὲ παῖς ὀ χῶρος ἐσκίαστ’, αἰθυσσομένων δὲ φύλλων κῶμα κατέρρει· ἐν δὲ λείμων ἰππόβοτος τέθαλεν ἠρίνοισιν ἄνθεσιν, αἰ δ’ ἄηται μέλλιχα πνέοισιν [ [ ἔνθα δὴ σύ . . . . ἔλοισα Κύπρι χρυσίαισιν ἐν κυλίκεσσιν ἄβρως ὀμμεμείχμενον θαλίαισι νέκταρ οἰνοχόαισον
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with The Digital Sappho
Text Authorship:
- by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), no title, appears in Fragments, no. 2 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Patricia Van Ness , "Come to me from Kret", 1998, first performed 1998 [ soprano and mixed chorus ], from The Voice of the Tenth Muse, no. 2
Score: Patricia van Ness [external link]
Publisher: Patricia van Ness [external link] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Mary Barnard (1909 - 2001) , no title, appears in Sappho: A New Translation, no. 37 ; composed by Sheila Silver.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Diane J. Rayor)
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 68
Come to me from Krete to this holy
Language: English after the Aeolic Greek
Come to me from Krete to this holy temple, to the apple grove, the altars smoking with frankincense Cold water ripples through apple branches, the whole place shadowed in roses, from the murmuring leaves deep sleep descends, where horses graze, the meadow blooms spring flowers, the winds breathe softly... Here, Krypris, after gathering... pour into golden cups nectar lavishly you pour as wine
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
Based on:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 63