by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Translation by Diane J. Rayor
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.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [author's text not yet checked 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 Wilhelm Killmayer (1927 - 2017), "Fainetai moi kynos", 1958 [ soprano and instrumental ensemble ], from Sappho - Fünf griechische Lieder, no. 4, Mainz, Schott [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Killmayer (1927 - 2017), "Fainetai moi kynos", 1959/60, first performed 1961 [ soprano and small orchestra ], from Sappho - Fünf griechische Lieder, no. 3, Mainz, Schott [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jan Novák (1921 - 1984), "Ode amatoria", from Cantica latina, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Constantine Athanasius Trypanis (1909 - 1993) , "To a Young Girl" ; composed by Liza Lim.
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) , no title ; composed by Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Walter Jens (1923 - 2013) , copyright © ; composed by Aribert Reimann.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , copyright © ; composed by Olga Neuwirth.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Henry Thornton Wharton)
- FRE French (Français) (Ernest Falconnet) , "À une femme aimée"
- FRE French (Français) (Pauline Mary Tarn) , "Ode à une Femme aimée", first published 1903
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , copyright ©
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
To me it seems
Language: English after the Aeolic Greek
To me it seems that man has the fortune of gods, whoever sits beside you, and close, who listens to you sweetly speaking and laughing temptingly; my heart flutters in my breast, whenever I look quickly, for a moment -- I say nothing, my tongue broken, a delicate fire runs under my skin, my eyes see nothing, my ears roar, cold sweat rushes down me, trembling seizes me, I am greener than grass, to myself I seem needing but little to die.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
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: 16
Word count: 81