by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Translation by James Stephens (1882 - 1950)

Hesperus
Language: English  after the Aeolic Greek 
Upon the sober sky thy robes are spread, 
They drape the twilight, veil on quiet veil, 
Until the lingering daylight all has fled 
Before thee, modest goddess, shadow-pale : 
The hushed and reverent sky 
Her diadem of stars has lifted high. 
The tender lamb, the bleating kid, the fawn, 
All that the sunburnt day has scattered wide, 
Thou dost regather, holding till the dawn 
Each flower and tree and beast unto thy side : 
The sheep come to the pen, 
The dreams come to the men, 
And to the mother's breast 
The tired child doth come and take his rest. 
Evening gathers everything 
Scattered by the morning,
Fold for sheep and nest for wing, 
Evening gathers everything, 
Child to mother, queen to king 
Running at thy warning ; 
Evening gathers everything 
Scattered by the morning.

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-01-22
Line count: 22
Word count: 132