Sappho Fragment 31
Christopher Michael Petrik /
- Created on 2025-06-15 00:31:07
- Modified on 2025-06-15 00:44:00
- Translated by Anne Carson and Christopher Petrik
- Aligned by Christopher Michael Petrik
Ἑλληνική
English
English
Fragment 31
Anne Carson Translation
My Translation
φάινεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισιν
ἔμμεν ὤνερ , ὄττις ἐναντίος τοι
ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί-
σας ὐπακούει
καὶ γελαίσας ἰμερόεν τό μ᾽ ἦ μάν
καρδίαν ἐν στήθεσιν ἐπτόησεν ·
ὠς γὰρ εἰσίδω βροχέως σε , φώνας
οὐδὲν ἔτ᾽ ἴκει ·
ἀλλὰ κάμ μὲν γλῶσσα ἔαγε , λέπτον
δ᾽ αὔτικα χρῷ πῦρ ὐπαδεδρόμηκεν ,
ὀππάτεσσι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ὄρημ᾽ , ἐπιρρόμ-
βεισι δ᾽ ἄκουαι .
καδ δέ μ᾽ ἴδρως κακχέεται , τρόμος δὲ
παῖσαν ἄγρει , χλωροτέρα δὲ ποίας
ἔμμι , τεθνάκην δ᾽ ὀλίγω ᾽πιδεύης
φαίνομαι [ … ] .
ἀλλὰ πᾶν τόλματον …
ἔμμεν ὤνερ , ὄττις ἐναντίος τοι
ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί-
σας ὐπακούει
καὶ γελαίσας ἰμερόεν τό μ᾽ ἦ μάν
καρδίαν ἐν στήθεσιν ἐπτόησεν ·
ὠς γὰρ εἰσίδω βροχέως σε , φώνας
οὐδὲν ἔτ᾽ ἴκει ·
ἀλλὰ κάμ μὲν γλῶσσα ἔαγε , λέπτον
δ᾽ αὔτικα χρῷ πῦρ ὐπαδεδρόμηκεν ,
ὀππάτεσσι δ᾽ οὐδὲν ὄρημ᾽ , ἐπιρρόμ-
βεισι δ᾽ ἄκουαι .
καδ δέ μ᾽ ἴδρως κακχέεται , τρόμος δὲ
παῖσαν ἄγρει , χλωροτέρα δὲ ποίας
ἔμμι , τεθνάκην δ᾽ ὀλίγω ᾽πιδεύης
φαίνομαι [ … ] .
ἀλλὰ πᾶν τόλματον …
He seems to me equal to gods that man
whoever he is who opposite you
sits and listens close
to your sweet speaking
and lovely laughing — oh it
puts the heart in my chest on wings
for when I look at you , even a moment , no speaking
is left in me
no : tongue breaks and thin
fire is racing under skin
and in eyes no sight and drumming
fills ears
and cold sweat holds me and shaking
grips me all , greener than grass
I am and dead — or almost
I seem to me .
whoever he is who opposite you
sits and listens close
to your sweet speaking
and lovely laughing — oh it
puts the heart in my chest on wings
for when I look at you , even a moment , no speaking
is left in me
no : tongue breaks and thin
fire is racing under skin
and in eyes no sight and drumming
fills ears
and cold sweat holds me and shaking
grips me all , greener than grass
I am and dead — or almost
I seem to me .
It seems to me that man is equal to the gods
Whoever sits facing you
And closely listens to him sweetly murmuring
And charmingly laughing . This truly
Fluttered my heart in my chest .
For when I briefly looked at you , nothing of a voice
Yet comes .
But as my tongue has entirely broken , and a fine
fire has now run under my skin .
And I see nothing with my eyes , and my ears are buzzing .
And my sweat pours out , down on me and a shiver seizes all of me .
And I am greener than grass ,
And I seem to have nearly died .
But everything must be taken to heart .
Whoever sits facing you
And closely listens to him sweetly murmuring
And charmingly laughing . This truly
Fluttered my heart in my chest .
For when I briefly looked at you , nothing of a voice
Yet comes .
But as my tongue has entirely broken , and a fine
fire has now run under my skin .
And I see nothing with my eyes , and my ears are buzzing .
And my sweat pours out , down on me and a shiver seizes all of me .
And I am greener than grass ,
And I seem to have nearly died .
But everything must be taken to heart .