Sappho - Fragment #9
Translated by D. M. Robinson

O life divine! to sit before
Thee while thy liquid laughter flows
Melodious, and to listen close
To rippling notes from Love’s full score.
O music of thy lovely speech!
My rapid heart beats fast and high,
My tongue-tied soul can only sigh,
And strive for words it cannot reach.
O sudden subtly-running fire!
My ears with dinning ringing sing,
My sight is lost, a blinded thing,
Eyes, hearing, speech, in love expire,
My face pale-green, like wilted grass
Wet by the dew and evening breeze,
Yea, my whole body tremblings seize,
Sweat bathes me, Death nearby doth pass,
Such thrilling swoon, ecstatic death
Is for the gods, but not for me,
My beggar words are naught to thee,
Far-off thy laugh and perfumed breath.
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