Sappho

The poem Willow is painting on Tara’s back in her dream in Restless is by Sappho and is in the original Greek:

Deathless Aphrodite on your lavish throne,
Enchantress, daughter of Zeus: I beg you, queen,
Do not overpower my soul with heartaches
and hard troubles,
But come here, if ever at another time
Having heard my voice you paid me attention
And leaving the golden house of your father
you came to me,
Yoking your horse and chariot: gorgeous swift
Sparrows carried you over the coal-black earth,
Thickly whirling their feathers through the midst of
heaven’s ether.
Swiftly they arrived, and you, O blessed one,
Smiling with your immortal face, you asked for
What I suffered, and why again I call you
And what in my maddened soul I desire most
To happen to me: what dearest one shall I now
Persuade to lead you back to her — who, O Sappho,
wronged you this time?
For even if she flees, swiftly she will pursue;
And if she does not receive my gifts, she will give;
And if she does not love me, swiftly she will love,
Even against her will. So come to my aid now,
Release me from my grievous cares, fulfill as much
As my heart yearns to be fulfilled: come, be my
fellow-fighter

   
Source:Purdue University
Suggested by: Jess
Added: › 6th May 2005
Updated:
Hits: › 432  


One Comment about “Sappho”

  1. richardelguru says:

    I think it’s amazing that they went to that much trouble for a few moments on screen. Of course they only did the first few lines:
    poikilo’ thron’ athanat’ aphrodita
    pai dios doloploka, lissomai se
    me m’asaisi med’ oniaisi damna
    potnia thumon
    alla tuid’ elth’ ai pota katerota
    tas emas audos aioisa peloi

    Ah her manycoloured throne! now if only they had used Aeolic sigma :-)

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.