Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics Part 5

XX

I behold Arcturus going westward Down the crowded slope of night-dark azure, While the Scorpion with red Antares Trails along the sea-line to the southward.

From the ilex grove there comes soft laughter,-- 5 My companions at their glad love-making,-- While that curly-headed boy from Naxos With his jade flute marks the purple quiet.

XXI

Softly the first step of twilight Falls on the darkening dial, One by one kindle the lights In Mitylene.

Noises are hushed in the courtyard, 5 The busy day is departing, Children are called from their games,-- Herds from their grazing.

And from the deep-shadowed angles Comes the soft murmur of lovers, 10 Then through the quiet of dusk Bright sudden laughter.

From the hushed street, through the portal, Where soon my lover will enter, Comes the pure strain of a flute 15 Tender with pa.s.sion.

XXII

Once you lay upon my bosom, While the long blue-silver moonlight Walked the plain, with that pure pa.s.sion All your own.

Now the moon is gone, the Pleiads 5 Gone, the dead of night is going; Slips the hour, and on my bed I lie alone.

XXIII

I loved thee, Atthis, in the long ago, When the great oleanders were in flower In the broad herded meadows full of sun.

And we would often at the fall of dusk Wander together by the silver stream, 5 When the soft gra.s.s-heads were all wet with dew, And purple-misted in the fading light.

And joy I knew and sorrow at thy voice, And the superb magnificence of love,-- The loneliness that saddens solitude, 10 And the sweet speech that makes it durable,-- The bitter longing and the keen desire, The sweet companions.h.i.+p through quiet days In the slow ample beauty of the world, And the unutterable glad release 15 Within the temple of the holy night.

O Atthis, how I loved thee long ago In that fair perished summer by the sea!

XXIV

I shall be ever maiden, If thou be not my lover, And no man shall possess me Henceforth and forever.

But thou alone shalt gather 5 This fragile flower of beauty,-- To crush and keep the fragrance Like a holy incense.

Thou only shalt remember This love of mine, or hallow 10 The coming years with gladness, Calm and pride and pa.s.sion.

XXV

It was summer when I found you In the meadow long ago,-- And the golden vetch was growing By the sh.o.r.e.

Did we falter when love took us 5 With a gust of great desire?

Does the barley bid the wind wait In his course?

XXVI

I recall thy white gown, cinctured With a linen belt, whereon Violets were wrought, and scented With strange perfumes out of Egypt.

And I know thy foot was covered 5 With fair Lydian broidered straps; And the petals from a rose-tree Fell within the marble basin.

XXVII

Lover, art thou of a surety Not a learner of the wood-G.o.d?

Has the madness of his music Never touched thee?

Ah, thou dear and G.o.dlike mortal, 5 If Pan takes thee for his pupil, Make me but another Syrinx For that piping.

XXVIII

With your head thrown backward In my arm's safe hollow, And your face all rosy With the mounting fervour;

While the grave eyes greaten 5 With the wise new wonder, Swimming in a love-mist Like the haze of Autumn;

From that throat, the throbbing Nightingale's for pleading, 10 Wayward, soft, and welling Inarticulate love-notes,