Sappho 2.1–16
Sappho 2 (Campbell) — Aphrodite summoned to the apple-grove. Text from a 3rd-c. B.C. potsherd; square brackets mark editors' supplements, and line 12 is lost entirely. · 17 lines
1–2δεῦρύ μ᾽ ἐκ Κρήτας ἐπ[ὶ τόνδ]ε ναῦον ἄγνον,
Hither to me from Crete, to this holy temple,
2–4ὄππ[ᾳ τοι] χάριεν μὲν ἄλσος μαλί[αν], βῶμοι δὲ τεθυμιάμε-νοι [λι]βανώτῳ·
where there is a lovely grove of apple-trees for you, and altars smoking with frankincense;
5–6ἐν δ᾽ ὔδωρ ψῦχρον κελάδει δι᾽ ὔσδων μαλίνων,
and in it cold water babbles through apple-branches,
6–8βρόδοισι δὲ παῖς ὀ χῶρος ἐσκίαστ᾽, αἰθυσσομένων δὲ φύλλων κῶμα καταίρει·
and the whole place is shadowed with roses, and from the shimmering leaves a spellbound sleep comes down;
9–11ἐν δὲ λείμων ἰππόβοτος τέθαλεν ἠρίνοισιν ἄνθεσιν, αἰ δ᾽ ἄηται μέλλιχα πνέοισιν [ … ]
and in it a horse-grazed meadow has bloomed with spring flowers, and the breezes blow honey-sweet
13ἔνθα δὴ σὺ … ἔλοισα Κύπρι
There indeed do you, Cypris, taking …
14–16χρυσίαισιν ἐν κυλίκεσσιν ἄβρως ὀμμεμείχμενον θαλίαισι νέκταρ οἰνοχόαισον
gracefully pour nectar, mingled with our festivities, into golden cups.