Искусствоед
Sappho
Sappho to her Pupils
You slight the Muses, children, when you say:
"We'll crown Sappho for her sweet voice today."
Do you not see that Time my face has lined,
and snowy hairs among the black entwined?
I outstripped in the dance, as though on winfs,
the fawns, those nimblest of all living things?
But thus it is. What can I do, my dears?
Even the gods cannot turn back the years.
As rosy Dawn is tracked by starry Night,
so Age does ever darken all delight;
And Death would not return to me my life,
who gave not back to Orpheus his sweet wife.
But, children, hear me; even now I long
for gracious living, beauty, joy and song;
I have no wish to die before I need,
or quit this world until it is decreed.
It is enough for me that on this shore
I hold your love — I seek for nothing more.
(from "Sweet -voiced Sappho. Poems of Sappho and other Ancient Greek Authors translated into English Verse by Theodore Stephanides", 2015)
Sappho to her Pupils
You slight the Muses, children, when you say:
"We'll crown Sappho for her sweet voice today."
Do you not see that Time my face has lined,
and snowy hairs among the black entwined?
I outstripped in the dance, as though on winfs,
the fawns, those nimblest of all living things?
But thus it is. What can I do, my dears?
Even the gods cannot turn back the years.
As rosy Dawn is tracked by starry Night,
so Age does ever darken all delight;
And Death would not return to me my life,
who gave not back to Orpheus his sweet wife.
But, children, hear me; even now I long
for gracious living, beauty, joy and song;
I have no wish to die before I need,
or quit this world until it is decreed.
It is enough for me that on this shore
I hold your love — I seek for nothing more.
(from "Sweet -voiced Sappho. Poems of Sappho and other Ancient Greek Authors translated into English Verse by Theodore Stephanides", 2015)