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THE SONGS OF
BILITIS
PIERRE LOUYS
of
iSilitisi
By
FESTI
PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR MEMBERS OF THE ALDUS SOCIETY LONDON AND NEW YORK, 1904
edition De d^tatiD
tun
have been printed
copies
nine hundred
and seventy-one
mark of
signed
the Society,
and
lettered copies,
author
copies on
Number
o<>t"
X
Copyright, iqo4
By H. M. Brown
/<s
THE SONGS OF
IS
BILITIS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
[E reader of Plato, whether he be a student, or a mere amateur of the classics,
little
ad-
thorough perception of that feeling of admiration of the beauty of the human form, and the admirableness
of physical perfection, which, among the ancients, whether Persian, Egyptian, or Greek, amounted
almost to worship.
The
Songs of
Bilitis
to undertake the
work
as a matter
of personal amuse-
ment, and
Pierre
his appreciation
Louys
same
in giving expression in
modern French
to that
feeling
[7]
the
human
form, which,
obsession.
Notwithstanding
learned
the
Gottingen,
who
told
in
1896
in
took up arms
in
learned
Greek
life,
exquisitely
it
beautiful
modern
French, and
who
sought, with
as a text, to bring
and
inspiratrice,
Sappho, the
fence
beauty
many of
the
songs
while
presented.
The most
bound
to
is
and the
poems do not
scribed
;
social conditions
among
[8]
for moralists
and regulators of
social ethics,
concerning
book of
this charac-
to individuals
be placed in their hands without harm and without producing any general perfor
There
its
is
no doubt that
many
the
book was
;
mystification,
upon its first appearance in 1 894 that pretence of being a collection of songs " translated
for the first time "
was believed by
be a truth-
better, to
criti-
cisms which
that
many
appearance called forth in Europe, of the " dry as dust " professors of antiquiIt
ties in
and Greek
literature to
to be a
modern prowill
be,
no one
deny
in
young
poems
[9]
prose which for delicacy of touch, and beauty of language, has seldom been equalled.
This
translation, as I
originally
made
it
amuseof
to
ment, and
offer
to the public.
it
To
correct taste
will
appeal as
should.
To
those
who
in-
it
is,
the trans-
In the
effort to
is
far as the
English language
avoid
sible,
to
forms, believing
strength
lies
employ the simplest English words and that in a work of this character,
largely in simplicity.
for
The
capacity of
the
French language
expressing in a soft
things
and
inoffensive
manner
many
which cannot be
literal
made
clear in
bilities,
translation,
and
as this
for
[lo]
it
is
readers will
find
no
difficulty in
under-
igoj.
["]
LIFE OF BILITIS
I
LITIS
was born
at the
commencement
era, in a
forests
mountain village situated upon the banks of the Melas in the eastern part of Pamphylia. The country is rough and forbidding, shadowed by huge and dominated by the enormous mass of Mt.
Springs,
rocks,
Taurus.
heavily
salt
charged with
lakes slumber
lime,
flow
its
from
its
huge
among
heights,
and
its
and
silent.
woman. She seems never to have known her Greek father, for his name appears in no part of her
It
is
would be
difficult
to explain
how
it
happened
that
[13]
she bore a Phoenician name, such as alone her mother could have given her.
life
of
with
her
mother
and
sisters.
Other
young
from
girls
who were
her.
Upon
the
wooded
plateaus of Taurus,
went to the stable, led out the animals to drink, and busied herself with their milking. During the day, if it rained, she remained in the gynasceum, and
rose,
distaff. fields,
On
nymphs Bilitis had a most and worshipped them with a most ardent piety. The sacrifices that she offered were nearly always at their fountain. Often even, she speaks of them, but it seems she never had seen them,
evident that for the
regard,
tender
so
much
a blind old
man, who was said once to have surprised them while bathing. The end of her pastoral existence was saddened by an amour, concerning which we know but little, al-
[14J
though
in her
it
at length.
She
ceased to sing of
became a saddened memory. Become the mother of a child which she abandoned, Bilitis quitted Pamphylia for unknown reasons, and never again saw the place of her birth. We find her later at Mytilene, whither she went by
as
soon
as
it
sea, coasting
At
this
Heim, who
established
life
of
Bilitis,
death of Pittakos.
Lesbos was then the centre of the world. On the main road between beautiful Attica and luxurious
Lydia,
it
had
more sumptuous
corrupt than
city
than
Sardes
Mytilene, builded upon a peninsula which out upon the shores of Asia.
entirely
looked
surrounded the
city.
sea almost
towers of
Its
narrow
in
streets
brilliant
[15]
The
and upon
their
of
silver,
roughly chiselled in
selves
oils.
wore
hair in curls
perfumed with
rare
of dances.
Pittakos
himself,
who
desired to
made when
under a
vals
;
certain
this
law, like all laws which pretend to change the course of natural morals, only served to
but
[i6]
stimulate
its
own
infraction,
and not
to encourage
its
observance.
in
women,
the wives
could not
fail
to seek
some
and to find consolation for their ennui. From this it came about that they were led to give themselves to those delicate amours, to which antiquity itself gave their name, and which possess, whatever men may think, more of true passion than of peculiar vice. At this time Sappho was still beautiful. Bilitis knew her, and speaks of her under the name of Psappha, the name under which she passed in Lesbos. It was that admirable woman who taught the little Pamphylienne the art of singing in rhythmic phrases, and to preserve for posterity the names and lives of
her dear friends.
Unfortunately
Bilitis
woman, to-day
this
known,
the case,
and there
is
word touching
grand
inspiratrice
greatest value.
In revenge
age,
friendship with a
young
girl
of her
own
who was
[17]
called Mnasidika,
her.
We
were
of Sappho,
in
is
name even
we
which her beauty is praised, but her doubtful, and Bergk seems to believe
The
songs that
on prove that this hypothesis may Mnasidika seems to have been a very sweet and innocent little girl, one of those charming creatures who have for a mission in life only to allow
be abandoned.
themselves to be loved
;
one of those
women
for
whom
part,
there
is
always ready to be
given them.
Intrigues without motives last the longest
:
this love
Bilitis for Mnasidika lasted ten years. It was ended through the fault of Bilitis, whose excessive
of
When
she
felt
Pamphylia
was there
recalled to her many times the memory of her native land. that Bilitis commenced a third period
[i8]
of her
life,
and that
to
in a
manner
it
will
be
difficult for
my
readers
understand, unless
they
recall
and
among The
courtesans of
like ours,
decent society
of the
city.
Every
women in the same respected position. The incomparable history of Phrynae, as it has been handed down to us by Athena, will give some idea
what was the nature of that veneration. It is not true that Hyperides stripped her stark naked in order to influence the Areopagus. Her crime was a great one. She had committed murder. The orator in
sustaining his eloquent
appeal
tunic,
put to
and appealed to them not death the beautiful priestess and the woman
inspired by Aphrodite.
[19]
many
courtesans
who
went about dressed in transparent flowing robes, through which appeared all the details of their bodies, while Phrynae was in the habit of concealing her charms and her hair in one of those full plaited vestments, of which the figurines of Tanagra have preserved
unless
to
it
us
the
No
one,
But upon one occasion a most extraordinary event occurred. It was the day of the fete of Eleusis ; twenty thousand people came from all parts of Greece, and were assembled upon the
the
public
shore,
the
She
even
she
let
down
all
of her beautiful
In this crowd
stood Praxiteles, who, after this living goddess, designed the Aphrodite of Cnidos
:
Anadyomene.
beauty naked
false
An
whom
might show
shame.
[20]
would
life
was
admirable
also.
men-
come down
have given us so
little
knowledge concerning
her personality.
Philodemes,
who
Fail-
ing
in
must be
courtesan.
as
She was a courtesan, that is not to be denied even her last songs prove that if she had the virtues of her But I wish only to vocation, she had also its faults.
;
upon her
of temple so
by her
merits.
practiser
her religion.
She remained
faithful to the
long as Aphrodite consented to prolong the youth She has said " When she of her most pure adorer.
ceased to love, she ceased to write."
is
Nevertheless,
it
difficult
during
which the incidents described were actual occurrences. How should a little shepherdess of the mountains
learn
to
?
verse
more reasonable
to believe that,
^olean become
old, Bilitis
found pleasure
last
We
life.
know noth-
period of her
We
G.
do not
at
even
by
M.
Heim
of Amathonte.
These
ruins have
Bilitis lived,
Said.
But
the
cian
tomb was
custom, and
Heim
tomb
by the way of a ditch once filled with earth, at the end of which he encountered a huge doorway, which it was necessary to demolish. The broad, low tomb, paved with slabs of limestone, had four walls covered with plaques of amphibolite, upon which were engraved, in primitive capitals, all the songs which we are
about to read, with the exception of three epitaphs.
which decorated the outside of the sarcophagus. It was there that reposed the remains of the friend of Mnasidika, in a large coffin of terra-cotta, under a cover modelled by some able statuary, who had figured in the clay the visage of the dead. The hair was painted black, the eyes half closed and prolonged outwardly with a touch of crayon, as if she had been alive, and the cheek as shown was made tender by a slight smile that softened the lines of the mouth. Nothing can ever tell us what were those lips, at the same time fine and fiall, soft and cleanly cut, united the one to the other, and yet slightly separated, as
if
own
con-
tact.
When
state in
the
in the
which a pious hand had placed her, twentyVials of perfume hung to the
all
these
was
still
odorous.
silver, in
The
mirror of polished
which
Bilitis
had
so often seen her face, the stylet that had drawn the
little
with
all its
snow, and so
it
moment when
fragile that,
it
crumbled
18^4.
.U>:
^-
[24]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Frontispiece
The
Flowers
48
The
Water
in
the Basin
240
*^
Can
. .
it
It seemeth
and behold,
.... me I was born but yesterday, already I must say, no one will love
me
more."
The True
Death.
.316
BUCOLICS IN PAMPHYLIA
Sweet
still
to
me
the melodies,
reeds.
The
prattling pan-pipes,
flutes.
Theocritus.
THE TREE
[28]
[TRIPPED
in a close
of
my
tree.
clothes,
naked,
climbed into a
My
bare thighs
damp
bark.
My
sandals
trod
upon
the branches.
Almost
at the top,
but
still
in the
heat, I
my
The
ran over
rain
fell
upon me and
my
My
and
my
felt
the
life
blew through
its
Then
pressed
my
lips
my
open
[29]
II
[30]
[ET us
us
call
Let
the winds
I
of Summer.
and
together
watch
our
from
the
round
leaves of an
upon
the
meadow.
She springs
;
gathers
of the brook.
And
I, I
white fleece of
I
my
sheep to garnish
spin.
The
my distaff An eagle
while
soars
The shadow
flowers
turns. jar
and the
fields.
of milk.
call
of the
Let us
winds of Summer.
[31]
Ill
MATERNAL ADVICE
[3^]
mother bathes
me
in
the darkness.
She dresses
me
my
hair in the
but
if I
the
my
girdle,
and
makes
in
it
a double knot.
shalt play
alone with
little
children
soft
of the window,
from the
one, e'en as
is
the fate of
all,
come
flutes.
shalt
go away,
;
Bilito,
me
one for
the morning, one for the noon, and the third, the
most
bitter
of
all,
fete.
IV
[34]
Y
a
wavy
folds hangs
I
down my
little
back, and on
my head
wear
cap.
white wool.
My vest My legs
is
lived in a city
and
slippers of
look upon
my
naked
of dust.
Psophis
come
to
me, poor
feet
little
one, lead
little
me
to
my
with thy
hands, and
upon them
olives
and
violets to
perfume them,
even
as the flowers.
To-day thou
shalt be
my
slave,
me and
give
will
mother, round
lentils
from
my
garden.
[35]
[36]
BLIND
tain.
old
man
lives
upon
the
moun-
dead since
is
now
is
for that he
in the
memory of
" Yes,
psychria, Limnanthis
bank
in
the
The
water
their heavy,
long
Their
nails
wings of locusts.
like
their fingers
upon
drew up
long
as
from an
stems.
About
their
wide-spread
thighs
soft
ripples circled."
[37]
VI
SONG
[38]
lORTI-TORTUE,
here
among us
Helas
Helas
why do you
?
not come
and dance
'
am
too
full
of sorrow.
am
too
full
of sorrow.
us
?
among
Helas
Helas
not
What
you.
I will
tell
not
tell
you.
among
us
oil for
Helas
Helas
And
?
who, then,
dead
How
among
us
Helas
Oh,
tell
us
how
From
From
the back of
white horses.
l39l
VII
THE PASSER BY
[40]
was seated
at
f^
man
passed me.
I
He
I
turned
away
my
head.
He
He
snatched a sickle
his cheek,
from the
had
he advanced a step.
little,
he commenced to
and blew
in
his
" Receive
distress
such
Annoyed, believing
a
as
by
scorpion,
!
wept and
cried,
He
has embraced
me
"
But
and led
my
me
also,
me away
[41]
VIII
THE AWAKENING
[4^]
ONG
since,
should also
morning
is
sweet,
warmth of
caress.
my
bed hold
me
as
in
In a short while
give to the goats
flask
will
go
to the stable.
I will
thei.r
and the
I will
Then
milk from
will
fasten
them
to
their
warm,
of me,
soft udders,
I
and
if
the kids
will
I will
go
But not
yet.
is
The sun
and
my
mother
[43
IX
THE RAIN
[44]
IHE
fine
rain has
softly,
and
in
silence.
I will
And
still
it
rains, a little.
in the streets.
My feet
soil
be naked,
that
may
not
my
shoes.
The
rain
of
spring-time
is
delicious.
The
branches of the
forth a
trees,
One
sees the
smooth and
the sun.
Helas
How many
upon
flowers
Have
them
pity
Do
not sweep
together, and
for the bees.
mix them
in the
them
The
beetles
and the
snails
his eyelids.
[45]
THE FLOWERS
[46]
|YMPHS
Hide
my
aid, for I
am burdened
with
many
plucked
flowers.
Help me
some
my
heaviest rose.
Look
I
I
fields, that
you do not
help
me
to
make them
If you refuse
me
Beware.
hair,
saw her
manner of the
beasts,
and
will
denounce
[47]
XI
IMPATIENCE
[48]
'
Nymphs
of the woods
and fountains,
The
Flowers.
Original Etching
by James Fagan.
c"r-\
^vr 1
|S^3
THREW
/jvj
my
hot tears
my
me
speak.
" Alas
am
only a
little child.
When
shall
like
thee,
fill
shall
my
"
tunic,
and be temptation
for kisses?
No
if
my
tunic
falls.
me
from
if I
No my
give
No
one
tells
me
me
my
lips to
another."
And
girl,
she replied to
me
tenderly.
"
Bilitis, little
thou
the
thyself sad
without
reason.
They
most
impatient, are
[49]
XII
COMPARISON
[5!
^ERGERONETTE,sing of our
first
bird
!
of
Venus,
bodies
as
desires
The
of young
does
night of
all
girls
the
earth
The
will talk
about
it
among
will
We
ent,
still
beauties, so differ-
my
older
breasts that
had
grown
to
my
straight tunic,
she called
me "
No man
the girls,
all
could see us
we placed
ourselves before
naked, and,
if in
me,
Come
first
Bergeron!
ette, bird
desires
[51]
XIII
THE RIVER
IN
THE FOREST
[5^1
>^l^ BATHED
/Orj
"^iC^
alone.
in the river
!
of the
forest,
Alas
I
of me, for
from
afar
called
I
upon them.
That
nuke
might resemble
black as
them,
hair
;
bound upon
my
lilies,
my
Of
made me
up
a green belt,
breasts as I
and that
might see
it, I
pressed
my
leaned forward.
And
with
called
" Naiads
!
Naiads
Come
play
me
Be kind
"
are trans-
parent,
have caressed
lS3}
XIV
COME, MELISSA
[54]
HEN
of the
is
softened,
we will go and
river,
upon
the banks
we
crocus, or for a
dewy
hyacinth.
We
will
make them
into
round
collars,
and into
We
will
take each
Come, sweet
Naiads
ones
!
!
one
Give
us
honey.
;
Come,
We
come, sweet
And we
wine, but
will
make
curved horns.
[55]
XV
iss}
HE
women
who
ellers
The women
upon
and
When
say,
mean
to
is
" Psyche
to
be had."
When
is
The men
women do
not.
is
As
for
me
for
turned,
Psyche
is
always to
be had.
[57]
XVI
DANCES BY MOONLIGHT
[58]
PON
all
young
The
virgins said:
"We
And
as if they were
satyr played
upon
The
They
of men
others said
"
We
in ecstasy while
entwining
Then
a kiss.
[59]
XVII
[60]
HE
river
is
marsh
the air
upon the
gravel.
It is there that
little
play.
They wade
in
the
is
up
in the current,
and sometimes
slip
little
upon
girls,
laugh.
And when
astonishment at
[6i]
XVIII
THE
STORIES
[62]
'0^sagn AM
/j*Crj
loved by
little
children;
when
"^3
5^^!^
thsy see
me
^TTa themselves
their little
my
tunic,
and
throw
arms around
my
legs.
all
me,
if
it
in
my
hand,
if
me and make
me
sit
Then
their little
they kiss
me upon my
cheek.
They
lay
heads upon
my
I
breast,
and implore
it is
me
Well
know what
they wish
They would
for
we
death of
Helle."
163}
XIX
[64]
UR
at the
same
Melissa,
still still
my
dearest friend.
The
roses
lie
upon
the road
the torches
burn.
And
my
mother, and
is
walk
think.
what she
Am
already
so grown a
woman ?
"
The
hymn, and
Even
my
Melissa, I shall
shall also
know
love in
little
my
[65]
XX
CONFIDENCES
I661i
HE
We
that
next day
her.
other.
She led
me
chamber
we might be
had much
all.
forgot
I I
upon her
neck, and
in her
face
my
friend,
and
yet, neverthe-
less, since
many
things
Impulsively
sat
took her
in
my
arms.
whispered
in her ear.
Then
all.
and told
me
[67]
XXI
[68]
^T
>^"1
women and
are
the
I
U
\
branches
of
willows
aUke.
lake.
SudI
heard singing
then only
girls.
knew
I said to
them, "
those
What
who
are
They
replied
"
To
return."
One
awaited the
coming of her
father,
who
for
They walked
went
my way
in
escorted me.
XXII
A SONG
("
")
[70]
JHADOW
mistress
should come,
fled
me where
has
is
my
gone
"
down
where
fields,
has
my
gone ? "
me
tell
me
is
she
me?"
"She
has
left
?
me
"
seest
thou her
still
" She
has
left
"
Oh
white
city, tell
me where
light,
her?"
gold, which
Sardis."
street
of
street
of
has
feet
"
Oh
palace
back to
me!"
"Look!
along
of gold
above her
breasts,
her hair, an
hundred
pearls
and
two
arms
[71]
XXIII
LYKAS
[7^]
OME,
eat
we
will
go into the
;
fields,
under
will
there
we
hives,
we
will
make
traps
locusts with
the stems of
asphodels.
Come, we
father's
will
his
herds
under the
of shady Taurus.
Already
player
is
flute.
skilful
he.
Is
he not beautiful as
Adonis
Oh, Lykas
figs
let
us have milk.
from our
fig-trees.
Oh, bearded
cite
she-goats, be
you ex-
[73]
XXIV
[74]
"CS^fflJjgwT
/prj
is
whom
tliey
wor-
"^^3
woven by
my own
cAcI
over
may
be a kind goddess,
who
will
watch
me
in a difficult labor.
Neither
is it
for
Athena
whom
although she
may be made of
ivory,
carries in her
hand a pomegranate
the
birds.
No,
whole
it
is
for Aphrodite,
whom
tree
worship with
my
what
my
lips
long
for, if I
my
garland of tender
roses.
But
I will
beg
will stretch
I will
myself up on the
of
my
toes,
and
whisper
my
secret into a
cleft in
the bark.
[75]
XXV
THE BEDFELLOW
[76]
IHE
tempest
lasted
all
through
beautiful
the
hair
night.
Selenis
of the
came
to spin with
me.
She remained,
for fear
we
filled
my
little
bed.
When
the
door.
young
"
outside
?
Bilitis,
me whom
thou lovest
and she
slid
her legs
between
my
might love
me
tenderly.
And
Bilitis,
my
lips
"
know,
I
it
whom
me
thou lovest.
I
am
not
Lykas."
plain to
And
"
Is
woman?
Thou makest
merry
at
an unfitting time."
replied
:
But she
am
Lykas,
if
Behold
his
."
And
she enchants
my
[77]
XXVI
A PRAYER TO PERSEPHONE
[78]
URIFIED
by the
in
ritual ablutions,
and dressed
tunics
of
violet,
we have thrown
earth with
our hands
with
branches of olive.
may
if this
name
please,
Sterile
queen,
who
smileth never.
is
sick
and
Thou
after
some day,
that she
is
still
a virgin,
Grant
and we
will
ewes, unsheared."
[79]
XXVII
[80]
for
him we have
It
of
dice.
was a
famous
game.
girls
There
were
many
young
to look on.
She threw
first
the
Then
loser,
and
I, feeling
myself the
threw
terrible
coup
of " Chios,"
I,
the
won
pale, I
heard
me
"
Weep
not,
little
friend,
we
will let
him
[8i]
XXVIII
THE DISTAFF
[8a]
LL
g
day long
my
me
my
sisters,
whom
do not
love,
a corner alone,
turn
my
it is
distaff.
"
Distaff, since I
am
to thee
me
" If
it
is
not here
would be
sitting, in the
I
on the sunny
fields
" Because he
let
is
poorer than
I,
my
mother
I
will
not
me marry
him.
But
care not,
say to them,
it
either
his
my
will
be
hand that
me
[83]
XXIX
THE PAN-PIPES
[84]
made of
fine cut
wax
that
sweet to
my
lips as
honey.
He
I
taught
little
me
to play, seated
upon
his knees,
but
was a
;
He
played after
me
We
had nothing
much
turn by turn,
It has
grown
late
listen to the
frogs
will
who commence
My
I
mother
never believe
me when
say that
have stayed
my
lost sash.
[85]
XXX
THE
TRESSES
[86]
E
I
said to
dreamed.
Thy locks
had thy
All about
my
neck.
black necklace,
my
upon
my
"
I
breast.
kissed
it
it,
and
it
was mine
together for
all
And
With
by
lip
we were bound
lip,
time
upon
We
were one,
like
one
root.
"
And
little
by
little it
seemed
to
me.
became
thyself,
Entered into
me
my
thought."
When
Into
hand upon
my
shoulders.
my
I
That
lowered
my
glance, shivering.
[87]
XXXI
THE CUP
[88]
lYKAS
saw
me come
to
him dressed
the day's
only in a winding
scarf, for
model
my
breast which
remained
uncovered.
He
should
took
fine clay,
it
kneaded
Then he
pressed
upon
my
thought
From my moulded
and umbilicated.
tinted
all
it
breast,
He
put
it
and
about
Then we went
to the
is
consecrated
in the current,
[89]
XXXII
ROSES IN
THE NIGHT
[90]
HEN
^
the
night
mounts
into
the
We
to the spring,
woods
naked
feet
to the glades, or
may
lead us.
The
shadows
little stars
as
we
are.
is
known
to us alone,
a thicket
and which
attracts us across
the forest
of mysterious wild
roses.
For nothing
is
so divine in
all
How
is
when
had no lover,
never
knew
their intoxication
[91]
XXXIII
REMORSE
[92]
first
would not
reply,
and
my
my
cheeks, and
my
my
breasts.
Then
turned
lips,
resisted,
told
him
"No!
No!"
my
my
not open
nor
my
tight-closed knees.
Then he begged me
hair,
. . .
to
my
felt
his
I
Now
am
And
bite
my
and
I stifle
my
l93l
XXXIV
[941
V -lLL
like
^
alone
a
lay
me down and
slept,
partridge
heather.
The
mur-
me
Imprudent,
slept,
a cry.
was too
?
late.
What
of a child able to do
He
pressed
would not
quit me.
me
saw
neither the earth, nor the trees, but only the light of
his eyes.
To
oiFerings
thee,
still
Kypris victorious,
consecrate
these
my
sleep,
and
my
[95]
XXXV
THE WASHERWOMAN
[96]
washers,
tell
seen me.
confide in
!
you
reveal
not
and
my my
secret
Between
I
my
tunic
breasts
bring
you some-
thing.
am
like
little
frightened bird.
...
know
as
not
if I
I
dare to
tell
you.
. .
My
heart beats
I
though
you.
would
die.
It is a veil that
bring
A
see
:
veil
my
By
:
thighs.
You
it
there
Apollo,
was
in spite
of
me
struggled hard
but the
man who
loves
is
Wash them
I will
well
you
at the feet
of Aphro-
dite.
silver.
[97]
XXXVI
SONG
("
WHEN HE RETURNED
")
[98]
HEN
my
he returned,
hid
my
face
with
two hands.
" Fear
kissing
He said to me nothing. Who has seen our " " Who has seen us
?
The
moon."
And
looked
first
dawn.
The moon
it
to the
The
to the oar.
And
it
to the boat,
!
to the fisher.
Helas
it
Helas
if
that were
But
to a
woman.
The
and
it
to a
woman.
and
all
My
father
will
my
it.
mother, and
my
sisters,
Hellas
know
[99]
XXXVII
BILITIS
[loo]
NE
woman may
of white wool.
Another dress
and gold.
in a
garment of
silk
Another
and grapes.
As
naked.
robes,
for
me,
take no joy of
life
except
when
My
lover takes
me
just as
am
without
Bilitis,
or jewels,
or sandals.
Behold me,
naked, alone.
My
me
free
hair
is
black with
its
own
blackness,
my
lips
own
color.
My
and round,
like feathers.
Take me
long past
;
as
my mother made me in
if I
a night of love
and
please
to
tell
me.
[lOl]
XXXVIII
[102]
HE
little
house
in
which
is
his
bed
It
is
is
the prettiest in
all
the world.
made with
thatch.
walls of dried
and
roof of
love
it,
for, since
grown
cold,
we have
slept
there together
When
I,
rise
day, even
find
myself
weary.
The
other.
rhattress
is
upon
the ground
two coverlids
against
my
breasts.
My
heart throbs.
He
poor
presses
girl
me
that
little
am.
But when he
in
is
within
me,
the
my
me
from
my
ecstasy.
[103]
XXXIX
[104]
ELAS
letter.
Woe
I
is
me
have
lost his
put
it
between
my
skin and
my
the
warmth of
my
breast.
ran,
it
must have
fallen.
will
go back,
it,
will retrace
tell it
they will
my steps. If to my mother,
sisters.
any
and
be beaten before
my
mocking
If
it
is
a
;
man who
has found
it,
he
will give
it
back to
secret, I
me
me
in
know
means
to ravish
it
from him.
If
it
is
woman who
has read
it
it,
O
all
Guardian
the world,
Zeus, protect
me
to
my
[105]
XL
SONG
("the night
is
so
profound")
[io6]
HE
darkness
is
so profound,
eyes.
it
seems
shalt
to penetrate
my
Thou
shalt
Thou
lose
The
fills
my
ears.
Thou
The odor
of the flowers
fall.
is
so strong that
I faint
it
and am about to
even
if
Thou
wouldst not
know
Ah
he
is
indeed
far
him
as
[107]
XLI
THE PLEDGE
[io8]
HEN
hills.
When
the
wheat
and
the
moving
"When
lakes,
the
pines
shall
spring
up out of
rocks,
the
and the
lilies
shall
when
become
black,
shall fall
upon
meadows
will I take to
me
another
woman, and
life,
I will
forget thee,
Bilitis
soul of
my
heart of
my
heart."
He
What
He
?
has told
?
me
this
will
matters
Where
Where, unreason-
my joy
[109]
XLII
NIGHT
[no]
'S^^JgSBHT
/prj
is
now who go
night,
1
isl^ Each
C^^j
most
softly,
leave the
him
sleep.
Sometimes
happy
in seeing
approach
my
lips to
his, that I
may
Then
awakes
in
quickly
He
my
struggle
against him.
He
resigns
himself, laughs,
and em-
braces me.
Thus we
First
light
of day,
wicked
light,
thou
so
soon
ranean
can
we love
. .
so long, that
.
we
shall lose
remembrance of thee
[Ill]
XLIII
CRADLE SONG
[iia]
LEEP
toys,
and
!
robes
to
Babylon.
Sleep
thou
daughter
of
Bilitis
The woods,
give to thee.
The
trunks
Sleep
lest sea.
will
sell
the
is
sun to the
less light
The wind
Daughter of mine,
say,
flesh
of
my
flesh,
thou shalt
moon, or
["3]
XLIV
["4l
LONG
fore
through
frost, I
the
woods
;
covered
hair be-
with hoar
jj
walk
my
my
lips glistens
with
little icicles,
and
my
He
said
to
me
"
What
seekest
little
thou
"
"I
His
forked foot-
But he
"
said to
me
"
The
The
satyrs,
also.
For twenty
terrible winter.
The
us rest
that of a buck.
is."
But
let
where
their
tomb
And
ice
He
[IIS]
II
ELEGIACS IN MYTILENE
Let
fruit
be crushed on
fruit, let
flower on flower.
bum
?
one hour.
are thine
Why
Too weak
hands and
A.
lips
of mine
C. Swinburne.
Sappho.
occurs,
" She
thrown
is
disdain has
me
["7]
XLV
ON THE SHIP
[ii8]
EAUTIFUL
me
abandon
ship
that
hast brought
thee
to
the
glistening
I
spring
upon
the shore.
Thou
is
and take
them from me
this
my own
hands.
Thou
and birds
May
by dolphins,
at the pleasure
of the kindly
sea.
["9]
XLVI
SAPPHO
[120]
... It Ah who
!
is is
already
this near
I
woman?
. . ,
By
Oh,
Paphia,
Charites
^^!^
had forgotten.
how ashamed am
I.
To
isle,
is
this
If
were not
utterly weary,
it
should believe
this is the
it
some dream.
!
Can
be possible that
Sappho
She
her hair
sleeps.
is
Surely she
is
beautiful, although
But
this
would
!
like
at
to
go
away before
she
I
wakes.
Helas
am
must
her
straddle
thigh,
over her.
am
afraid
lest
touch
will
seize
me
as
cross her.
[121]
XLVII
KYSfi
[12a]
wo
and
little girls
lead
as
me
to their
is
home,
closed,
as
soon
the door
would dance
for
me.
as
brown
as
their
bellies.
They
little
sonorous hands.
Kyse dances
in
by the
breasts,
bites
XLVIII
ADVICE
[124]
HEN
settle.
She took
Glottis
upon one
"
I
Come
here,
little
one."
But
remained where
fear
was.
of us
Draw
thee.
:
They
will
the honey
Man
is
violent
and
lazy.
Thou knowest
that
without doubt.
Shun him.
He
has a
flat
breast,
But women
"
Women
only
know how
if
to love
And
women who
love thee."
XLIX
UNCERTAINTY
[126]
HETHER
not which
I
Glottis or Kyse, I
know
they
should espouse.
As
me
and
am
afraid to
choose.
my
hands, and
shall
I
my
?
breasts also.
But
to
which
give
my
lips
To
which
shall I give
?
my
heart and
all else
It
is
all
three
People talk of
it
in
Mytino
temple
greeting.
of
Ares,
woman who
It
is
me
Glottis
whom
prefer; but
cannot cast
all
Kyse
aside.
of her
alone
Shall I let
as they were,
and take to
me
another friend
[127]
THE MEETING
[ia8]
HAVE
found
Tier as
clump
to
of myrtle, enveloped
from
head
"
said to
me
I
nearest city
with
my
mother, who
I
a widow,
and always
sad.
If thou wishest
will
follow thee.
it
"
I will
at
with thee,
is
me
away.
Thy hand
soft
are blue.
let
us away.
little
will
me
to
except
it
be this
hung
my
necklace.
We
will
we
will offer to
them both
roses, in
recompense
for
each night."
[129]
LI
[130]
HE
little
tects
Mnasidika,
was
modelled
at
Camiros by a
skilful potter.
It is as
yellow clay.
its
squared
shoulders.
Its
its
mouth
very small.
For
With
worked
its
right
hair,
hand
it
points to
its
delta,
which
is
like
upon
is
the lower
For
it
an image of
With
its left
hand
it
sustains
its
breasts,
which are
Between
its
is
For
it
The
[131]
LI I
DESIRE
[132]
HE
other.
Never
in
my
life
have
had a
(against)
me,
full
of love
and consentment.
One of my
knees,
little
by
little,
way
as
My
With
bed
:
we
separate.
LIII
THE WEDDING
[134]
HE
she
feast in the
whom
and
had
her
mother.
veil
And
women, she
In
awaited
her
chamber
filled
with
greenery,
she
has
me
like a spouse.
And
a car between
me and
One of
of the bride.
hand.
her
breasts
burned
in
my
also.
shoulders and
[135]
LIV
THE
PAST
THAT
STILL LIVES
[136]
WILL
it,
wrinkled, in order
imprint
the side
of her form
may remain by
of mine.
Until to-morrow
I will
I will
not wear
my
clothing,
and
not
comb my
hair,
one of her
caresses.
I will
morning nor
this evening,
and upon
my lips
I will
may
remain.
I will
I will
not open
memory
she has
left
behind
should
fly
[137]
LV
THE METAMORPHOSIS
[138!
NCE
memory of
sleep.
their
me from
remember
I
to
in the
bark of
a plane-tree.
remember
my
remember once
to
have loved.
Oh, Pannythee
?
chis,
my
I left
How,
oh,
abandoned thee ?
them
^39 ]
LVI
[140]
^NASIDIKA
hand, led
city,
having taken
me by
the
me
to
an uncultivated
'
where
she
stood a stele
said
And
the
to
me
lover
of my mother."
Then
I felt I
a great shiver
and
still
holding her
in order to
by the hand,
read
leaned
broken cup.
"
It
is
not Death
who
has taken
I
me
nymphs of
the fountains.
Let
not
my
name."
libation.
to call
upon an unknown
Hades ?
gravestone or column.
[141]
LVII
[142]
T-N
'JS^^
"sx^
<Sy^
to
may
be prosacrificed
/prj
tected
have
laughter-loving
Aphrodite
two
And
have
sacrificed to
and
to the perverse
the knife.
It
is
that
have implored
carries
Mnasidika
upon
Her
like iron,
lips
are red like copper, her hair blue-black are like the blackness of silver.
[143]
LVIII
[144]
HY
of
feet are
more
silver Thetis.
arms
thou pressest
tolike
them
Under thy
but
nothing stops
kiss.
my
warm
breath of
my
For
in
the secret
'tis
thou,
the
cave
of the
nymphs of which
old
Homer
The
haustible
place
springs,
North
lets
lets
men
Immortals
[145]
LIX
MNASIDIKA'S BREASTS
[146]
IMIDLY,
warm,
me
her
even as one
offers
doves.
I I
love them so
They
little
babes.
I
amuse myself
I
with them
give
when
am
alone.
them
pleasure.
"
flowers.
My
fine hair,
I
is
dear to
I
caress
couch them
in linen.
" Since
ishment
lips,
I shall
my
love,
far
from
my
give
them
kisses for
[147]
LX
THE DOLL
[148]
HAVE
doll
given to her a
rosy
little doll.
A
Its
of wax with
cheeks.
little
pegs, and
When we
us,
it,
it
to
bed between
and plays
is
our
infant.
At
and gives
it
for
it
three
little
tunics,
and we buy
Yes,
its
virtue,
it
to
go out without
for then the
her, especially
when
little
doll
drops of
wax.
[149]
LXI
ENDEARMENTS
[150]
LOSE
thus
!
softly thine
arms about
me
like
a girdle.
of the south
wind
hand.
little
sister,
it
is
thy turn.
Remember thou
last
taught thee
night,
;
near
to
me who am
fatigued
Thy
done
lips
descend upon
my
lips.
hair follows
Thy
eyes.
locks glide
upon
my
left
breast
Give
leave
it
me
thy hand,
it
is
hot
not.
is
Hands
and
their
passion
equalled by nothing.
[151]
LXII
GAMES
[15^]
no RE
of
am
for her a
game.
With
all
the parts
my
out speaking.
my
hair
and dresses
sometimes
it
again,
own
caprice,
knotted
it
like
it
into
up even
the color of
my
my
neck.
Sometimes she
makes me
of
upon
the plaits
my
tunic.
And
little
then
it is
she
slips
her
head under
my
mother.
LXIII
IN
THE SHADOWS
[154]
NDER
linen
the
coverlid
of
transparent
we have
slipped,
she
and
I.
hidden,
the
and
fabric
above
Thus
light.
free,
We
more
more naked.
..." In
the same
We
up
had
left
women
of two natural
Nothing
in the world,
us that night.
and
can ever
it.
ing of
LXIV
THE SLEEPER
[156]
HE
sleeps
with
her,
her
her
hair
all
fallen
down about
hands
clasped
Does she
open,
dream
Her mouth
is
and
With
a piece of
swansdown
without awaken-
Her
Gently and
silently
will
rise.
will
go and
fire
I
draw the water, and milk the cow, and beg some
of the neighbors.
shall
My
hair shall
be done, and
Sleep,
eyelashes,
lie
long
between
her
beautiful
a
curved
dream
of good fortune.
[157]
LXV
THE
KISS
[158]
^ai=S*5SH
"JrOj
WOULD
like
kiss the
whole length of
"^5
rvVH ^SiJ
^0>^ neck
wings
oh
sweet bird, oh
- filled
my
hand.
as a
!
mother.
kisses
Tremble
far,
Sweet
satisfy
one,
my
reach
and
should
thy love.
I
Lightly will
my
tongue and
I
lips,
ears,
and upon
;
thy neck
while
I
marks of
my
kisses
and
kiss thee
my
hands
shall stray in
mad
delight
over the
ivory
nakedness
of thy sensitive
body,
my
the
nails.
Hear
murmuring of my
love in
sea.
humming of me mad I
;
the
will
thy
lips.
LXVI
JEALOUS THOUGHTS
[i6o]
HOU
needst
not
dress
thine
hair,
Thou
shouldst
let
it
of thine arms.
Thou
needst
not dress
thyself,
lest
thy
close
little
It
is
rise,
for
thy delicate feet should be bruised in walkshouldst repose in thy bed, oh victim
I
Thou
of Eros, and
will dress
For
or the reddening
of my passionate embrace.
[i6i]
LXVII
[162]
pVE
flutes,
me,
or
not
with
with
the
heart
I
smiles,
or
with
plaited
flowers,
but
tears,
with
thy
as
and
with
thy
even
love
thee with
my
my
moans.
When
I feel
my
breasts,
when
thy
touch
my
life,
my
how
Press
me
me
See, the
;
the darkness
I
is
upon us
but
press thy
plaint.
Moan
sorrow.
Moan
oh,
woman
suffer
Eros leads us
in
Thou
shalt
less
when thou
liest
upon
when thou
LXVIII
MY HEART
[164]
REATHLESS,
press
it
with
force
skin of
my
left"
breast.
And
turn
my my
without speaking.
My
excited
heart,
rude
and
as
hard,
beats
and
beats within
my
bosom, even
in
an imprisoned satyr
sack.
a leathern
She says
me, "
"
Thy
..."
is
Mnasidika,"
reply,
not
its
there.
That
is
a poor bird,
feeble wings.
terrible.
The
heart of a
woman
a thing
more
" Like
a little
bunch of myrtle
it
burns in a red
It
is
Aphro-
[165]
LXIX
[i66]
profound
is
Oh,
!
summer
But
who
believes
me
sleeping, lays
my
arm.
Bilitis,
thou sleepest?"
I
My
she
breathe regularly,
in dreams.
Then
begins to speak.
hearest
me
not, ah
:
how
"
love
. . .
"
And
she repeats
my name
me
Bilitis
Bilitis
..."
lightly with
the
tips
It is
And
and
is
in the
world
Ah my joy,
!
my
happiness
this
are mine,
mine
[167]
LXX
ABSENCE
[i68]
IHE
but
is
far
from me,
in
see
all
her, for
all
things
the
room,
all
pertain
to
her,
and
I, like
the
rest.
This bed
wander,
is
still
let
my
lips
Upon
this soft
little
head en-
veloped
This basin
is
this
comb
These
beg
for her
naked
feet.
These pockets
But what
is
remains
still
lips.
[169]
LXXI
LOVE
[170]
EL AS!
grows
breasts
shiver,
If
think of her
I
my
pain
throat
dry,
bow
hard
my
and
I
head,
my
I
grow
and
I
me,
weep
as
walk.
If I see her
my
my
hands
to
tremble,
my
feet
grow
and
a blush
mounts
my
cheeks,
my
If I
my
arms
become weak,
and
lay
my
knees
like a
fail
me.
fall
is
before her,
die.
me down
woman who
about to
me
Her
love
is
a
. .
torture,
.
complaints.
Helas!
How
can
call
her
my my
Well-Beloved
[171]
LXXII
PURIFICATION
[172]
Take
Strip
the
ribbons
Wash
the black
rouge from
thy
lips.
For
layest,
all
new born,
So chaste that
my
hand
lips,
in thy
hand
a
will
make
and that
word from me
[173]
LXXIII
[174]
little
girl,
love
thee,
if
thou hadst
been born of
my
laboring
womb.
When
and
extended upon
two
frail
lips apart
my
touch.
It
really
is
then
dream
that
in
some
far
off year,
have nursed
this
this
dripping;
happiness of
Bilitis
mysteriously enclosed.
Sleep then
upon
my
Sleep thus.
I will
[175]
LXXIV
[176]
^S
!
we were walking
together
upon
up
to
the
our
merry young
girls
passed
by.
"Ah!
the pretty
it
is
Bilitis
and Mnasidika!
Look! See
It
is
little
squirrel that
we have
caught.
"
We
shall take
it
to Lydia,
we
will
put
it
in a
it
It
is
a female and
will live a
long time."
And
she
the
little
fools
ran away.
As
I
upon
upon
we gazed upon
the sea.
LXXV
THE OBJECT"
[178]
Mnasidika, good
seated.
Be husband Too
that
How
seen
is
well.
Tell
him not
you
have
if
me.
I
He
And
this is
I
would
kill
Have
this
me
he
knew
fear.
no
Pardon me,
beautiful.
am
And
So
it.
Yet
oh,
your bed
little.
said to be
lascivious,
my
dear
But
let
us speak no more of
Speak We have not one of them. Truly the Then where can one buy Mnasidika At the workers.
lend me.
!
What do you
object.
wish of
is
a virgin.
it?
leather
Tell
silk
?
me
also,
Mine
breaks
at
it.
make
dear.
At
the "
what price?
And
Thing
"
LXXVI
[i8o]
HE winter
cold
is
cold, Mnasidika.
All
is
outside
our bed.
for I
Rise, then,
lit
have
a great
split
with
branches.
We
will
warm
ourselves kneeling,
backs, and
all
naked, our
drink milk
eat cakes
hair hanging
upon our
we we
will
will
with honey.
How
too near
is
the flame
Thy
fire
me
kiss
it
wherever the
made
it
burning.
will
heat the
the
and
will
dress
I will
thine
hair
here.
With
charred splinters
write thy
name upon
the wall.
[i8i]
LXXVII
QUESTIONS
[182]
SSXZMEawHAT
do you wish
If
it
must
be, I
will sell
my last jewels
in order that
an
of thy
lips.
hire
for
thee, as
for
an infant, a
nurse with
swollen breasts
who
I will
buy
all
the
of
silk, all
the drapery
All.
But
should
suffice to thee,
and should we
sleep
upon the
me
be softer
than the
stranger.
[183]
LXXVIII
HER EYES
[i84l
REAT
ye
eyes of Mnasidika,
how happy
make me when
under thy
tears.
How
that
is
ye madden
me when
ye turn to others,
pass, or
by a memory
Then my
I
cheeks contract,
It
my
me
suffer.
...
seems to
my
parts,
my
life
flees
away.
me
Else will
shall
my
needle,
and never
more
terrible night.
LXXIX
FARDS
[i86]
LL,
all
all
my
is is
life,
that
not she, to
me
is
nothing.
All that
not she,
give to thee,
passer-by.
the labor
have accomplished
I
in
have
done with
my
coiffure
and with
my
fards, with
my
As long
would labor
time would
turn
the
spindle
at the oar or I
field, if
But may
desses
it
be that she
over us.
shall
never know,
god-
who watch
The day
woman.
LXXX
[188]
HE
at
had laughed
all
me
When we
her,
returned,
affected
not to speak to
and
as
art
my
neck, saying,
"
Thou
angry at
me ?
"
said to her
"
Ah Thou
!
art
no more
as in the past,
thou
art
no more
as
first
day.
would not
know
word.
thee,
And
all
same
[189]
LXXXI
A SCENE
[190]
wast
flower
I
thou
I
"
" At
the
market.
have
lilies.
bought
some very
beautiful
Here
you."
a time to
buy four
flowers
"
"
The
flower-girl
^
detained me."
"
ing."
hair
Thy
"
It
" Thine
is
"
It
is
my
hair almost
down."
;
Thy
it
tied the
knot
myself,
that
more
fell
" So loosely
it
apart;
slave
who
passed retied
for
me."
" There
is
a stain
"
It
is
the
upon
it."
" Mnasi-
my
I
little
soul, thy
lilies
are the
most beautiful
I
there are in
all
Mytilene."
"That
know
well.
That
know
well."
[191]
LXXXII
WAITING
[192]
HE
for
night
among
wait
her,
seated
upon
my
bed, weak
with watching.
The wick
has
of the exto
hausted
the end.
lamp
burned even
She
I
will
know
know even
wait
still.
the
name
that I hate.
Nevertheless
Oh,
that she
and without
As soon
her
. . .
as she shall
I will
say to
...
Her
It is
hair.
I shall
touch.
Her
hands.
Her
weep.
skin
and
LXXXIII
SOLITUDE
[194]
OR
whom
shall
paint
my
lips?
?
For For
whom
whom
For
whom
are
my
breasts
For
whom
are
my
If they
This evening
my
the
hand, in
all
my
couch.
Has
not
felt
dread to return to
my
home.
To
I
I
the
room
so frightfully bare.
my
eyes.
[195]
LXXXIV
A LETTER
[196]
HAT
is
impossible,
impossible.
supplicate thee
tears, all
upon
I
my
knees, with
the tears
letter,
this
horrible
thus.
do not abandon
me
Think how
terrible
'tis
reconquer thee.
Ah, my passion
I
know
to what point
to
Listen
me.
Consent to see
me
at the setting
come
Do
not refuse
me
that.
Let
!
it
be.
I
But
at
it
demand
of thee,
that
beg
it
upon thy
my
life.
[197]
LXXXV
THE ATTEMPT
[198]
IHOU
passionate child.
hast thou
How many
at the
garlands
hung
knocker of our
door
sage,
Thou
and followedst us
Now, thou
art,
spot,
with
thine
floats
Thou
art larger
Thy
body, so
differ-
ent, startles
me.
I
Look
it is I.
have
at last
Yes,
Thou
my
breasts, caress
my
my
knees.
My whole
!
being
is
given
Alas
Ah
lips
!
Gyrinno
with love
my
tears overflow
my
Dry them
but hold
one
me
and control
my
trem-
bling.
[199]
LXXXVI
THE STRIVING
200]
GAIN
Enough
arms
!
of
sighs
and of
again
in
!
stretching
Commence
lies
re-
Gyrinno, love
is
task,
and
Awaken
to
then
Thou mayest
not sleep
What
me
Astarte seethes in
my
loins.
We
with so
night.
lay
down
dawn
will
but
am
not exhausted
will
not sleep
is
sleep.
Oh, how
taste
it
!
bitter
Gyrinno,
The
soft.
ecstasies are
more
difficult,
but stranger,
and more
[201
LXXXVII
GYRINNO
[2,02]
RELIEVE
thee.
I
not that
would
ripe
fig, I
as I
would
about
me
like a belt
of skin.
upon thy
dates.
thin
like
two
little
fruit,
woman
is
name,
the
thou,
who
hast
passed
between
my
arms
like
Between thy
possessed me.
flesh
I
and mine
pressed thee
I
upon me
!
though
!
upon
wound, and
cried,
Mnasidika
Mnasidika
Mnasidika
[203]
LXXXVIII
[204]
old
" To console thee." " 'Tis trouble lost." "They have told me that since thy parting thou fliest from love to love, without finding peace or forgetfulness.
I
woman ?
"
come
to offer thee
some one."
at Sardis. She has not her equal in the world, for she is at the same time man and woman, although her breasts, her long locks, and her clear voice produce all the illusions."
" Her age ? " " Sixteen years." " Her form ? " " Large and fine. She has known no one here save Psappha, who loves her madly, and would buy her of me for twenty minae. If thou wouldst hire her, thou canst have her." " And what will I do with her ? " Behold, twenty and two nights that I seek in vain to escape from my memories Done I will try yet this one, but you must warn her, the poor little one, lest she be afraid, should I sob in her
arms.
[205]
LXXXIX
[206]
Sr^
/^>ij
"UUli
REMEMBER
^
'*
(at
r-3r^ ^^y
'^^^
before
my
eyes
!),
re-
i$yj member
the
way
in
which she
lifted
^_^j up
white.
I recall
upon
kept
my
me
the impress of
I
my
rounded nipple.
me
see
And
it is
above
I
all, if
my
despair
is
perpetual torture,
because
gives herself
up
[207]
xc
[208]
OLL
also,
and has
left
her,
know
The
wounded thy
little
finger
cyclas that
for thee.
And
thee, she
Although
bending over
breast,
Little doll, if I
would
my
But
is
dead
[209]
XCI
A FUNERAL CHANT
[210]
ING
as a
now
funeral
!
chant,
muses of
is
Mytilene, sing
the
earth
sombre
Heraios
leaves
fall
oh, sad
and
sorrowful
month
the
No
more
How many
she,
are
dead
have known.
And
who
still
lives, is
whom for me
as if she lived
no longer.
This
is
the
tenth
this
time that
little
Autumn
I
die
upon
plain.
time that
also
passed
away.
Weep
with
me, muses
of
my
steps.
[.II]
Ill
mc
Soft-voiced Myrtilla, and jovial Bacchus, and the sport with virgins in
the darkened caves."
Philodemes.
;
"
The
spectacles
were strange
girls
there
were games
all
in
taking part in
tesans bathed in public in the basins of the fountains filled with limpid
water.
It
was
like
an intoxication,
like a
dream of Sardanapalus,
all
in
eyes, pele-mele,
the pleasures,
all
the
Ernest
Renan.
[213]
XCII
[214]
OTHER
inexhaustible, incorruptible,
and
Oh,
of
all,
perpetually
fecund,
oh,
virgin
and
nurse
breather of
fire,
foam of
the sea
Thou who
who
unitest,
accordest
thy
the
desire,
Oh, Astarte
sess
irresistible,
hear
me
draw from
my
my
blood.
XCIII
[ai6]
|HE
still
black
masses
of the
trees
are
and
as
Immovable
stars are
as the
all
mounacross
tains.
The
a
strewn
the
like
immense
sky.
warm wind
caresses
human
breath
my
eyes and
my
cheeks.
how
art
my
lips
my
I
hair
feel
enterest
all
me,
and how
time.
thy spring-
The
of me.
perflime
are in
flowers
that shall
bloom
is
shall
all
be born
The wind
that
that blows
is
my
breath.
The
stars
passes
my
desire.
All
the
my
eyes.
Thy
the
voice,
is
it
the
silence
it
of the
it
Is
it
underfeet,
stand
not, but
tears
my
head to
my
and
my
wash
my
two hands.
[aiy]
XCIV
THE MENADES
[218]
HROUGH
upon the
ing.
sea, the
Menades
are rush-
shrieking,
phallos
of
In their mantles
'
in
their
drums.
With wetted
and reddened
hair,
with agile
legs,
with
tossing
breasts, their
Dionysos, the
And
the
the
hair
lifts
toward heaven
her locks
red
Heliokomis, twisting
upon
'
a torch
of white wax.
Bassaris.
[219]
xcv
THE SEA OF
KYPRIS
220]
PON
sea
the
highest
flat
promontory
lay
me down
upon
as
my
field
face.
The
was black
of
violets.
itself
out from
A
hair.
me among
the
crushed flowers.
The
And
eastern waters.
They were
coast
that
it
once
saw
I
appear
hid
the
white
body of
hands.
Aphrodite.
Quickly
my
eyes in
my
For
little
lips
of light
tremble upon
water;
the
[221]
XCVI
THE
PRIESTESSES OF ASTARTE
[222]
HE
they
priestesses of Astarte
make
love
at the
hour of the
rising in a
moon
then
rise
and bathe
silver.
huge basin
edged with
With
and
their
hair,
and flowing
sea.
marks
their bellies
little
The
ting
priestesses of Astarte
make
of the
moon
together in sleep.
[223]
XCVII
THE MYSTERIES
[224]
^-_^S*S^N
/^^
the
thrice
never enter,
we have
feted
j^^
thee, Astarte
of the
Night, Mother
Some
permitted.
more than
is
About
dress
a phallos, crowned,
cries.
an hundred
initiated
women
are
tunics.
The
in
in the
of men,
the
others
divided
we
cast our-
selves
upon our
last
backs.
At
when
the
when
is
accomplished, and
into the
purple
I
Phallos, then
mystery commences
but
will tell
no more.
'
Pearl-born (Aphrodite).
[225]
XCVIII
[226]
ITH
old
clay,
Plango,
dishes
and
mats
they
still,
much have
pillars,
of the walls.
They
knees.
sit
immovable,
they
their
hands
laid
upon
their
When
offer
porridge,
they
murmur,
They understand
it
may
tooth
laugh at us in their
for a tooth
own
tongue
but we
we
speak
[227]
XCIX
I
SING OF
MY
[228]
URELY
lovers
will
not
sing
of famous
of the past.
If
they are
no
not
more,
like
Am
unto them
Have
not enough
to
do
to think of myself?
Pasiphae,
was extreme.
Byblis, nor
thee,
Syrinx,
I will
by
the goddess
chosen before
all
If
If any
among ye have
I
suffered, I feel
it
not.
I
sing
my
flesh
and of
my
sterile
shadows of buried
Lie at ease,
mission
!
loves.
O my
without to-morrow.
lest it
Leave not
a single joy
unknown,
be regretted
at the
[229]
THE PERFUMES
[230]
gw WILL
^^
<S?^ may
tiful
perfume
all
my
of
skin that
attract lovers.
legs, in a basin
Upon my
silver,
beauI
will
i^^J
of Egypt.
eye-
and
Slave, take
marjolaine
fill
of
Koos.
it
with the
smoke
of incense.
I will let it
run between
my
breasts
the
of roses which
comes
from
Phaselis,
shall
cheeks.
And
should
my
bakkaris (inula).
know
Galbanum.
[231]
CI
CONVERSATION
[232]
OOD
morning.
To
art
girl.
you
in
good
hurry.
morning.
Thou
less
Perhaps
Thou
art a
pretty
Perhaps
not
tell
prettier than
you
believe.
"
What
is
thy charming
name
will
Thou
lover.
hast
no one
for this
And
how do you
wishes.
"Shall
we sup
will
together?
give
But
what
?
you
drachmas
That must be
the sum.
for
my
slave.
And
for
me
Name
An
hundred.
"Where
In
?
At
once, if
you
At
once, then.
Go
CII
[234]
OLA
upon
is
who
my
is
robe?"
a bore."
"
" Imbecile
back, and
for a
if I girl
!
It
pardon me."
my
yellow robe
torn
all
up
the
walk thus
poor
who
" Will
speaks
to
"
"I
!
believe
he
thus
still
me
"
" Will
?
you leave
Alas
I
me
in
anger
You
reply not
dare speak no
more."
"
must return
I
to
my
the
house to change
my
robe."
is
"And
father
?
may
not follow
is
you?"
"Who
thy
"
" He
rich
captain
Nikias."
"
Thou
pardon thee."
[235]
cm
THE JEWELS
{'^361
^ DIADEM
my
^
my
hair
my
by two
large pins.
Upon my
bracelets
arms, which
Iris
would envy,
thirteen
are.
of
How
heavy they
But they
are weapons,
and
has
Truly,
am
My
The
breasts are
images of
more
richly
decked than
1.
And
wear upon
my
silver.
Upon
it
"
Love me
237]
CIV
[238]
INCE he
ever
has entered
my chamber, whois
may he
I
be (that
his affair)
" See,"
beautiful
" what a
man
be a courtesan
call
to
is
Old
Man
who
of the Sea,
if his
hair
!
And
"
then
youth
"
florist
'
Ah
say,
"
if
to-day
my
and
my
jeweler,
how
would
I
am
thy passionate
servant
'
his
arms over
my
my transparent
[ 2.39 ]
cv
THE WATER
IN
THE
BASIN
[240]
The
Water
in
the Basin.
URE
me
of
my
beauty.
art,
O
thou "
Bilitis,
or whoever thou
thou knowest
it.
Thy
face
hair,
burdened
Thine
eyelids scarcely
movements of
"
Thy
marks of the
nails,
and the
kiss.
Thine arms
are
reddened by
Each
fold of thy
brings
Receive
me who am worn
in truth.
Take
the
from
me
the stain of
my lips
(fard
of
my lips), and
sweat from
my
memory of
the night."
[241]
CVI
LASCIVIOUSNESS
[242]
PON
us swooning
among
the roses.
The
Overpower-
back heads.
doves,
Four
captive
From
their wings,
I
upon
was
the
naked
women
fell
drops
iris.
of essence.
I laid
my
young
girl,
who enveloped
slept,
coughed with a
shiver.
languishing arm,
The wryneck,
[H3]
evil
THE HOSTELRY
[244]
INE
now
host,
we
are
four.
It
Give us a
is
beds.
too late
figs,
some
cheese,
and some
dark wine
feet, for
but
first
take off
my
my
the
mud
tickles
me.
bowl),
(goblets).
Thou
shouldst
" But
let
the beds be of
(must be
Wake
[^45]
CVIII
DOMESTIC CARE
[246]
lOUR
in
slaves
guard
my my
house:
two
strong Thracians at
door, a Sicilian
my
Phrygian
bed.
woman
my
The two
in their
upon
The
for
her.
Sicilian is a rare
cook
No
fried
poppy
seed.
The
and
my
hair, in
epilates
my
body.
She sleeps
in the
morning
my my
in each
month she
takes
my
lovers.
[247]
CIX
THE BATH
[248]
ITTLE
no one
girl,
let
enter, for I
and
beautiful
in the
secretly
fountain.
"
We would
We
will
we
play at dice.
"
enter
And
;
also
we
will
play at
;
ball.
Let no lovers
all
goose-flesh
wrinkles.
and the
tips
in
it,
he
who should
sur-
naked
Bilitis is
ardent eyes."
[249]
ex
TO HER BREASTS
[250]
LESH - LIKE
how
rich
flowers,
O my
breasts
you
are in voluptuousness
My
breasts in
my
breasts of a
and hard
In order
that
will
cherish
you
Your
is
the honor of
my
me
Be then happy
you
in caresses,
this night.
will
If
my
you alone
for
know them
Bilitis
morrow morning;
Bilitis.
this
night
has
paid
CXI
MYDZOURIS
[252]
^YDZOURIS,
weeping.
those
'A
little
filth,
cease
lover.
thy
If
'tis
Thou
art
my
women
will
answer them.
Come
into
my
know
little
crea-
to dare
do
all
But thou
art
is
not charming.
The
spite
lips
all.
of a young
girl
of
fifteen
remain pure in
of
The
lips
is
grow
old,
and we
I
are
shamed only by
wrinkles.
Mydzouris,
body.
my
aid,
and
thee
when we walk
women
shall
bid
[253]
CXII
THE TRIUMPH OF
BILITIS
[254]
^-__
^^K^ 1^ procession
^rwl
r0? '"^P^
^>
Bilitis, all
naked upon a
slaves,
shell-shaped
car,
upon which
reclined,
my
in
hands under
sandals
my
neck,
alone
decked
of gold,
the bed of
and
my feet my body
hair
stretched smoothly,
upon
my warm
mixed with
Twelve
served
upon
their shoulders,
;
me
as
though
were a goddess
some held
me
gently with
prow.
And
murmur
about
me
heard the
hum
of the ardent
of desire
the
floated about
my
smoke of
aromatics.
CXIII
[256]
VENERABLE
woods, that
I
Priapos,
god of the
in
is
my
thou
bath,
it
guardian of
shouldst
O
rifice
in order to sac-
which
Pallas run
No.
fruits.
we have
chosen thee.
Guard to-day our blond heads, the opened poppies of our lips,
and the
violets of
our eyes.
Guard
who
unto
thee.
[257]
CXIV
[258]
|HOU
ringing
Myrrhinidion,
my
How
arms
in
the
air,
thine arched
flanks
breasts
Thou commencest
pose, hesitate, and
like a scarf,
glide
Thy body
bends
Suddenly thou
sel'f
Arch thy-
upon thy
hands,
filled
with noise,
We, we
cries
whether, smiling
[259]
cxv
[260]
ELIXO,
flute
between thy
lips,
Am
I,
who
hire so fair a
I,
girl to distract
me
?
in
my
laborious hours,
my
lovers,
who show am I
No, Melixo,
honest friend.
little
art
an
To-day thou
for another
full
not refused to
I
change thy
flute
when
despaired of
accomplishing a love
art to
of
difficulties.
But thou
be trusted.
For
well
thinkest.
Thou
glow
awaitest the
end of
and
at the first
street with
torn mattress.
[261]
CXVI
[262]
|HOU
thinkest
thou
lovest
me no
honey, could
lips.
make
thee
forget
my
Thou
!
me no
Saying that,
untied
It
my
still
it
about
his head.
was
warm
my
meshes.
breathed with long breaths, his eyes closed
felt
He
then
I
that he returned to
desires
I
clearly
his
but, as a ruse,
knew how
to resist.
" No,
my
!
friend, this
me.
Adieu "
And
but
added
!
wines
it is
The
garden of
good."
CXVII
TO A CONTENTED HUSBAND
[264]
gw ENVY
H^
self
thou
she her-
who
cares
for
the
stable,
in
and
of
when
to the cattle.
morning
conies,
place
Thou mayest
tell
be glad of her.
How many
others,
Yes
They
'tis
say
Ah
ha
a fine
He
They
under
are scandal-makers.
krites,
it
is
[.65]
CXVIII
TO A PERVERTED ONE
[a66]
HE love of women
ful
is
thing of
all
know,
thus,
and
thou wouldst
if
think
also
Kleon,
tuous soul
vanities.
Thou losest thy nights in cherishing pubescents who are ungrateful to us. Look then upon them how ugly they are Compare their round heads
!
bosoms.
side
By
tell
the
And
it,
me what human
lips,
can
sick,
Kleon, but a
woman
can cure
the
young
my
and
the
pleasure
she
herself
[267]
CXIX
INTIMACIES
[268]
HY
become Lesbian, O Bilitis, thou askest me ? But what player of the flute is not a Lesbian in some
am
degree
I lie
with her
have.
When we
what dances
the other,
?
are small
we
and
the
Thou
knowest,
my
dear
one
We
and we
find
beautiful.
are
warmed by
is
the
of the lookers-on
not
and so strongly do we
that sometimes,
a
may embrace
companion
who
consents.
us
How do we He takes
I
make
love with a
man who
art a
is
rude to
Thou, thou
woman and
it
knowest what
thyself.
mean.
Thou
canst take
as for
[269]
cxx
THE ENGAGEMENT
[ayo]
ISTENj
old
woman
I I
give a fes-
must have an
shalt let to
entertainment.
all
Thou
me
thy
girls.
How many
"
?
hast thou
"
singer in
sing
the
(flute
who
will
brown
It
thighs."
"
is
well.
See to
it
lated, bathed,
ready
for
other games if
asked of them.
Go, give
orders.
Adieu."
[271]
CXXI
[272]
dURING
wine,
made with
like
her
name,
at Kition
and
Khamantides/
tail
She wore
croup.
terrible horns,
and an hairy
upon her
The
we
other
women,
led
and
of our pendent
locks.
The empty
chamber
warm.
I look
upon my reddened
273
CXXII
THE JUGGLER
[274]
'*T'W*lHEN
the
first
morn-
of our torches,
in
wicked and
little,
who
shivered
being cold.
Praise the
hair,
little girl
with sharp-pointed
only in a
girdle,
from which
iris
!
hang
yellow
ribbons,
and the
stems of black
Praise
her
for
and performed
many
difficult tricks.
a wheel
upon her
air,
And
touched the
always laughing.
[275]
CXXIII
[^76]
about her.
veil,
yel-
low
pink
veil
from her
lips.
The The
white veil
and leaves
to view her
naked arms.
She loosens her
that
little
breasts
veil
unknots
itself.
She
veil
lets fall
of green.
veil
at the
sound of the
of her body.
Where are my roses ? Where are my perfumed violets ? Where are my tufts of parsley ?
Behold
violets,
"
my
will
roses, I give
them
to you.
?
Behold
my
you have
them
Behold
my
sweet
crinkled parsley."
[277]
CXXIV
BY VIOLENCE
[278]
cxxv
A SONG
(the first gave me a collar)
[280]
first
gave
me
a collar, a collar of
its
palaces
and
its
temples,
its
treasures
and
its
slaves.
The
hair
He
said that
my
was black
and that
my
blue
The
mother could
hands
feet.
He
laid his
his lips
upon
my
naked
Thou, thou
given
me
beautiful, but
thee
love.
[281]
CXXVI
ADVICE TO A LOVER
[282]
^ESBaagilMF
/yu^
"t^V
i^VJl
young
friend,
be,
tell
^^''j
KJ^H
^^^
^^*
without eagerness.
She
will
come of
herself to thee.
force, the
When
own
pleasure.
The hands of
an amorous
woman
are
But
kisses
as
for
thee, take
no repose.
Prolong thy
sleep,
till
of thee.
body
to
[283]
CXXVII
FRIENDS AT DINNER
[284]
gYROMERIS
friends,
and
Maskhale,
for I
my
upon
have no
lover this
evening, and,
flax,
lying
our beds of
we
will
talk while
we
dine.
good
you
shall
sleep in
my
hair disarranged.
Wear
No
flanks.
one
shall
that
they
may
No
one
shall
demand of you
learn if
the sacred
may
you
are passionate.
And
flutes
with beautiful
my
of Khios.
[285]
CXXVIII
[286]
ERE
little
lies
the
delicate
body of Lyde,
all
courte-
sans,
who more
More
the games
when
the
And now
she
is
naught but a
shadow.
her
roses
is
;
hair
marvellously,
have
couched
her
among
over her
Holy
earth, nurse of
let
all
poor dead,
Mother
nettles
to
[287]
CXXIX
ROSES
[288]
ESTERDAY,
was
girl
in the market-place,
when
little
passed before a
And
behold what
heard."
" Buy
little
something
of me."
" Explain
thyself,
sell
one, for
at
once?" "If
you
buy from me
for nothing."
all
"
do you want
for
your roses
I
"
"
must have
my
mother, else
us.
shall
be beaten like a
"
bitch."
" Follow
I will
Thou
find
" Then
go and
my
little sister ?
they
knew not
little
They
the butcher."
[289]
cxxx
THE DISPUTE
[290]
bloody
!
head
ile
filthy rottenness
!
infection
!
ster-
one
pillory
!
awkward one
sow
!
good
to
for nothing
fly
filthy
Try not
still.
Look upon this woman of the sailors, who does not even know how to fold her vestments upon her shoulder, and who puts on her cosmetics so badly that
the black of her eyebrows runs
river
in a
of ink.
art Phoenician
Thou
As
for
all
race.
me,
my
it
over
those
who wear
the Petas.'
And
even over
the others, if
pleases me.
Stop not in
my
street,
or
will
send thee to
will
love to Kharon, and I " thee justly: Let the earth cover thee
to
Hades
make
say to
!
lightly
" in
may
A
dig thee
up
again.
kind of cap.
[291]
CXXXI
MELANCHOLY
[292]
SHIVER
jj^j here
?
the night
is
cool,
and the
Is
my
great
^^^^
My
my
my
at
my
neck
look
neck;
it
is
damp
earth.
In other days
followed
him
time.
into
I
the
wood
who
Ah
Let
leave
lie,
me
little
am
sad to-
night.
me
my
hand upon
my
eyes, with-
out speaking.
Are we
beasts to
shalt
leave me.
lips.
Thou
not
open
of
my
knees nor
my
My
1
1^93
CXXXII
[294]
iT
RANGER,
stop a
moment,
It
is
see
who
little
is
beckoning to thee.
;
the
Phanion of Kos
Look, her
hair
is
down of
a bird.
She
is
small
and brown.
She speaks
prettily.
demand
of thee
no, not
all
the
money thou
all,
Thou
shalt
find
figs,
fire.
be cold, she
will
have a
CXXXIII
INDICATIONS
[296]
|TRANGER
who
stops, if
'tis
slender
a
you wish,
my
girl,
friend.
with exuberant
But
if
the
hair
pleases
thee,
find
Milto,
be
content.
profit
from
One may
is
woman
when she
naked, when
are
is
night,
hundred drachmas
on the hearth.
[297]
CXXXIV
[298]
HO
is
there
"
"
am
the merchant
of women.
I offer
Open
you two
bargains.
This
girl
here
first.
Approach, Anasyrtolis,
and
strip thyself"
" She
is
little
too fat."
" She
is
a beauty.
And
" Turn
Give
is
thyself
thine
arms.
Show thy
hair.
me
your
Smile.
'Tis well."
this
"
And
one now."
" She
too
young
"
No,
" Not
at all, the
anything." "Open
she
is
thy tunic.
Let us see?
thin."
"
first
"And
As
the
one
"
" Two
for
minae
thirty
"Three
Adieu."
minae
the
two?"
"Done." "Go
for thee,
drachmas."
cxxxv
THE STRANGER
[300]
RANGER,
city.
go no
wilt
farther
into
the
Thou
than with
expert.
me younger
I
nor more
celebrated
am
Sostrate,
coast.
Look upon
this
as the
Be-
violet,
and
have better
still.
cyclas.
feel
fist,
them.
self,
And
sister,
who
is
who
!
will
second her
By
race.
two goddesses
[301]
CXXXVI
[302]
movement
rapid
and flying;
to
em-
tips
of their
lips.
When
looked
dancing, they
turned
their
backs,
they
The
fire
of their cheeks,
They touched
hips.
fell,
to finish
upon the
earth
'tis
Memory
of Mnasidika,
all
[303]
CXXXVII
[304I
ELI EVE
becoming
not,
a
Myromeris, that
in
thy beauty.
slight
form under
voluptuous softness.
Thy Thy
breasts are
thy bosom, and their cut stems give out a milky juice.
belly,
now more
soft,
And
of a
thrill
little
felt in
lover whose
hast not
known.
Dream
Those eyes
that
now
scarcely
open
tint,
will
one day
will
and they
ment of their
lashes.
[305]
CXXXVIII
THE UNKNOWN
[306]
sleeps.
He
is
disgusts me.
full
to the slave
on
entering.
look for a
mine
I told
for myself.
my
place.
He
would rather
man.
Helas
think of the
then.
I
fields
of Tauros
was
was
a little virgin
had a
light heart,
and
my
married
What
which
I
then would
have refused
this night
To-day
my
breasts
are yielding
and
in
my
from
lassitude.
C307]
CXXXIX
DUPED
[308]
AWAKEN
has
left
is
he then gone
?
He
All
something
No
two empty
flowers.
have
I
slept,
but
in
?
am
still
drunk
rate
with whom
to
then did
together.
come
At any
we went
bed
The bed
itself is still
is
so
disar-
no longer know
my
There
is
cry
" Bitch,
"
am
speak more.
l39']
CXL
[310]
OME,
having
boy, pass
first
me
not
by without
I
loved
me.
am
still
Thou
shalt see
that
my autumn
is
spring-time of another.
Seek not
cult art in
for love
among
virgins.
Love
is
a diffiI
which young
all
have
studied
lover.
it
my
life
in order to give
to piy last
My
Behold
last lover,
know
it.
my
mouth,
Behold
my
hair, the
same
hair
I will
all
that
is left
of
my
lost
I
youth.
will give
to
Mnasidika.
[311]
CXLI
THE DOVE
[312]
INCE many
fial
;
years
when
shall
I
no
longer be
woman.
rending
And
then
shall
know
in the hands.
the
memories,
the
If
life is
a long dream,
what good to
I
resist
Now
sink in
demand amorous
I
when my
sleep wherever
my body
I
In the morning
open
"
my
hair.
dove
sits
I
:
shiver in
ask her,
It
is
"
the
Ah
lover,
tells
the
truth, Kypris
And
throw
I
my
my
stretch
my
legs, already
benumbed,
of the bed.
CXLII
THE RAIN
IN
THE MORNING
[314]
IHE
sans
away.
Behold
homes
rain
in the
of the morning,
upon the
sand.
The
rills
The
and the
dead
The
song.
falling rain,
holes in
my
Oh how
!
am
no more
me.
notice
'Tis well
so.
They
shall learn
my
verses,
That
is
may
ful
ever say,
when
me,
with
wrinkles.
Those
that
shall sing
my
strophes.
[315]
CXLIII
[3i61
.'i'^Qitt
-iW
.HTAJia
auaT 3hT
.m?bT
29mGl,
vr(
?nirlD}3 I^nijinO
''
Can
it be
that
($11 is
finished?
but yesterday,
lo7.>e
It seemeth
me I was born
The
Orig^inal Etching
True Dkath,
by James Faean.
qjPHRODIT,
.
pitiless
goddess,
thou
Oh
now.
in
my
mirror, I have
that
no longer smiles or
Mnasidika,
I
fair
face
loved
Can
it
be that
all
is
finished
It
eight years.
seemeth
I
me
was
say,
must
no one
will
love
me
more.
All
my
my cincture,
and
I
and
offer
to
thee, Kypris
eternal,
is
will
This, then,
of the pious
Bilitis.
[317]
THE TOMB OF
" Beauty
is
BILITIS
beauty,"
all
that to
is all
Ye know on
and
ye need
know."
John Keats.
13^91
FIRST EPITAPH
[320]
Cai^^SJHJWN
/^C^
the country where the springs rise the sea, and where the bed of
is
"tO^ from
*S?i^
flowers
Bilitis,
made of
flakes
of rock,
I,
i^^H
was born.
My
my
father,
Damo-
phylos, a Greek.
My
mother taught
me
to sing the
first
dawn.
at
Kypre.
have
known Psappha
loved.
Lesbos.
have sung
as I
have
tell it
to thy
daughter.
And do
not
sacrifice for
me
a black goat
but in
[321]
SECOND EPITAPH
[322]
PON
Tamassos
Pamphylia,
Bilitis,
I,
daughter
I
of Damophylos,
sleep far from
was born.
my
mayest
see.
Even
of Adonis
to Her-of-the-rounded-pupils.
If
is
the
harm
Was
that not
my
duty
as a
woman
Stranger, the
is
To
disown her
not
prudent.
In gratitude to thee
who
wish thee
this destiny
never love."
Adieu
remember
well,
when thou
art
my
tomb.
LAST EPITAPH
[324]
NDER
'tis
lie
prone,
who have
known
grew up
in the land
of the nymphs.
I
have
am dead
is
in the Island
of Kypris.
my name
oil.
illustrious,
and
my
Mourn
Mine was
their
who
stoppest to read.
a noble funeral.
cheeks.
my tomb my
mirrors and
my
memory of my
the joy of
my
life
subterrestrial.
[325]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I.
Bilitis'
sammtliche Lieder,
zum
ersten
Male herausge-
1894.
II.
Les Chansons de
fois
Bilitis, traduites
du grec pour
la
premiere
par P. L.
Paris.
1895.
III. Six
Chansons de
Bilitis, traduites
en verse par
filles.
Mme.
Paris.
Jean
Bertheroy.
Colin.
Revue pour
1896.
les
jeunes
Armand
Bilitis, traduites
en allemand
1896.
Die Gesellschaft.
Leipzig.
V. Vingt Chansons de
le
Bilitis, traduites
en allemand par
1896.
Frankfurter Zeitung.
Bilitis,
par
le Pr.
von Willamovitz
1896.
Goettingsche Gelehrte.
Goettinge.
Bilitis, traduites
en tcheque par
Alexandre Backovsky.
Prague.
1897.
[327]
Bilitis,
traduites en suedois
Nordisk Revy.
Stockholm.
1897.
Bilitis,
Claude Debussy.
Paris.
Fromont.
1898.
[328]
NOTES'
Thou wast asking a short time woman of Pamphylia, who was the
phylian
this
mode
name.
Eolian and
Pamthe
I did
ask
it,
me
I did
not
tell it to
form of these hymns and how the Eolian mode passed into
that
which
is
much
this
the
name of
wise
woman
is
Damophyle, and
it
is
said
that like
virgins.
jo.
to
Bilitis,
This passage
evidently
refers
daughter
of
Damophylos.
had through
its
songs
style
is
strongly tinctured by
;
Oriental
influences.
Their
it is
hensible, so
much
is it
from Semitic
'
roots.
Bilitis
Songs of
[3^9]
which
M. G. Heim
Beyond
would have
my
mal
text.
translation.
II
The
Bilitis'
edition
of
sammtliche
bears
ersten
the
following
title
Male herausgegeben,
Leip-
1894.
The
volume
first
The
which
second
will be
will be an atlas
all
of fifty-two plates
in
reproduced
These
Larnaka.
museum
of
was unable
have designs
finished his
work; but
me
be published simultaneously
Leipzig and at
Paris,
There
to be seen at the
Louvre a mask of
terra-cotta
[330]
which
recalls in a singular
It is the
that of Larnaka.
lips
woman
with painted
in
Unfortunately
unfavorable for
it
is
;
illumined
from the
left
side,
which
sees
it
is
it
and as
it
it is
at
somewhat
ridiculous appearance.
reader, in love as I
that
this
am
Bilitis, I
would add
M.
made
little
M. Heuzey: Les
terre cuite
au Mus'ee du Louvre.
of the
thirteenth plate.
lii^']
INDEX
\.333l
INDEX
XVII
XLIII
LXIII
LXXXIX XC
XCI
Funeral Chant
PART
III
(Not translated)
Liberty
(Not translated)
Phyllis
CXXXVI CXXXVII
CXXXVIII
CXXXIX CXL
CXLI
CXLII CXLIII
. .
The Memory of Mnasidika The Young Mother The Unknown Duped The Last Lover The Dove The Rain in the Morning The True Death
THE TOMB OF
First Epitaph
BILITIS
[.HI]
PHASED
DETERIORATION
Kt*^^