Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO APHRODITE, by SAPPHO


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO APHRODITE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Immortal on thy many-splendoured throne
Last Line: Be thou to me.
Subject(s): Aphrodite; Love - Erotic; Love; Mythology - Classical


IMMORTAL on thy many-splendoured throne
Hear, Aphrodite Queen, that art
Zeus' witching daughter; and with pain and moan
Break not my heart!

But come, if ever thou hast caught of old
My distant cry and heard my plea,
And left thy father's palaces of gold
To visit me;

And yoked thy chariot, and from heaven forth
Driven thy sparrows fleet and fair
With whirr of wings above the swarthy earth
Through middle air.

How fast they came! Then, Blessed One, didst thou
With lips divinely smiling ask:
'What new mischance is come upon thee now?
Unto what task

'Have I been called? what is the dearest aim
Of thy mad heart? who is to be
Persuaded to thy passion? Sappho, name
Thine enemy!

'For whoso flies thee now shall soon pursue;
Who spurns thy gifts shall give anon;
And whoso loves thee not, whate'er she do,
Shall love thee soon.'

Ah, come then, and release me from alarms
That crush me: all I long to see
Fulfilled, fulfil! A very mate-in-arms
Be thou to me.





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