> Wasn't it: "How like a god she seems to me..."?
>
> Judy
Nope. Sappho is referring to the bridegroom, and jealous because he has the
attention of the bride.
I think ...
I'll check.
Right ...
Campbell, ed. and trans., Greek Lyric 1 (Loeb) Sappho, Fragment 31 (as
quoted by Longinus):
"He seems as fortunate as the gods to me, the man who sits opposite you and
listens nearby to your sweet voice and lovely laughter ..."
R.
(As I englished it years ago:
SAPPHO: Fragment 31
Lucky as any god, that man seems to me,
The one seated there, over across from you,
Bending his head forward, intimate, hearing
all your sweet voice,
Your delicious laughter. It is that, I swear,
Which has started my heart pounding. For when I
Suddenly look up at you, I can command
no power of speaking,
For my tongue is broken; all in a moment
A thin flame is creeping beneath my flesh,
With my eyes I can see nothing, both my ears
thunder with nothing;
A chill sweat has broken out all over me,
And a shuddering possesses me completely;
I am paler than dry grass, seem to myself
hardly alive still.
But all this is sent to me to be endured ...
Robin Hamilton : 30/1/83 : 16.9.84
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