Читать книгу Sapphic Classics - Sappho - Страница 104

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Once more the rain on the mountain,

Once more the wind in the valley,

With the soft odours of springtime

And the long breath of remembrance,

O Lityerses! 5

Warm is the sun in the city.

On the street corners with laughter

Traffic the flower-girls. Beauty

Blossoms once more for thy pleasure

In many places. 10

Gentlier now falls the twilight,

With the slim moon in the pear-trees;

And the green frogs in the meadows

Blow on shrill pipes to awaken

Thee, Lityerses. 15

Gladlier now crimson morning

Flushes fair-built Mitylene—

Portico, temple, and column—

Where the young garlanded women

Praise thee with singing. 20

Ah, but what burden of sorrow

Tinges their slow stately chorus,

Though spring revisits the glad earth?

Wilt thou not wake to their summons,

O Lityerses? 25

Shall they then never behold thee—

Nevermore see thee returning

Down the blue cleft of the mountains,

Nor in the purple of evening

Welcome thy coming? 30

Nevermore answer thy glowing

Youth with their ardour, nor cherish

With lovely longing thy spirit,

Nor with soft laughter beguile thee,

O Lityerses? 35

Heedless, assuaged, art thou sleeping

Where the spring sun cannot find thee,

Nor the wind waken, nor woodlands

Bloom for thy innocent rapture

Through golden hours? 40

Hast thou no passion nor pity

For thy deserted companions?

Never again will thy beauty

Quell their desire nor rekindle,

O Lityerses? 45

Nay, but in vain their clear voices

Call thee. Thy sensitive beauty

Is become part of the fleeting

Loveliness, merged in the pathos

Of all things mortal. 50

In the faint fragrance of flowers,

On the sweet draft of the sea-wind,

Linger strange hints now that loosen

Tears for thy gay gentle spirit,

O Lityerses! 55