Page:Sappho and the Vigil of Venus (1920).djvu/34

14 Hero of Gyara is fleet of foot

As fawns, and as light-footed in the dance,

The dance taught by the measures of my lute.

Ever-impassioned Gorgo!—is it strange

That I grow weary of the change on change

Of thine adored ones?—of thy rhapsodies

O'er each new girl-friend, while the old love dies?

Joy to thee, daughter of a princely race,

For thy last dear one! Lie in her embrace—

Till shines a new star on thy raptured eyes!

Fonder of maids thou art, I trow, than she,

The ghost who nightly steal young girls, to be

In Hades of her woeful company.

This is my fair girl-garden: sweet they grow—

Rose, violet, asphodel and lily's snow;

And which the sweetest is, I do not know;

For rosy arms and starry eyes are there,

Honey-sweet voices and cheeks passing fair.

And these shall men, I ween, remember long;

For these shall bloom for ever in my song.

Cytherea, thy dainty Adonis is dying!

Ah, what shall we do?

O Nymphs, let it echo, the voice of your crying,

The greenwood through!