Thoughts on Truth - Philosophy

Rich-throned immortal Aphrodite, scheming daughter of Zeus, I pray you, with pain and sickness, Queen, crush not my heart

What was my heart insanely craving: "Who is it this time I must cozen to love you, Sappho? Who's unfair to you? For though she flee, soon she'll be chasing; though she refuse gifts, she'll be giving; though she love not, she'll love despite herself." Yes, come once more, from sore obsession free me; all that my heart desires fulfilled, fulfill - help me to victory!

Blest Goddess, smiling with your immortal features, asked why I’d called, what was the matter now, what was my heart insanely craving: “who is it this time I must cozen to love you, Sappho? Who’s unfair to you?” 1

Some think a fleet, a troop of horse or soldierly the finest sight in all the world; but I say, what one loves. Easy it is to make this plain to anyone. She the most fair of mortals, Helen, having a man of the best, deserted him, and sailed to Troy, without a thought for her dear child or parents, led astry by [love’s power.] [For though the heart be pr]oud [and strong,] [Love] quickly [bends it to his will. - ] That makes me think of Anactoria. I’d sooner see her lovely walk and the bright sparkling of her face than all the horse and arms of Lydia. 16

The Love-goddess herself has chided me for praying [for new sweethearts and forgetting old ones]… 22

…love… for when I see you face to face, I think, was even Hermione so fair? Helen herself, perhaps, if so a mortal may be praised. Know this: your kindness would be my release from all my brooding… 23

Why, we too did all that when we were young. 24

But no thing is too hard to bear; for [God can make] the poor man [rich, or bring to nothing heaven-high fortune.] 31

For the beautiful person is beautiful just in form, but the noble of soul will soon seem to have beauty too. 50

I’m uncertain now what I should do; I am in two minds. 51

But as for me, old age has got my whole body, my hair is white that once was dark. …my knees will not hold up…to dance like the young fawns…but what can I do? To stay untouched by age, that cannot be: a lesson, so they say, the goddess Dawn learned, when in her rose arms she bore Tithonus off to the world’s east limit; still old age caught up with him…his immortal bride. … My liking’s for the gracious. Thus does love define my sunlight and my beautiful. 58

But I am not the resentful sort. I have a placid heart. 120

Once more I feel the sting of crippling Love, that bittersweet, unmanageable midge. … Atthis, you’ve come to hate the thought of me, you fly to join Andromeda. 130

I have a pretty child, like flowers of gold her form, my precious Cleis; whom I would not exchange for all of Lydia, or the lovely land … 132

Sappho, why do you … Aphrodite who holds all fortune in her hands? 133

(He) ‘There’s something I want to say to you, but I’m too shy…’ – (She) ‘But if you wanted something good, your tongue not brewing wicked words, you’d not be shy, you’d speak as you saw fit.’ 137

I’ll do without the honey, and the stings. 146

Wealth without class is no safe house-guest. 148

In a house of the Muses’ servants it’s not right for there to be lament … it would not befit us. 150

When anger’s spreading through your breast, it’s best to keep your yapping tongue in check. 158