Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Sappho 3

This obscure Sappho fragment is a strikingly modern lyric on a timely topic, fame.

Would give
Reknown --
Elite elevation --
To my one.

Hubris 
Swells me,
Might wound you,
Knowing I can't be opened,
Not able to be joined,

And most ruinous:
My breath is blessed.

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3
]δώσην
κλ]ύτων μέντ’ ἐπ[
κ]άλων κἄσλων, σ̣[
τοὶς φί]λοις, λύπης τέ μ[ε
]μ’ ὄνειδος
]οιδήσαις . ἐπιτ . [
].αν, ἄσαιο. τὸ γὰρ ν̣[όημα
τὦ]μον, οὐκ οὔτω μ̣[
]διάκηται,
]μη̣δ̣[ ] . αζε, [
]χις, συνίημ[ι
. ης κακότατο[ς
]μεν
]ν ἀτέραις με[
]η φρένας, εὔ[
]α̣τοις μάκα[ρας