Friday, April 24, 2026

Sappho on the Laws for Men

Another side of Sappho can be seen in her biting social commentary, which has come through only in small gnomic utterances. While fewer in number than her lectures to women, they don't lack their bite.

Like the gods I abhor 
The overfull
Superficial

Who do not hold up
Their oath
Without trickery

Chilly
Here's the
Door

---

For the one, indeed, 
Is beautiful
Only insofar

As one sees
What turns out
To be

Or ... the ethical
Beautiful
Immediately

---

Cacophonous
In the chest
Impulse rages

Reckless tongues
Again
Not silenced

As idleness
Must be
Held in check

--------------------------------------

68a
]ι̣ γάρ μ’ ἀπὺ τὰς ἐ̣ . [
ὔ]μως δ’ ἔγεν[το
] ἴσαν θέοισιν
]ασαν ἀλίτρα[
Ἀν]δρομέδαν [ . ] . αξ[
]αρ[ . . . ] . α μ̣ά̣κα̣[ιρ]α
]ε̣ον δὲ τρόπον α[ . ] . ύνη[
] κ̣όρο̣ν οὐ κατισχ̣ε . [
]κ̣α[ . . . . . ] . Τυνδαρίδαι[ς
]ασυ[ . ] . . . κα[ . ] χαρίεντ’ ἀ . [
]κ’ ἄδολον [μ]ηκέτι συν[
] Μεγά̣ρα . [ . . ]ν̣α[ . . . ]α[
68b
] . . . . φ[
] . [ . ]’θύρα . [
]μ̣οι χάλε . [
]δεκύ[
] . οπάλην ὄλ̣[
]ε[

50
ὀ μὲν γὰρ κάλος ὄσσον ἴδην πέλεται ⟨καλος⟩,
ὀ δὲ κἄγαθος αὔτικα καὶ κάλος ἔσσεται.

158
σκιδναμὲνας ἐν στήθεσιν ὄργας
μαψυλάκαν γλῶσσαν πεφύλαχθα