Immortal Aphrodite of the elaborately colored throne
Wile-weaving daughter of Zeus, I beseech thee
Do not hold me hostage to sorrowful desire
Royal Mistress, in my heart,
But come here, to this place, if at any other time
Having heard the cries of my voice from afar
You hearkened, and leaving your father's home
Golden, you have come,
Yoking your chariot; they drew you lovely, through the air,
those small swift birds, circumscribing this dark world,
whirling wings in rapid crowds from heaven through clear
middle-ranging air
Arriving swiftly, and You, O blessed one,
With a smile on your immortal face
Asked the reason for my troubles and why again
I invoked you then.
And what I wished above all to occur
in my frenzied soul: "Who am I persuading
to take you back into her heart? Who now
Has wronged you, Sappho?
For even if she runs, she'll chase you soon:
If she refuses gifts, she'll soon be giving:
If she loves you not, she will do so
Wishing it or no."
Come to me now, goddess; put an end to this anxiety,
so painful, and cause to happen for me
all that my heart desires: and be you yourself
my ally and my help.
Translation copyright © 2008 Richard Welland Crowell