V.  FRAGMENTS FROM SAPPHO

148

LXXVIIIAthenaeus, quoting this fragment, says: — “Sappho gives a more simple reason for our wearing garlands, speaking as follows . . . . in which lines she enjoins all who offer sacrifices to wear garlands on their heads, as they are beautiful things and acceptable to the Gods.”

Do thou, Dica, set garlands round thy lovely hair, twining shoots of dill together with soft hands: for those who have fair flowers may best stand first, even in the favour of Goddesses; who turn their face away from those who lack garlands.

Here, fairest Rhopode, recline,
And ’mid thy bright locks intertwine,
With fingers soft as softest down,
The ever verdant parsley crown.
The Gods are pleased with flowers that bloom
And leaves that shed divine perfume,
But, if ungarlanded, despise
The richest offered sacrifice.

J. H. MERIVALE.

149

Mr. J. A. Symonds has also thus expanded
            the lines into a sonnet (1883): —

Bring summer flowers, bring pansy, violet,
    Moss-rose and sweet-briar and blue colum-
            bine;
    Bring loveliest leaves, rathe privet, eglantine,
Brown myrtles with the dews of morning wet:
Twine thou a wreath upon thy brows to set;
    With thy soft hands the wayward tendrils
            twine,
    Then place them, maiden, on those curls of
            thine,
Those curls too fair for gems or coronet.


Sweet is the breath of blossoms, and the
            Graces,
    When suppliants through Love’s temple
            wend their way,
Look down with smiles from their celestial
            places
    On maidens wreathed with chaplets of the
            may;
But from the crownless choir they hide their
            faces,
    Nor heed them when they sing nor when
            they pray.