Human Situation Fall 15

9. Muse, tell me the things done by golden Aphrodite,
the one from Cyprus, who arouses sweet desire for gods
and who subdues the races of mortal humans,
and birds as well, who fly in the sky, as well as all beasts
—all those that grow on both dry land and the sea.
Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (1-5)

10. But you, O blessed one,
smiled in your deathless face
and asked what (now again) I have suffered and why
(now again) I am calling out
Sappho, 1. Hymn to Aphrodite (15-7)

11. with spring flowers and breezes
like honey are blowing
2

12. to what
O beloved bridegroom
may I compare you?
to a slender sapling
most of all
do I compare you 115

13. Eros shook my
mind like a mountain wind falling on oak trees
47

14. you came and I was crazy for you
and you cooled my mind that burned with
longing
48

15. you burn me
38

16. I simply want to be dead.
94

17. Eros the melter of limbs (now again) stirs me –
sweetbitter unmanageable creature who steals in
130

18. “Seizure”
31

19. He seems to me equal to gods that man
whoever he is who opposite you
sits and listens close
to your sweet speaking
And lovely laughing–
31

20. Equal to Jove that youth must be —
Greater than Jove he seems to me —
Who, free from Jealousy’s alarms,
Securely views thy matchless charms.
Byron, 1820

21. I watch thy grace; and in its place
My heart a charmed slumber keeps,
While I muse upon thy face;
And a languid fire creeps
Tennyson, 1850

22. That man is peer of the gods, who
face to face sits listening
to your sweet speech and lovely
laughter.
William Carlos Williams, 1958

23. In my eyes he seems like a god's co-equal,
he, if I dare say so, eclipses godhead,
who now face to face, uninterrupted,
watches and hears you
sweetly laughing –
Catullus, 51

24. Sappho, 31
He seems to me equal to gods that man
whoever he is who opposite you
φαίνεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισιν
ἔμμεν' ὤνηρ, ὄττις ἐνάντιός τοι

25. In my eyes he seems like a god's co-equal,
he, if I dare say so, eclipses godhead,
Catullus, 51
ille me par esse deo uidetur,
ille, si fas est, superare diuos,

26. Sappho, 31
sits and listens close
to your sweet speaking
and lovely laughing,
ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί -
σας ὐπακούει
καὶ γελαίσας ἰμέροεν,

27. qui sedens aduersus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem Catullus, 51
who now face to face, uninterrupted,
watches and hears you
sweetly laughing,

28. I will love Lalage sweetly laughing,
sweetly talking
Horace, 1.22
dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,
dulce loquentem.

29. But all is to be dared, because even a
person of poverty…
Sappho, 31

30. Leisure, Catullus, is dangerous to you: leisure
urges you into extravagant behavior: leisure in
time gone by has ruined kings and prosperous
cities.
Catullus, 51

31. But all can be borne, since you, Kupris,
would subdue nobleman and beggar in
equal measure;
for indeed, you once destroyed kings and
flourishing cities
Armand D’Angour, 2006