Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | III. Love’s Beginnings | | “Blest as the immortal gods” | | Sappho (fl. c. 610–580 B.C.) |
| | From the Greek by Ambrose Phillips |
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BLEST as the immortal gods is he, | |
| The youth who fondly sits by thee, | |
| And hears and sees thee all the while | |
| Softly speak, and sweetly smile. | |
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| ’T was this deprived my soul of rest, | 5 |
| And raised such tumults in my breast: | |
| For while I gazed, in transport tost, | |
| My breath was gone, my voice was lost. | |
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| My bosom glowed; the subtle flame | |
| Ran quick through all my vital frame; | 10 |
| O’er my dim eyes a darkness hung; | |
| My ears with hollow murmurs rung; | |
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| In dewy damps my limbs were chilled; | |
| My blood with gentle horrors thrilled: | |
| My feeble pulse forgot to play— | 15 |
| I fainted, sunk, and died away. | | | |
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