In The Ionic _A Minore_ Metre

87

[Greek: Za d' elexaman onar Kyprogenêa.]

In a dream I spake with the daughter of Cyprus.

I.e. Aphrodite. From Hephaestion.

88

[Greek: Ti me Pandionis ô ranna chelidôn?]

Why, lovely swallow, daughter of Pand[=i]on, [weary] me?

From Hephaestion, who says Sappho wrote whole songs in this metre. [Greek: Ô ranna] is Is. Vossius' emendation; [Greek: ôrana] is the ordinary reading, which Hesychius explains as perhaps an epithet of the swallow 'dwelling under the roof.'

Ah, Procne, wherefore dost thou weary me? Thus flitting out and flitting in ... Tease not the air with this tumultuous wing. MICHAEL FIELD, 1889.

89

[Greek: ... Amphi d' abrois lasiois eu we pykassen.]

She wrapped herself well in delicate hairy ...

From Pollux, who says the line refers to fine closely-woven linen.

90

[Greek: Glykeia mater, outoi dynamai krekên ton iston,] [Greek: pothô dameisa paidos bradinan di' Aphroditan.]

Sweet Mother, I cannot weave my web, broken as I am by longing for a boy, at soft Aphrodite's will.

[As o'er her loom the Lesbian maid In love-sick languor hung her head, Unknowing where her fingers strayed She weeping turned away and said--]

'Oh, my sweet mother, 'tis in vain, I cannot weave as once I wove, So wildered is my heart and brain With thinking of that youth I love.' T. MOORE, Evenings in Greece, p. 18.

Mother, I cannot mind my wheel; My fingers ache, my lips are dry: Oh, if you felt the pain I feel! But oh, who ever felt as I? W. S. LANDOR, Simonidea, 1807.

Sweet mother, I can spin no more, Nor ply the loom as heretofore, For love of him. FREDERICK TENNYSON.

Sweet mother, I the web Can weave no more; Keen yearning for my love Subdues me sore, And tender Aphrodite Thrills my heart's core. M. J. WALHOUSE.

Cf. Mrs. John Hunter's 'My mother bids me bind my hair,' etc.

From Hephaestion, as an example of metre.