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Sappho

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by RainbowFfolly (U3345048) on Wednesday, 8th March 2006

  Hi all,
  
  Apart from the few pieces and fragments that are left of Sappho's poetry, is anyone aware of any translations from classical times that are still around? I only know of the one by Catullus but I'm hoping that there may be others.
  
  Failing that - and as it's cold and wet outside -could anybody recommend any of her contemporaries that might make me feel all warm inside the way that her poetry does?
  
  Many thanks,
  
  RF

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Eliza6Beth (U2637732) on Thursday, 9th March 2006

  Love the Catullus one - fire runs in my veins like a thief. Alas, know nothing about anything else other than what now constitutes her remnants. Tantalisingly brief.
  
  How much is lost.
  Eliza.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by rheidol (U898537) on Friday, 10th March 2006

  Might I suggest a good starting point being "The Oxford Book of Classical Verse in Translation", around Β£28 - a good overview even if some of the translations are a bit archaic - or they do an edition of "The poems of Catullus" in the Oxford World's Classics series at around Β£7; he was very prolific, and there are many of his poems that are worthwhile!

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by RainbowFfolly (U3345048) on Friday, 10th March 2006

  I love her fragment "For thee to whom I do good, thou harmest me the most". It absolutely amazes me that anyone could write something so perfectly timeless over 2,600 years ago. I was over the moon when they found her "Tithonus" poem last year - it gave me so much hope that there are more of her pieces out there awaiting discovery.
  
  That's a lovely quote by Catullus. It's fantastic the way he can go from incredibly romantic in one poem, to the most venomous and barbed in the next. His one about Aemilius contains some of the greatest insults I've ever read (I'm certain I wouldn't be allowed to quote it here!). I definitely wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Catullus...
  
  RF

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by RainbowFfolly (U3345048) on Friday, 10th March 2006

  I now know how to spend the last Β£30 of book tokens from Christmas...
  
  Many Thanks,
  
  RF Might I suggest a good starting point being "The Oxford Book of Classical Verse in Translation", around Β£28 - a good overview even if some of the translations are a bit archaic - or they do an edition of "The poems of Catullus" in the Oxford World's Classics series at around Β£7; he was very prolific, and there are many of his poems that are worthwhile! Β 

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Eliza6Beth (U2637732) on Saturday, 11th March 2006

  Poor old Catullus, pining away for Clodia. Should've fallen for a good woman!
  
  I like Sappho's fragments about her daughter. Something about a hairband, I seem to recall!
  
  Maybe more of hers will be found one day, in Egyptian sands or wherever.
  
  Eliza.

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