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Of course I am downcast and tremble
with pity for my state
when old age and wrinkles cover me,
when Eros flies about
and I pursue the glorious young.
Pick up your lyre
and sing to us of her who wears
violets on her breasts. Sing especially
of her who is wandering.

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More quotes by Sappho

The stars hide away their shining form around the lovely moon when in all her fullness she shines (over all) the earth.

Death must be an evil — and the gods agree;
for why else would they live for ever?

Hesperus, you herd
homeward whatever
Dawn’s light dispersed
you herd sheep—herd
goats—herd children
home to their mothers.

A handsome man guards his image a while;
a good man will one day take on beauty.

Evening, thou that bringest all that bright morning scattered; thou bringest the sheep, the goat, the child back to her mother.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Sappho (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.