John Addington Symonds His Preface to Fragments from Sappho, from The Bibelot, Volume I, Number V, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, Thomas B. Mosher, editor, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, 7th century B.C. Greek lyric poetry, Classical literature of Ancient Greece, English translation, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot1SapphoSymonds)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume I, Number III, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1895; p. 126.

[126]

“THE world has suffered no greater literary loss than the loss of Sappho’s poems. So perfect are the smallest fragments, . . that we muse in a sad rapture of astonishment to think what the complete poems must have been . . Of all the poets of the world, of all the illustrious artists of all literatures, Sappho is the one whose every word has a peculiar and unmistakable perfume, a seal of absolute perfection and inimitable grace.

“Whether addressing the maidens, whom even in Elysium as Horace says, Sappho could not forget; or embodying the profounder yearnings of an intense soul after beauty, which has never on earth existed, but which inflames the hearts of noblest poets, robbing their eyes of sleep and giving them the bitterness of tears to drink — these dazzling fragments . . are the ultimate and finished forms of passionate utterance . . in which the fire of the soul is crystallized forever. ”

JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS.

V. FRAGMENTS FROM SAPPHO

[Back] [Blueprint] [Next]