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Hymn To Paphia Lyrics by Sappho

The Poems of Sappho

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Immortal Paphia! have I earned thy hate,
        That I should burn in passion's fatal flame?
        Is not my constant service thine to claim,
My prayer's appeal with praise of thee elate?
Has not my life been one sole hymn of thee,
        One quivering chord on Love's harp overwrought?
        My soul has trembled up to thee in thought,
Probed to its depth thy every ecstasy.
Are not my countless heart-beats each a vow,
        Of tribute throbs a garland? For thy gain
        The Fates have drenched my soul in passion's rain,
Pieria's roses twined about my brow.
The virgin harvest of my heart was thine,
        I shuddered in the joy that half consumed;
        The votive garlands on thy altar bloomed,
My days were songs to nights of bliss divine.
Why try me, then, with torture, gracious Queen?
        Why verge me on this rapture's dread abyss,
        Hold breast from breast and stay the yearning kiss?
Ah, couldst thou fashion pain that stung less keen?
The throe of Tantalus is mine to bear,
        Beauty that Thetis-like eludes my clasp;
        Glances that lure, that make each breath a gasp,
And then disdainful gloat at my despair.
Scornful she dwells beyond my ardor's clutch,
        Bathed in an aureole of carnal fire;—
        O bind her equal slave to fond desire,
Let passion's tingling warmth her being touch!
Come to me, Goddess, come as once of old,
        Hearing my voice implore thee from afar,
        I drew to earth thy dazzling avatar;
Accord the smile of piercing bliss untold.
Ask me the dear suave question phrased of yore;
        "Sappho, who grieveth now thy mad fond heart?
        Wouldst win her beauty, she who frowns apart?
Wild as thou lovest, she soon shall love thee more."
O fair Olympian, answer thus, I pray!
        Release me from this torment, yield my arms
        The transport thirsted of her folded charms,
In glow that welds her heart to mine for aye.
Credits
Sappho

Sappho

About “Hymn To Paphia” by Sappho

Read the complete lyrics to "Hymn To Paphia" by Sappho from the album "The Poems of Sappho". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Hymn To Paphia" is performed by Sappho. from the album "The Poems of Sappho" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Hymn To Paphia", explore more songs by Sappho using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Hymn To Paphia" is credited to Sappho. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Hymn To Paphia" appears on "The Poems of Sappho".

Visit the Sappho artist page at /artist/sappho for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.