Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind (Fragment 1)

Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind,
Child of Zeus, who twists lures, I beg you
Do not break with hard pains
O lady, my heart

But come here if ever before
You caught my voice far off
And listening left your father’s
Golden house and came

Yoking your car. And fine birds brought you
Quick sparrows over the black earth
Whipping their wings down the sky
Through midair—

They arrived. But you, O blessed one
Smiled in your deathless face
And asked what (now again) I have suffered and why
(now again) I am calling out

And what I want to happen most of all
In my crazy heart. Whom should I persuade (now again)
To lead you back into her love? Who, O
Sappho, is wronging you?

For if she flees, soon she will pursue
If she refuses gifts, rather will she give them
If she does not love, soon she will love
Even unwilling

Come to me now: loose me from hard
Care and all my heart longs
To accomplish, accomplish. You
Be my ally.