Translation by Anne Carson — "When translating texts read from papyri, I have used a single square bracket to give an impression of missing matter, so that ] or [ indicates destroyed papyrus or the presence of letters not quite legible somewhere in the line" — If Not, Winter
4
]heart
]absolutely
]I can
]
]would be for me
]to shine in answer
]face
]
]having been stained
]
12
]
]
]
]thought
]barefoot
]
]
]
]
22
]
]work
]face
]
]
if not, winter
]no pain
]
]I bid you sing
of Gongyla, Abanthis, taking up
your lyre as (now again) longing
floats around you,
you beauty. For her dress when you saw it
stirred you. And I rejoice.
In fact she herself once blamed me
Kyprogeneia
because I prayed
this word:
I want
23
]of desire
]
]for when I look at you
]such a Hermione
]and to yellowhaired Helen I liken you
]
]among mortal women, know this
]from every care
]you could release me
]
]dewy riverbanks
]to last all night long
] [
24a
]
]you will remember
]for we in our youth
did these things
yes many and beautiful things
]
]
]
34
stars around the beautiful moon
hide back their luminous form
whenever all full she shines
on the earth
silvery
38
you burn me
42
their heart grew cold
they let their wings down
45
as long as you want
46
and i on a soft pillow
will lay down on my limbs
48
you came and I was crazy for you
and you cooled my mind that burned with longing
51
I don't know what to do
two states of mind in me
52
I would not think to touch the sky with two arms
56
not one girl I think
who looks on the light of the sun
will ever
have wisdom
like this
57
what country girl seduces your wits
wearing a country dress
not knowing how to pull the cloth to her ankles?
59
]
loves
new
69
]
]sinful
]
87d
]
]
]
]youth
]
]
]
]
]
]
91
never more damaging O Eirana have I encountered you
100
and with delicate woven cloths covered her up well
102
sweet mother I cannot work the loom
I am broken with longing for a boy by slender Aphrodite
104a
Evening
you gather back
all that dazzling dawn has put asunder:
you gather a lamb
gather a kid
gather a child to its mother
104b
of all stars the most beautiful
107
do I still yearn for my virginity?
108
O beautiful O graceful one
109
we shall give, says father
114
virginity
virginity
where are you gone leaving me behind?
no longer will I come to you
no longer will I come
120
but I am not someone who likes to wound
rather I have a quiet mind
125
I used to weave crowns
136
messenger of spring
nightingale with a voice of longing
137
I want to say something but shame
prevents me
yet if you had a desire for good or beautiful things
and your tongue were not concocting some evil to say,
shame would not hold down your eyes
but rather you would speak about what is just
138
stand to face me beloved
and open out the grace of your eyes
147
someone will remember us
I say
even in another time
153
girl sweetvoiced
162
with what eyes?
163
my darling one
168b
Moon has set
and Pleiades: middle
night, the hour goes by,
alone I lie.
173
a vine that grows up trees
182
I might go
183
downrushing
184
danger
185
honeyvoiced
188
mythweaver