42: Come, O divine shell

42

Ἄγε δὴ χέλυ δῖά μοι φωνάεσσα γένοιο. [transcription]

Come, O divine shell, yield thy resonances to me.

Come, O come, divinest shell,
And in my ear all thy secrets tell.

Quoted by Hermogenes and Eustathius. Sappho is apparently addressing her lyre. The legend is that Hermes is supposed to have made the first lyre by stretching the strings across the cavity of a tortise's shell.

Read ad-free with unlimited highlights, bookmarks, and annotations. $10/mo Become a Supporter Join

Comments and social are coming soon

Reader conversations and shared activity will appear here.

45 of 126 Book 35% ~1 min left