Fragment #20

#20

Hark and hail, let the bells ring, peel out

A sense of gladness and joy pervades the land

Lookouts have spotted our grand Greek ships

          With good luck they’ll be landing soon

Which will be the one to gain the harbor first

To set its bow on part of black earth of Lesbos

I hope and pray to Poseidon that it will be Phaon’s

          With his sailors coming bravely on shore

Boreas is providing in big blasts of wind

The impetus for these vessels to come upon dry land

And we, maidens fair, await with our woven garlands

          And watch each sail as closer it comes

The freight has them loaded down, they’re lugging along

When will they arrive is on everyone’s mind

I am beyond excitement at the thought of seeing him again

          After many nights and days of being apart

Is that his sail I see coming closer into view with

The symbol of the muse painted on the bow, he did that

For me, even has my lyre, prominently displayed

          My works, my verses, he knows are of him

Hither to this place I implore, to this pleasant dry land

Can I calm the palpitations of my heart

O praise the gods, his ship has landed safely, he debarks

          I rush to meet his lips, to caress his hair