50
Κρήσσαι νύ ποτ᾽ ὦδ᾽ ἐμμελέως πόδεσσιν
ὠρχεῦντ᾽ ἀπάλοις ἀμφ᾽ ερόεντα βῶμον
πόας τέρεν ἄνθος μάλακον μάτεισαι.
Thus sometimes, the Cretan women, tender footed, dance in measure round the fair altar, crushing the fine bloom of the grass.
From Hephaestion as an example of metre. Blass thinks that this and the preceding fragment belong together. The whole is another example of the delicate imagery of Sappho.
51
Ἄβρα δηὖτε παχήᾳ σπόλᾳ ἀλλόμαν.
Then lightly, in an enfolding garment I sprang.
From Herodian as a specimen of metre. It may not be by Sappho.
52
Φαῖσι δή ποτα Λήδαν ὐακινθίνων
[ὐπ᾽ ἀνθέων] πεπυκαδμένον
εὔρην ὤιον.
They say that Leda once found an egg under the hyacinths.
From the “Etymologicum Magnum.” It is uncertain what flower the Greeks described by the word “hyacinth” In this case the iris may be meant.
