“I was much hurried whilst writing ‘Hammerstein’ and ‘Sappho,’ for I always thought that death would overtake me before their completion. I wrote ‘Sappho’ because I was angry with Grillparzer, for I thought that a noble and elevated feeling should act upon so grand a character as that of Sappho. Instead of making a noble and elevated character out of this struggling and suffering woman, the poet thought he had a right to desecrate her. It seemed to me unworthy of her to throw herself into the sea because she had been deceived. It was more natural and poetical to sacrifice herself for her child. It is characteristic of me that I cannot regard what is termed ‘Love’ as the motive power of all actions.
“Sappho lived in Sicily, surrounded by young girls, to whom she taught the art of poetry. I have amused myself in making portraits of my maids of honour.”
Carmen Sylva read the poem, in which she had depicted the sad trials of the life of Sappho, to the young friends around her.
“Will ye the last of love-melodies hearken,
Which from the lips of the poetess flowed at the end of her singing?
Sappho her voice uplifted, and softly the music resounded,
Whilst round about stood listening intent her lovely companions.
‘Of the power I sing, world-mastering,
Which beauty to beauty enchains;
Whereto the gods bow, and the earth in her swing—
To which all that is born pertains.
I sing of the might that in flowers leaps to light,
What wakes the still seed from its rest;
Which glows on the cheek of the maiden bright,
And burns in her lover’s breast.
To that god sing I so, who with echoing bow
Sweet endless confusion brings;
Who conquers all hearts, for their weal or their woe,
Who startles—and stabs—and stings.’”
—Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold.
Laïs, the daughter of Sappho, loves Memnon, the man to whom Sappho has given her heart. This tragic circumstance hastens her end. The death of her daughter puts an end to Sappho’s love to Memnon. By moonshine she wanders to the sea, and raising her lyre high above her head, breaks it, and throws the pieces into the foaming waters. Memnon calls to her—