A SAPHO. by Sappho: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This poem honors the ancient Greek poet Sappho, celebrating her brilliance, beauty, and the enduring impact of her work.
The poem
Quel doux parfum de poésie, Sapho, s'exhale de ton sein! As-tu dérobé l'ambroisie Dans le banquet divin? Aux traits brillants de ton génie Tu sais unir, avec bonheur, La voluptueuse harmonie De ton luth enchanteur! L'amour qui t'enivre et t'enflamme, Qui te transporte dans les cieux, C'est le tendre soupir d'une âme Qui monte vers les dieux. Dans tes accents quelle puissance, Sapho! les Grâces sont tes soeurs; On dirait que tu pris naissance Dans un bouquet de fleurs. Que de fois, dans son sein qui gronde, La mer a vu changer ses flots, Depuis que dans la nuit profonde Tu goûtes le repos! Toi, Sapho, jeune et belle encore, Malgré le temps et sa rigueur, Toi, tu brilles comme l'aurore, Dans toute ta fraîcheur! Par l'éclat qu'on admire en elle, La rose règne sur les fleurs; Et toi, par ta grâce immortelle, Tu règnes sur les coeurs. La palme a couronné ta lyre, Sans rivale, aux jeux solennels, Et la Grèce, dans son délire, T'éleva des autels. Et de Lesbos à Syracuse, Une voix, à travers les cieux, A dit: Sois la dixième Muse... C'était la voix des dieux!
This poem honors the ancient Greek poet Sappho, celebrating her brilliance, beauty, and the enduring impact of her work. The speaker expresses amazement that even after centuries, Sappho's voice and elegance still radiate like the morning light. The poem concludes with a high praise: the gods themselves named her the tenth Muse.
Line-by-line
Quel doux parfum de poésie, / Sapho, s'exhale de ton sein!
Aux traits brillants de ton génie / Tu sais unir, avec bonheur,
L'amour qui t'enivre et t'enflamme, / Qui te transporte dans les cieux,
Dans tes accents quelle puissance, / Sapho! les Grâces sont tes soeurs;
Que de fois, dans son sein qui gronde, / La mer a vu changer ses flots,
Toi, Sapho, jeune et belle encore, / Malgré le temps et sa rigueur,
Par l'éclat qu'on admire en elle, / La rose règne sur les fleurs;
La palme a couronné ta lyre, / Sans rivale, aux jeux solennels,
Et de Lesbos à Syracuse, / Une voix, à travers les cieux,
Tone & mood
The tone remains reverent and celebratory, briefly dipping into wistfulness in the fifth stanza as the speaker reflects on Sappho's death. However, the poem doesn't dwell on sorrow; it consistently returns to themes of light, dawn, roses, and divine recognition. The overall impression feels like a toast: warm, admiring, and slightly breathless.
Symbols & metaphors
- L'aurore (the dawn) — Dawn symbolizes immortality through art. Sappho shines like the dawn, not due to her youthful age but because her poetry continuously renews itself through the centuries, remaining fresh and ever-present.
- La rose (the rose) — The rose is often seen as the queen of flowers, symbolically crowning Sappho as the queen of human hearts. It embodies a beauty that is both delicate and lasting—the ideal representation for a poet whose life may have ended, but whose words continue to resonate.
- La lyre (the lyre) — The lyre represents all of Sappho's poetry. In ancient Greece, it was the instrument used for lyric poetry, and winning the palm for playing the lyre was the highest artistic honor one could achieve.
- La mer (the sea) — The constantly shifting sea reflects the long span of time since Sappho passed away. Its turbulence stands in sharp contrast to her peaceful rest, highlighting her enduring brilliance even more.
- La dixième Muse (the tenth Muse) — The nine Muses of Greek mythology each presided over different forms of art. Referring to Sappho as the tenth Muse — a title that the ancient Greeks used for her — elevates her above all human artists and aligns her with the divine sources of inspiration.
- L'ambroisie (ambrosia) — Ambrosia was the food of the Olympian gods, bestowing immortality on anyone who ate it. The speaker wonders if Sappho took it from the divine banquet, suggesting her poetry possesses the same life-giving, immortal quality.
Historical context
Sappho lived on the island of Lesbos from around 630 to 570 BCE and is one of the few ancient Greek poets whose work has survived, albeit in fragments. She was renowned in her time as the greatest lyric poet — Plato even referred to her as the tenth Muse, a sentiment echoed directly in this poem. This French poem is part of a long tradition of *hommage* verse, where later poets honor their predecessors. Written during the Romantic era, a time when French poets were enthusiastically rediscovering classical antiquity, it captures the era's admiration for Greece as a wellspring of beauty, passion, and artistic ideals. The poem's geography — stretching from Lesbos to Syracuse — reflects the genuine spread of Sappho's fame throughout the ancient Greek world, linking mythology to historical reality.
FAQ
The poem is *about* Sappho, not *by* her. It’s a French tribute poem — an *hommage* — crafted by a later poet to honor her. The title *À Sapho* translates to 'To Sappho.' The actual Sappho wrote in ancient Greek around 600 BCE; this poem was created many centuries afterward, likely during the French Romantic period.
Greek mythology features nine divine patrons of the arts known as the Muses. Referring to Sappho as the tenth Muse suggested that she transcended all human artists and deserved a place among the divine. The philosopher Plato coined this phrase for her, making it one of the most celebrated compliments in literary history.
Lesbos was the island in the Aegean Sea where Sappho lived. Syracuse, a prominent Greek city located on Sicily, lies far to the west. By connecting these two locations, the speaker highlights that Sappho's fame reached throughout the entire Greek-speaking world — from one end to the other.
The rose has long been a symbol of Sappho since ancient times — she wrote about roses, and later authors used the flower to embody her essence. In this instance, the speaker crowns Sappho as the queen of hearts, just as the rose reigns as the queen of flowers, thanks to its sheer, undeniable brilliance.
The tone is mostly happy and celebratory, but there's a poignant moment in the fifth stanza where the speaker reflects on Sappho's long absence — the sea has transformed many times since she found her rest. This touch of sadness makes the return to celebration feel more justified.
Ambrosia, the food of the gods in Greek mythology, conferred immortality upon those who ate it. The speaker is playfully wondering if Sappho might have secretly snatched some from the divine feast—because her poetry has a similar power: it keeps her alive and vibrant, centuries after her death.
The poem consists of nine quatrains (four-line stanzas) and follows an alternating rhyme scheme (ABAB). The lines switch between eight syllables and six syllables, a pattern typical in French Romantic lyric poetry that lends the verse a light, song-like feel — perfect for honoring a poet who also created music.
The poem's assertion that Greece 'raised altars' to her is an example of poetic exaggeration, but it reflects a genuine truth. Sappho received statues, coins with her likeness, and remarkable public acknowledgment — privileges typically given to heroes and deities. Even centuries after her death, the city of Mytilene on Lesbos featured her image on its coins.