Fragment 79 (Voigt 58)
79 · Voigt 58I love delicacy, and for me Love has the sun’s splendour and beauty.
Ἐγὼ δὲ φίλημ’ ἀβροσύναν, καὶ μοι τὸ λάμπρον
ἔρος ⏑ ἀελίω καὶ τὸ κάλον λέλογχεν.
In speaking of perfumes, Athenaeus, quoting Clearchus, says:—‘Sappho, being a thorough woman and a poetess besides, was ashamed to separate honour from elegance, and speaks thus ... making it evident to everybody that the desire of life that she confessed had brilliancy and honour in it; and these things especially belong to virtue.’