Love

Apollonia

by Théophile Gautier 1811–1872

Translated by Agnes Lee (1903) · From Émaux et Camées (1852–1872)

Love

Fair Apollonia, name august,
Greek echo of the sacred vale,
Great name whose harmonies robust
Thee as Apollo's sister hail!

Struck with the plectrum on the lyre,
And in melodious beauty sung,
Brighter than love's and glory's fire,
It resonant rings upon the tongue.

At such a classic sound as this,
The elves plunge down their German lake.
Alone the Delphian worthy is
So lustreful a name to take,--

Pythia! when in her flowing dress
She mounts her place with feet unshod,
And, priestess white and prophetess,
Wistful awaits the tardy god.

MLA

Gautier, Théophile. “Apollonia.” Translated by Agnes Lee. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gautier/25/.

Chicago

Gautier, Théophile. “Apollonia.” Translated by Agnes Lee. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gautier/25/.

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