Sappho (Saffo)- Sento arrivare la morte / Honestly, I wish I were dead

Roberto Ferri, Amor et mortem, 2012

Honestly, I wish I were dead.
Weeping many tears, she left me and said,
“Alas, how terribly we suffer, Sappho.
I really leave you against my will.”
And I answered: “Farewell, go and remember me.
You know how we cared for you.
If not, I would remind you
…of our wonderful times.
For by my side you put on
 many wreaths of roses
 and garlands of flowers
 around your soft neck.

Sento arrivare la morte.
Lei, copiosa di lacrime,
lasciandomi:
“Destino crudele,
Saffo, mai vorrei
 lasciarti”.
E io risposi: “Addio,
 va serena e ricordati
 di me. Tu sai che
t’ho amato”.
Quante corone di viole,
 di rose e salvia poste
sul tuo corpo, là, vicino a me.
Ghirlande intrecciate attorno
 al delicato collo, fatte
 dei fiori di primavera.