sappho, fragment 130/ սաֆո , ֆրագմենտ 130
I couldn't find the word for bittersweet in Heyerin for this translation. Part of me wants to just make up words when my dictionary can't help; after all, I was able to find the two meanings, bitter and sweet, but I am afraid of doing a disservice to Sappho's (Սաֆո) work and Armenian by that approach. I am already running the danger that what I keep insisting are translations in Heyerin is just pure gibberish. No need to go and prove that by being creative. So, instead, I simply used the word bitter-honey which might be forgivable, I hope, if I ever find the correct word I am looking for someday.
Fragment 130:
Ἔρος δηὖτέ μ' ὀ λυσιμέλης δόνει,
γλυκύπικρον ἀμάχανον ὄρπετον
Eros, again now, the loosener of limbs troubles me,
Bittersweet, uncontrollable creature.
(Wharton)
Love — bittersweet, irrepressible –
loosens my limbs and I tremble.
(Barnstone)
Once again limb-loosening Love makes me tremble,
the bitter-sweet, irresistible creature.
(Campbell)
Eros the melter of limbs (now again) stirs me—sweetbitter unmanageable creature who steals in.
(Carson)
Once again limb-loosening Eros shakes me,
a helpless crawling thing, sweet-bitter.
(Saint-Andre)
Here are my English and Heyerin translations respectfully:
I tremble – Eros, bitter-honey, irresistible – consumes me, again.
Ես դողում եմ – Էրոսը-մեղր, անդիմադրելի – սպառում է ինձ, վերստին:
(Chartkoff)