the ten cantos besides a prologue and epilogue. In view of the fact that none of Sappho’s elegies are extant, the reconstruction, though fanciful, is extremely interesting. The first five songs picture Sappho’s desire, contentment, happiness, fear, and calmness. Phaon is jealous of Alcaeus and proposes to leave Lesbus to dwell in the Vale of Tempe, but Sappho asks Phaon to share in her poems, which will immortalize their love, and then reveals to him the origin of music. The second five represent her suspicion, grief, torment, and pursuit of Phaon to Sicily, her despair and the Leucadian Leap, after she sees Phaon making eyes at Telesilla. In the fifth elegy of the first canto is an adaptation of Sappho’s second ode, in which the first verse addressed to Phaon is taken without acknowledgment from André Chénier’s _Fanny_. Phaon seems to be the principal figure, and the legends about him are tremendously expanded with the help of many Greek myths. As in so many other writers he becomes a great athlete and must overcome his opponents in the stadium. The Italian author of _Avventure di Saffo_ had done likewise and made Phaon win with the same throw which Ulysses used in Homer. The _Voyages d’Anténor_ had made Phaon first appear to Sappho after winning in the gymnasium. Likewise Gorsse has Sappho see Phaon for the first time in the stadium at Mytilene. There she describes the impression Phaon made on her, when he won the athletic prize. All these writers forget, however, that women in Sappho’s day were not allowed to witness the nude athletic contests. Gorsse shows his wide acquaintance with the ancient accounts of Sappho when in the fourth elegy of the second canto he mentions: “un foible enfant, Cléis, qui t’est si chère!” With only a few errors he represents all the many friends and pupils of Sappho,—to whom he gives classical epithets,—as helping Sappho to preserve Phaon’s love. He is as keen as the modern critics when he says in a note that Erinna cannot be the famous poet, but he is wrong in picturing _Brune Andromède_ and _Blonde Gorgo_ as friends or pupils rather than rivals of Sappho. O vous, pourtant, qui faites mes délices, Du noeud sacré qui vous attache à moi, J’attends encor les plus tendres offices, Je les réclame au nom de votre foi. Blanche Cydno, délicate Amynthone, Douce Pyrine, intéressante Athis, Brune Andromède, agréable Gellone, Blonde Gorgo, séduisante Mnaïs! Par vos attraits, par vos grâces naïves, Auprès de moi captivez mon amant; Pour qu’il y trouve un doux enchantement, Soyez sans cesse à lui plaire attentives. Vous dont Euterpe anime les accens, Belle Mégare, adorable Gyrinne, Docte Gougile, ingénieuse Erinne, Pour le charmer adressez-lui vos chants. Vous qui brillez dans l’art de Therpsycore, Aimable Eunique, élégante Anagore, Devant ses yeux, avec agilité, Formez les pas qu’aime la volupté.