Abstract

The essay investigates the three translations of Sappho by Ippolito Nievo, initially printed in a wedding pamphlet and later included in his third poetic book (Le lucciole, 1858). The investigation is primarily concerned with identifying the text from which Nievo translates the fragments of Sappho. The hypothesis, which is based on various historical and textual data, is that it is the second volume of Le odi di Anacreonte e di Saffo recate in versi italiani da Francesco Saverio De’ Rogati (1783). Subsequently, an examination is conducted to explore the thematic, lexical, and metrical connections that exist between the translations and other poems within Le lucciole, in order to formulate a hypothesis regarding their integration into the book. The essay concludes by providing commentary on the three translations, wherein Nievo’s texts are compared with both Sappho’s verses and De’ Rogati’s translations.