Daughter of Pandion, lovely
Swallow that veers at my window,
Swift on the flood of the sunshine
Darting thy shadow;
What is thy innocent purpose,
Why dost thou hover and haunt me?
Is it a kinship of sorrow
Brings thee anear me?
Must thou forever be tongueless,
Flying in fear of Tereus?
Must he for Itys pursue thee,
Changed to a lapwing?
Tireless of pinion and never
Resting on bush or the branches,
Close to the earth, up the azure,
Over the treetops;
After thy wing in its madness
Follows my glance, as a flitting
Child on the track of its mother
Hastens in silence.
Daughter of Pandion, lovely
Swallow that veers at my window,
Hast thou a message from Cyprus
Telling of Phaon?