/a-scenario-for-exchanges-of-comments-on-a-planned-monograph-about-the-ancient-reception-of-sappho/


(line 1 of the translation)

I am not sure “[you] kiss me” is the right translation for φιλεῖς με here. In fact ἑκοῦσα φιλεῖς με reminds me of Sappho fr. 1. φιλήσει / κωὐκ ἐθέλοισα, where the verb seems to have as primaary meaning “she will love me / even if not willingly”. Note that in “Plato” AP 5.80, cited and translated below in 12.3a and b the apple is also thrown by someone “who loves you” (φιλῶν σέ). If we translate line 1 of AP 5.79 similarly as “and if you willing love me”, the first person speaker may be asking the girl to give up more of her girlhood than a simple kiss.