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| [ 1884 March, 11 ] | Letters |
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[Alexandria] 11 March 1884
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My dear Constantine,
I was duly favoured with your valued letters of the 25 February and 3 March and thank you exceedingly. The news they contain is highly interesting and they are written in your best style. Peter has not taken out a license to wear his decoration, as the formality entails expense. The Temple Bar for March goes forward by this mail: as regards the Queen I am puzzled and disgusted with our friend Penasson: he promises to let me have the whole batch next mail. You will note the Temple Bar contains several pieces of versification: I say versification advisedly for I think they are hardly worthy the name of poetry: most infernal rubbish some of them. I am not neglecting the Muse and am going to appeal to the Temple Bar shortly ¯ The Soudan keeps us lively: an important and decisive battle is shortly expected: so far you will admit Chinese Gordon has been an Egyptian failure. This fanatical gentleman has done next to nothing towards amending matters. ¯ Much love to dear mother with my best wishes for her early and complete recovery ¯ we, three, are keeping well. Remember me kindly to Alexander and Paul and believe me ever
Your affectionate
Johannisberg
C.F. Cavafy Esquire
“The Red Mouse”
¯¯¯¯¯
i
Five years alas! but five short years ago.
How beautiful wert thou!
Under a lilac-tree, in the rich glow
Of Autumn sunset ... fair, exceeding fair!
A dream incarnate: purer than the air
That waved thy tresses: sweeter than the flower
Upon thy heaving breast ..... and now
The Red Mouse hath thee in his power.
Five years, but five short years have wrought a change
In this God’s-world of ours seldom deemed strange!
x x x x
(I have not written any more: the subject is taken from Goethe’s Faust ¯ I think it will do for a beginning
“Nothing so difficult as a beginning” etc
You know the lines ¯
Yours
J.C.C.
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From John C. Cavafy
To Constantine Cavafy |
Transcribed and edited by Katerina Ghika |
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