Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0018 (393)

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                [Alexandria] Thursday 9 pm                               8 March 1883
    My dearest Constantine Fotiadé,         I received your letter 26th ultimo on Tuesday     and I thank you for the eloquent extract from Goethe.     The stormy weather we have lately experienced, has been     succeeded by hot southerly winds, and today there is a     strong khamseen blowing: a delightful change I think.         I am glad to see you like Arvers’ sonnet. I have     rarely read anything so beautiful, and you will agree, I     feel sure, that in so narrow a compass it comprises     the ideal of romantic writing. ― The motto I have     chosen for “Truth” is from St. John chap. xviii
        37.... “Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice.         38 Pilate saith unto Him, what is Truth?” ―     The phrases you wish me to translate, I would render     as follows:     “Terrible est le tourbillon des vents” = Terrible is the         vortex of the winds, or terrible is the whirlwind.     “Une bonne femme est plus introuvable qu’un Corbeau     blanc” = It is more difficult to find a good woman         than a white raven.     “La nasse du pêcheur” = The fisherman’s net.     “fléau” = calamity (sometimes I believe this French     word is used in the same sense as the English “plague”).         I trust you will have received, ere this reaches     you, both Magazines ― the number for March has not
    yet come to hand.        I finished The Adventures of Philip last week     and am now reading Esmond, which is rather flat.        I have also got hold of a book called Self-Culture
    and written by Prof. Blackie of Edinburgh. It is a     marvel of cleverness and in a clear, tho’ concise, way     sets forth a string of rules whereby a student     should guide himself in the attainment of physical     and moral privileges.        In one of your letters you say you feel my     absence: this is fully reciprocated by me ― It is     now over 7 months that I have been separated from you,     and yet I think ’tis years when I look back
    on the time elapsed. You know the dictum:     “Time travelleth at divers paces with divers persons”.           With best love I am, dear Constantine,                Yours devotedly                     Johannisberg
    P.S. I enclose copy of the “Prelude”, as it now stands     in my Scribbling-books. ―

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0018 (393)

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

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8/3/1883

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Item

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27 x 22 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F51_Φ1-33

CONTEXT AREA

NAME OF CREATOR(S):

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Cavafy, John

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on the recto of two letterheads of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Everyday news. The sender translates French verses into English, as asked by his brother.

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

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English

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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co Alexandria. Physical item wear: oxidations.

NOTES AREA

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The transcription and editing of the letters of John Constantine Cavafy addressed to C. P. Cavafy was first carried out by Katerina Ghika; said transcriptions were subsequently uploaded to the official website of the Cavafy Archive.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Literary annotation, providing additional information on the digital object.

Literary remarks, lexilogical comments on English translations of French phrases, following the request of C. P. Cavafy. Reference to two poems by John Cavafy, entitled “Truth” and “Prelude”.

ACCESS POINTS

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SUBJECTS:

Letter

Works by other authors:

"Prelude" [Cavafy, John C.]

"Truth" [Cavafy, John C.]

Gospel according to John

On Self-Culture, Intellectual, Physical, and Moral: A Vade Mecum for Young Men and Students [Blackie, Stuart John]

The Adventures of Philip [Thackeray, William Makepeace]

The History of Henry Esmond [Thackeray, William Makepeace]

PLACES:

PERSONS:

Cavafy, John Constantine

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

Pontius Pilate

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 08.03.1883. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0018 (393), Onassis Foundation C. P. Cavafy Fonds. From The Digital Collection of the Cavafy Archive, edited by Onassis Foundation, Athens, last modified 01.10.2025. https://doi.org/10.26256/CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0018.