Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

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                         [Alexandria] 14 August 1883
    My dear Constantine,        I reply to your letter 4th instant, for the sympathy     and love contained wherein, I am extremely thankful:     but I request you, as an especial favour, not to     impair your precious eyesight by writing ― Rest     assured I shall not cease sending you my weekly     news, nor shall I impute your silence to indifference     knowing you as I do. Be not anxious for our
    safety. The Cholera is subsiding all over the country     and notwithstanding the slight increase here, ’tis evi-     dent the malady is now drawing to a close.     I sincerely re-echo your wish that we may all     be granted better times, for God knows we are in     sad need of such: let us hope that “the darkest     hour of night is the hour before the dawn” ―     Mrs. Schilizzi, Ambrose, George and Alexander are here.     Nicholas and Stephen ― as I informed you some time     ago ― left by one of the Moss steamers for Liverpool.     I note your postscript to mother’s letter about subscr-     ibing to the Gentleman’s Magazine. This I am doing:
    but, my dear little brother, do you think that I have     not done so before because of any bad will?     You perhaps forget that I keep myself on as     little as I possibly can, and that some times ’tis     hard work to continue and make the two ends meet.
    You perhaps forget that the clothing I possess is     very meagre; that it naturally wears out, and must     either be replaced or repaired; that when you are sadly     in want of some article of dress, you have to cut     and economise, thus leaving but little to live upon.
    Far be it from me to complain. There is nothing     I dislike more than entering into such details about     myself: and I should certainly never refer to them     were it not to shew why I did not at once accede     to your demand, and that it was not on account     of disregard or oversight, but from the mere, actual     want of means wherewith to do so. ―        I enclose for your perusal Shelley’s “Ode to the     West Wind”, the rare beauty of which I am sure     you will appreciate. Haply you are already acquainted     with it. ― As regards my own efforts, they
    are, I am afraid, of a desultory nature, and this     is much enhanced by the limited leisure I am     able to claim.        Peter and Aristides join with me in tendering     you their love ―           Believe me ever, my dear Constantine,                Your affectionate brother                     John.

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0029 (404)

TITLE:

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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14/8/1883

LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION:

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Item

EXTENT AND MEDIUM:

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44 x 27.5 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F52_Φ1-31

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 first and third pages of a double sheet letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. The sender comments on his personal financial situation and conveys the news of family friends. (Alexandria)

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

CONDITIONS GOVERNING REPRODUCTION:

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT NOTES:

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English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Physical item wear: tears and holes.

NOTES AREA

NOTE:

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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.

John Cavafy encloses for C. P. Cavafy the Shelley’s poem “Ode to the West Wind”.

ACCESS POINTS

Key-words aiming to facilitate search within the fonds.

SUBJECTS:

Epidemic (cholera)

Letter

Journals:

Gentleman's Magazine, The

Works by other authors:

"Ode to the West Wind" [Shelley, Percy Bysshe]

PLACES:

Liverpool (England)

PERSONS:

Cavafy (Fotiadi), Charikleia

Cavafy, Aristeidis

Cavafy, John Constantine

Cavafy, Peter John (junior)

Schilizzi, Alexandros Z.

Schilizzi, Ambroise Z.

Schilizzi, Georgios Z.

Schilizzi, Nikolaos Z.

Schilizzi, Stephen Z.

Shelley, Percy Bysshe

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 14.08.1883. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0029 (404), 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-SF001-0029.