Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0057 (432)

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[Alexandria] 5 January 1885

    My dear Constantine, Your letter 29 December reached     me yesterday, and as usual was the source of much     pleasure to me. Swinburne’s lines are pretty, although     the sentiments expressed are commonplace to a degree.     I am delighted to see you get on so well with Much     Ado about nothing, and our old friend “Xapolimoss”     tickled my innermost midriff with laughter that would     have pleased the Homeric Gods. ― This is Old X’mas
    eve and I could wish for no better diversion than writing     to you. The fresh translations you require, are herein,     but the tasks you set me are regular “posers”, and I     doubt my ability to seize the intricacies of the Shake-     spearian intellect. Of course you are aware that     whole commentaries have been written on some of     the passages, and such an one is Benedick’s speech.
    “Cinque pace” is yet unintelligible to me: I have     referred to Shakespearian Glossaries, but even they     throw no light on the word. ― I hope George will not     fail to send us his “photo”: in fact I am so eager     for it that I intend writing him a line this mail     to remind him and give him our news.       Enclosed I send you also cheque on the Credit Lyon-     nais for £10 from Peter and myself. Now I know how     inadequate this amount is to meet the necessaries     of existence, but we are helpless; for Aristides has
    hardly earned enough wherewith to pay his expenses, and     besides he has the Schilizzis to pay off, who, owing
    to this debt of his, appear to be making us “μούτρα”.     We are all three sadly distressed that at this season,     above all others, of the year, we should send you so little     but what can we do? It is evident that it would     be no good for Aristides to borrow more money (even     if he could find anyone to lend it) to send it you and     it is still more evident to all of us that if we wish     to maintain the friendship and goodwill of the Schilizzis     this debt of Aristides must be wiped out as speedily     as possible. ― It is very painful to me that this     eagerly expected monthly remittance should be so small     and I can well imagine your disappointment ―
    It is however granted to me to convey to you in this     letter at least one welcome piece of intelligence and     that is the official confirmation of the increase of     my salary ― The remuneration of my services is     fixed for the year 1885 at £240. Little enough     you will say, and certainly not what I expected, but then     bad trade must be taken into consideration, bad
    inasmuch as it has never been worse, and all the     world it would appear is suffering from commercial     depression and financial inactivity ― Now you     see having £20 per month, I shall be able to send you
    regularly from the end of this month £10.     and keep £10, which, I think it is needless to add, will maintain me     better than £7 at present, ― the latter as you know being     barely sufficient to pay one’s board and lodging, leave     alone anything else. Then ― which God grant! ― if     Peter succeed in getting something more, he may be
    able to send you, say £6 or £7 a month: and thus you     would have from us two alone £17, besides what     Aristides might remit after he has cleared his debt.     So, things are getting a shade better, if (there are always     “ifs” to plague one) if, I say, Peter’s salary is increased
    and Aristides’ labours be rewarded ― The latter works     very hard and it seems to me a rank injustice that     his exertions should render so little: but as he has     already written to you, the Bourse brokerage is now     reduced to simple speculation, and he, who has not     money to risk, cannot hope to make much, if anything.
    And now I must set to and finish the translations.     Give my sincere love to our dear mother and brothers,     and offering you all, my best wishes for a happy     Xmas, (albeit under trying circumstances)           Believe me as ever                Yours affectionately                     John. C.F. Cavafy Esquire      Constantinople.

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0057 (432)

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

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5/1/1885

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Item

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27 x 21.5 cm

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F54_Φ1-25

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Cavafy, John

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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on the recto of a letterhead and on both sides of a second letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Reference to the poor financial situation of the family and hopes for slight improvement. Detailed description of the ability of the three elder brothers from Alexandria for financial assistance to their mother and their younger brothers in Istanbul. Reference to the efforts by C. P. Cavafy to translate works by Shakespeare. (Alexandria)

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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.

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.

Advice by John to C. P. Cavafy regarding the latter’s effort to translate Shakespeare’s Much ado about nothing.