Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy
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[Alexandria] 5 June 1883
My dear Constantine, Many thanks for your letter 28 May. The news therein contained about Strikidi and others are very inte- resting and extremely well-written. Your epistolary style is reaching the very climax of perfection ― Veuillot’s epitaph is nice ― but I am afraid that is the most that can be said of it: the idea is a hackneyed one. As regards your lottery tickets, their correct deno-
mination is “Crédit Mobilier d’Autriche, lots de 100 florins 1858.” The Pays Financier makes sufficient distinction in calling them “Lots d’Autriche 1858” seeing that no other Austrian lottery was issued in that year and therefore the impossibility of any confusion or misap- prehension. This is Bauer’s explanation. ― By last mail I received the Conseil du Rentier, a little book published by the editors of the Pays Financier for the benefit of its subscribers. Amongst other interesting matter, I found a list of all the Credit Mobilier tickets which have drawn prizes since the beginning of the lottery in 1858. I have carefully gone over this list and I am thereby convinced that both your tickets are ge- nuine and have not been drawn. My poetical vein is at present desultory and spasmodical: I have not much leisure time. Rest assured however that I have not ceased courting -
the lyric Muse. The “Arabesque” is completely equipped for the dangerous ride to an ideal Parnassus and only awaits the appearance of some high-spirited Pegasus whereon it may betake itself thither. ― To drop this somewhat hazy simile: ― I am doing my best to bring to a happy close the aforesaid poem. Here follows the Greek translation: “Aνάγνωθι, επανέλαβεν ο άγγελος, εν ονόματι του Kυρίου, ποιητού απάντων, ος και τον άνθρωπον από πάχνης ε- ποίησεν. Aνάγνωθι εν ονόματι του Yψίστου, ος ανθρώ- πω την ωφέλειαν της γραφίδος εδίδαξεν· ος περί ψυχή ανθρώπου ακτίνα σοφίας καταχέει, και τα πριν άγνω- στα αυτώ διδάσκει.” ―
I am still waiting your report about “Callicles”. Can you tell me who first thought of the impracticable problem of the “squaring of the circle”? With much love, I am, dear Constantine, Your affectionate brother Johannisberg.
P.S. By this same mail we are remitting you £ 10. id.
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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0026 (401)
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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy
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5/6/1883
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Item
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44 x 27.5 cm
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Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on the first and third pages of double sheet letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. He comments positively on his brother’s way of writing and refers to his own involvement in poetry. Reference to lottery tickets in the possession of C. P. Cavafy. Translation of a short quote into Greek. (Alexandria)
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Mainly English
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Writing in ink. Watermark: R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. Physical item wear: oxidations.
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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.
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Reference to John Cavafy’s poem “An Arabesque”. John translates an unidentified passage into Greek.
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DOI: 10.26256/ca-sf02-s01-ss02-f20-sf001-0026
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PERSONAL PAPERS
Correspondence of C. P. Cavafy
Family correspondence
Incoming correspondence of C. P. Cavafy
Incoming correspondence by John Cavafy