Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0027 (402)

ROTATE

MAGNIFY

ENLARGE

DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD ALL

PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3

Alexandria 10 July 1883
    My dear Constantine,
         Your letter 2nd instant came duly to hand.     I am much obliged for the butterfly, and shall bury it     deep in a little box, where the clatter and noise of this     world may not disturb its innocent slumber ― ’Tis a     beauty, and its loveliness well nigh inspired me with     a poetical outbreak, which however was speedily scattered     to the winds, by the idea that I might be     verging on the commonplace. (and there is hardly     anything more hateful to me!) ―     You are quite right in taking care of your eyes ―     and I should certainly advise you not to overstrain
    them. Your news is very interesting and I am     very glad to notice the favourable progress Paul     is making. Aristides writes you fully about the     Cholera in reply to Alexander’s letters. Pray assure     mother she need be under no anxiety. You know     yourself how fast ill news travels and what exaggeration     is generally attached thereto! We are all well     and take great care of ourselves.
    I am glad to see you like the Egypt. Unfortunately     this paper has had but a short career. Mr. Goodrich     has been obliged to suspend its publication for want     of printers, and the periodical is now a thing of the
past: the letter signed I.C.C. is written by Chapman, who, with John C. Carlisle and myself, constitutes the triumvirate of I.C.C.s in Egypt. I know Goodrich personally. He is an interesting young man and a thorough classical scholar. I need say no more: for, as you know, “classics” with me, are the true basis of all knowledge. ― Your friend Stephen Schilizzi is leaving for Liverpool on the 12th instant by one of our ships, the Neera: he is accompanied by his brother Nicholas: they purpose staying in England for a month or two. ― The Ruscovichs are here and I see them occasionally: I don’t know them to speak to. ― “Ah wad some power the giftie gie us” etc are favourite lines with me, and, curious to say, I was looking for them the night previous to the arrival of your letter.
On a separate sheet I give you the translation from Irving you ask for and respond to your other linguistic queries. There is a rumour being spread about today here, that the British Government has decided upon a protectorate in Egypt for an unfixed period. The unified has consequently risen three points say from 69 to 72. Conformably with Alexander’s request, I shall now post you, regularly, the Pays Financier ―
    Many many kisses to dear mother, and again     beg of her not to fret about us. ― We are perfectly     safe. Give my best love to Alexander and Paul and     remember me to all our relations ― and believe     me to be your devoted and affectionate brother
               Johannisberg.

    P.S. I hope, next week, I shall be able to afford     the time for a longer and more interesting letter.     This, I know, is hardly presentable, both in style     and calligraphy, but I trust to yr. kind forbearance.
               id.

    P.S. No 2. I enclose two photos of Aristides and myself.     I don’t think we have either of us changed much     since you saw us last. ―

               id. again ―

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

Records the unique identifier that has been appointed to the unit of description by the archivists, in order to facilitate references made to the fonds on an international level.

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0027 (402)

TITLE:

Records the name of the unit of description.

Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

Identifies the date of creation of the unit of description.

10/7/1883

LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION:

Identifies the level of arrangement of the unit of description (fonds, sub-fonds, series, sub-series, file, sub-file, item).

Item

EXTENT AND MEDIUM:

Records the extent of the unit of description. In case of an item description, it records the exact dimensions of the item.

27 x 22 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

Records the former identifier of the item as given by the Historical G. P. Savvidis Catalogue.

F52_Φ1-31

CONTEXT AREA

NAME OF CREATOR(S):

Identifies the author or the creator of the unit of description.

Cavafy, John

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

Provides a summary of the scope (such as, time periods, geography) and content of the unit of description.

Handwritten letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy on one side of a sheet and on both sides of a second sheet. The author comments on the problems of C. P. Cavafy with his eyes and to the cholera epidemic in Alexandria. Social and political news. (Alexandria)

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

CONDITIONS GOVERNING REPRODUCTION:

Specifies the conditions governing the reproduction of the unit of description.

CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT NOTES:

Identifies the language(s) and script(s) employed in the unit of description.

English

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Provides information about important physical characteristics of the unit of description.

Writing in ink. Watermark: Mc. Corquodale. Physical item wear: oxidations.

NOTES AREA

NOTE:

Provides information that cannot be accommodated in any of the other fields.

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 informs C. P. Cavafy that he has translated an unidentified work by Washington Irving, which he encloses for the poet.

ACCESS POINTS

Key-words aiming to facilitate search within the fonds.

SUBJECTS:

Epidemic (cholera)

Letter

Newspapers:

Egypt

PLACES:

PERSONS:

Cavafy (Fotiadi), Charikleia

Cavafy, Alexandros P.

Cavafy, Aristeidis

Cavafy, C. P.

Cavafy, John Constantine

Cavafy, Paul

Chapman, (?)

Goodrich, (?)

Schilizzi, Nikolaos Z.

Schilizzi, Stephen Z.

Washington, Irving

FAMILIES:

Ruscovich, family

CITATION:

For citation purposes, please use the reference provided here.

Cavafy, John Constantine. “Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy”. Letter, 10.07.1883. GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0027 (402), 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-SF001-0027.