Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0040 (415)

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    My dear Constantine,        I was duly favoured with your valued letters of the     25 February and 3 March and thank you exceedingly. The
    news they contain is highly interesting and they are written in your     best style. Peter has not taken out a license to wear     his decoration, as the formality entails expense. The     Temple Bar for March goes forward by this mail: as regards     the Queen I am puzzled and disgusted with our friend     Penasson: he promises to let me have the whole batch next mail.     You will note the Temple Bar contains several     pieces of versification: I say versification advisedly     for I think they are hardly worthy the name of poetry:
    most infernal rubbish some of them. I am not     neglecting the Muse and am going to appeal to the Temple Bar     shortly ― The Soudan keeps us lively: an important     and decisive battle is shortly expected: so far you will     admit Chinese Gordon has been an Egyptian failure.     This fanatical gentleman has done next to nothing     towards amending matters. ― Much love to dear mother     with my best wishes for her early and complete     recovery ― we, three, are keeping well. Remember me
    kindly to Alexander and Paul and believe me ever           Your affectionate                Johannisberg
“The Red Mouse”

     Five years alas! but five short years ago.           How beautiful wert thou!      Under a lilac-tree, in the rich glow      Of Autumn sunset ... fair, exceeding fair!      A dream incarnate: purer than the air      That waved thy tresses: sweeter than the flower      Upon thy heaving breast ..... and now           The Red Mouse hath thee in his power.      Five years, but five short years have wrought a change      In this God’s-world of ours seldom deemed strange!                x     x     x     x

    (I have not written any more: the subject is     taken from Goethe’s Faust ― I think it will     do for a beginning      “Nothing so difficult as a beginning” etc
          You know the lines ―
     Yours           J.C.C.

DIGITAL OBJECT DESCRIPTION

IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0040 (415)

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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11/3/1884

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Item

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44 x 27.5 cm

FORMER REFERENCE CODE:

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F53_Φ1-32

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 remaining pages are blank. Discussion on poetry. Comments on the Sudan and reference to the medal awarded to their brother Peter-John (Order of the Medjidie). Excerpt from John’s poem “The red Mouse” in the third page. (Alexandria)

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CC BY-SA 4.0 Cavafy Archive Onassis Foundation

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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: 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.

The letter includes an excerpt from John’s poem “The red Mouse”, which, according to him, was based on Goethe’s Faust. John expresses his dislike for poems published in the Temple Bar.