Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

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[Alexandria] 14 May 1884

My dear Constantine,
     I missed the mail yesterday and put off writing you until today. Your letter 6th arrived 10th instant, four days only on the voyage, ― the quickest transit I have noticed yet from Constantinople here. In heading my letter with the above date, I have wished you all good things, and hope that Providence will hear my prayers and some day grant you them. Your letters are always treasured by me, and kept in a safe place with my other few valuables.
     I await with interest the solution of Mr. Rangabé’s enigma: my dull brain cannot fathom the mysterious heptameters.
     My verses “By the rivers of Babylon”, under their proper title “Super Flumina Babylonis”, I have had published in the Public Opinion of the 18th April. I am expecting copies of that number by tomorrow’s Brindisi mail, and shall post you one immediately on receipt. I have made sundry alterations in the poem, which I hope you will approve of; and, as you will see, I have altogether eliminated the stanza, you took exception to, as well as the one preceding it, and substituted four new lines, which I fancy are a marked improvement.
     Hoping that this will find you all in good health and with much love to mother, Alexander and Paul
          I am yours
               John.

P.S. I just hear from Kneen that it is reported the Commercial Bank of Alexandria is about to liquidate. This may be only a rumour.
          J.C.C

[Alexandria] 14 May 1884

My dear Constantine,
     I missed the mail yesterday and put off writing you until today. Your letter 6th arrived 10th instant, four days only on the voyage, ― the quickest transit I have noticed yet from Constantinople here. In heading my letter with the above date, I have wished you all good things, and hope that Providence will hear my prayers and some day grant you them. Your letters are always treasured by me, and kept in a safe place with my other few valuables.
     I await with interest the solution of Mr. Rangabé’s enigma: my dull brain cannot fathom the mysterious heptameters.
     My verses “By the rivers of Babylon”, under their proper title “Super Flumina Babylonis”, I have had published in the Public Opinion of the 18th April. I am expecting copies of that number by tomorrow’s Brindisi mail, and shall post you one immediately on receipt. I have made sundry alterations in the poem, which I hope you will approve of; and, as you will see, I have altogether eliminated the stanza, you took exception to, as well as the one preceding it, and substituted four new lines, which I fancy are a marked improvement.
     Hoping that this will find you all in good health and with much love to mother, Alexander and Paul
          I am yours
               John.

P.S. I just hear from Kneen that it is reported the Commercial Bank of Alexandria is about to liquidate. This may be only a rumour.
          J.C.C

PHOTO 1

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IDENTITY AREA

REFERENCE CODE:

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GR-OF CA CA-SF02-S01-SS02-F20-SF001-0045 (420)

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Letter by John Cavafy to C. P. Cavafy

DATE(S):

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14/5/1884

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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 page of a double sheet letterhead of R. J. Moss & Co., Alexandria. The remaining pages are blank. Comments on a poem by John published in the Public Opinion. (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.

John Cavafy briefly comments on his poem “By the Rivers of Babylon”, which was published under the title “Super Flumina Babylonis” in the Public Opinion on 18 April 1883.