Author: Constantine P Cavafy

Said Myrtias (a Syrian student In Alexandria; in the reign of Augustus Constans and Augustus Constantius; In part a pagan, […]

In the prologue to her Alexiad, Anna Comnena laments her widowhood. Her soul is dizzy. “And with rivers Of tears,” […]

Because gods perceive future things, men what is happening now, but wise men perceive approaching things. Philostratus, Life of Apollonius […]

Just because we’ve torn their statues down, And cast them from their temples, Doesn’t for a moment mean the gods […]

Half past twelve. Time has gone by quickly Since nine o’clock when I lit the lamp And sat down here. […]

Our efforts are those of the unfortunate; Our efforts are like those of the Trojans. Somewhat we succeed; somewhat We […]

One dreary September day Emperor Manuel Komninos Felt his death was near. The court astrologers – bribed, of course – […]

He’s an old man. Used up and bent, Crippled by time and indulgence, He slowly walks along the narrow street. […]

Every so often he vows to start a better life. But when night comes with her own counsels, With her […]

In these darkened rooms, where I spend Oppresive days, I pace to and fro To find the windows. When a […]

Body, remember not only how much you were loved, Not only the beds on which you lay, But also those […]

Valiant are you who fought and fell gloriously; Fearless of those who were everywhere victorious. Blameless, even if Diaeos and […]

“What distillate can be discovered from herbs Of a witching brew,” said an aesthete, “what distillate prepared according To the […]

At the back of the noisy café Bent over a table sits an old man; A newspaper in front of […]

Like beautiful bodies of the dead who had not grown old And they shut them, with tears, in a magnificent […]