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“The God Abandons Antony”
by Constantine P. Cavafy (1863-1933)

When suddenly there is heard at midnight
A company passing invisible
With wonderful music, with voices,―
Your fortune giving way now, your works
Which have failed, the plans of a lifetime
All turned illusions, do not mourn uselessly.
As one prepared long since, courageously,
Say farewell to her, to Alexandria who is leaving.
Above all do not be tricked, never say it was
All a dream, and that your hearing was deceived;
Do not stoop to such vain hopes as these.
As one prepared long since, courageously,
As becomes one worthy as you were of such a city,
Firmly draw near the window,
And listen with emotion but not
With the complainings and entreaties of cowards,
Listen, your last enjoyment, to the sounds
The wonderful instruments of the mystic company,
And say farewell, farewell to Alexandria you are losing.

Translated by John Mavrogordato