[Anna Dalassené]

C. P. CAVAFY

Translated by

RAE DALVEN

AEHZIZ

H Oddacca ora Baßn THs TH' évar vabrn.-

'H pava tov, Avnkepn, Tuaive x avagre

ory Ilavayia urpoora eva byndo Kepi

yıa va émiorpépe ypfyopa Kal var kakol kaupoi-

kal 8)o mpds Tov äveno arivea T' abri.

"ANNA vO mpocebxera: Kal déerar airy,

n eixay dxover, voßapn kai Aumnuevn,

Eebpovras mas dev HäAdeı mıa 6 vids Tov epıueve.

ANNA AAAAZZHNH

Ets 7d xpvadBovdrov mov EByan' à 'Ad€Evos Kouvnvös

ya va. Tipnoe. THY unrepa Tov éripavas,

Thy Alay vonuova Kupiay "Avva Aadacaonvn--

thy akddoyn ord Epya rhs, oTà HOn-

brdpxovy Sidgopa EyKwpLacTıkd. :

266 ds nerapepovne ard abra

pid ppdor Euoppnv, ebyerinn

"Ob 76 éudr À TO ody, TO Yuxpdy Todro piua, épp7yOn''.

C. P. CAVAFY / RAE DALVEN

SUPPLICATION

The sea took a sailor to its deep.-

His mother, unsuspecting, goes to light

a tall candle before the Virgin Mary

for his speedy return and for fine weather-

and always she cocks her ear to windward.

But while she prays and implores,

the icon listens, solemn and sad, knowing well

that the son she expects will no longer return.

ANNA DALASSENE

In the royal edict which Alexius Comnenus issued

to render brilliant homage to his mother,

the very sagacious Lady Anna Dalassené-

distinguished in her deeds, in her ways-

there are various laudatory phrases:

here let us convey of them

one beautiful and noble phrase:

"Those cold words 'mine' or 'yours' were never spoken."