The Alexandria Quartet - Lawrence Durrell [476]
Those eyes, the magnificent eyes …
Or was it perhaps in September … in the dog days …
Irrevocably blue, yes, bluer than
A sapphire’s mineral gaze.
free translation from C. P. Cavafy
* Page 704
ONE OF THEIR GODS
Moving through the market-place of Seleukeia
Towards the hour of dusk there came one,
A tall, rare and perfectly fashioned youth
With the rapt joy of absolute incorruptibility
Written in his glance; and whose dark
Perfumed head of hair uncombed attracted
The curious glances of the passers-by.
They paused to ask each other who he was,
A Greek of Syria perhaps or some other stranger?
But a few who saw a little deeper drew aside,
Thoughtfully, to follow him with their eyes,
To watch him gliding through the dark arcades,
Through the shadow-light of evening silently
Going towards those quarters of the town
Which only wake at night in shameless orgies
And pitiless debaucheries of flesh and mind.
And these few who knew wondered which of Them he was, And for what terrible sensualities he hunted
Through the crooked streets of Seleukeia,
A shadow-visitant from those divine and hallowed
Mansions where They dwell.
free translation from C. P. Cavafy¸
* Page 761
CHE FECE … IL GRAN RIFIUTO
To some among us comes that implacable day
Demanding that we stand our ground and utter
By choice of will the great Yea or Nay.
And whosoever has in him the affirming word
Will straightway then be heard.
The pathways of his life will clear at once
And all rewards will crown his way.
But he, the other who denies,
No-one can say he lies; he would repeat
His Nay in louder tones if pressed again.
It is his right — yet by such little trifles,
A ‘No’ instead of ‘Yes’ his whole life sinks and stifles. free translation from C. P. Cavafy
* Page 812
The incidents recorded in Capodistria’s letter have been borrowed and expanded from a footnote in Franz Hartmann’s Life of Paracelsus.
By LAWRENCE DURRELL
COLLECTED PO EMS
‘Durrell’s poetry compels the highest standard of judgment…. His ear is so fine, his choice of words and rhythms so rare and joyous, that the effect of reading him is to have one’s love of poetry rekindled. John Wain in t he Spectator
30 s net
THE IKONS and Other Poems
13 s 6 d net
THE TREE OF IDLENESS and Other Poe ms
16 s net
SELECTED POEMS 1935-1963
Faber Paper Covered Editions 6 s net
ACTE: A Play
‘… a powerful addition to romantic theatre.’ Yorkshire Post 15 s net
AN IRISH FAUSTUS
A morality in nine scenes
‘The verse is vigorous, jaunty, with plenty of fine passages.’ Austin Clarke in the Irish Press
16 s net
SAPPHO : A Play in Verse
Lawrence Durrell creates a living Sappho, with her household, her lovers and her feasts of wine and poetry.
Faber Paper Covered Editions 9 s net
ESPRIT DE CORPS
Sketches from Diplomatic Life
Illustrated by V. H. Drummond
Faber Paper Covered Editions 5 s net
STIFF UPPER LIP
Antrobus Stories
Nicolas Bentley drew the pictures
Faber Paper Covered Editions 5 s net
SAUVE QUI PEUT
Nicolas Bentley drew the pictures
2 s 6 d net
Faber Paper Covered Editions 6 s net
For younger readers:
WHITE EAGLES OVER SERBIA
‘A splendid e xciting book.’ Noel Streatfeild
16 s net
Faber Paper Covered Editions 7 s net
THE ALEXAN DRIA QUARTET
also published separately:
JUSTINE 21 s net
MOUNTOLIVE 21 s net
BALTHAZAR 18 s net
CLEA 30 s net
Faber Paper Covered Editions 6 s net each
By LAWRENCE DURRELL
TUNC
‘… not the least of Tunc’s readability rests in the unravelling of its secret-society plot…. Few writers can tell a story better.’ Angus Wilson in The Observer
25 s net
Faber Paper Covered Editions 6 s net
NUNQUAM
‘… it is positively enjoyable … Mr Durrell has always possessed a greater intellectual range and a more quirkish hum our than the majority of novelists.’ Elizabeth Berridge in the Daily Telegraph
30s net
THE DARK LABYRINTH
A modern novel about modern people, but not without echoes of the Minos legend.
21 s net
Faber Paper Covered Editions 8 s net