16. Ione

Constantine P. Cavafy

Greek from Ancient Times

Antioch is proud of its magnificent buildings,
fine streets, the lovely countryside around it,
its teeming population; proud too
of its glorious kings, its artists and sages,
its very rich yet prudent merchants.
But far more than all this
Antioch is proud to be a city
Greek from ancient times, related to Argos
through Ione, founded by Argive colonists
in honour of Inachos’ daughter.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1927)

Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrand