Ηδονή is now often translated as 'sensual love' or, mistakenly, 'sensuous love'. Sensual' has referred to gratifying carnal, especially sexual, senses since 'Sensuous' possibly coined by Milton means 'relating to the senses instead of the intellect without the sexual connotation'. Popular psychology makes an earnest distinction between love and sex, but most of us, on many occasions, have found the difference theoretical or irrelevant. A glib moral separation of sex from love—or flirtation from passion—needs correction Popular psychology makes an earnest distinction between love and sex, but most of us, on many occasions, have found the difference theoretical or irrelevant. A glib moral separation of sex from love—or flirtation from passion—needs correction, which Cavafy does, particularly in his poem Body Remember. Therefore, to me, 'pleasure/delight' should be translated without a
qualifying adjective, especially Cavafy seems to avoid the otiose use of adjectives.
(Relevant perhaps is, according to his personal friend & confidant Atanasio Cortato, that Cavafy never had any homosexual liaisons & was not even homosexual! Stratis Tsirkas and J.M. Hatzifotis argue that he was was guilty about his masturbation & alcoholism.Moreover, in their opinion, it seems that he was a very shy man, unable to form any sexual relationship 'Under this lens his erotic poetry is nothing but his fantasising of the unrealised…'
I never realised how tortured he was inwardly by the threat of punishment from the dominant Orthodox Church, railing against sin, particularly sexual sin. Shades of the “Holy Epistle” with its frightening images of brimstone and fire coming down from the heavens to sear sinners, especially sexual sinners! This excerpt from his writings shows the depth of his self-loathing & unhappiness:- '“I have to put an end to this myself, by the first of April otherwise I won’t be able to travel. I’ll get sick and how am I to enjoy my voyage when I’m sick?”
“March 16th: Midnight. I succumbed again. Despair, despair, despair. There is no hope. Unless I end this by the 15th of April. God help me.” The Orthodox Church, like the Roman Catholic Church (as well as countless other denominations) still have Gnostic attitudes to sexuality, which by & large the Greeks haven't taken seriously but in the past the Church's influence in Alexandria so dominated morality that they deeply tormented sensitive souls like Cavafy.)
My bad translation might run thus:-
Joy & fragrance of my life the memory of those hours
When I found, & I didn't let go of, pleasure as I wanted it;
Joy & fragrance of my life--that I detested
All the delight I've had in common love affairs.
:blush:
