He sees the fields that still belong to him: <br />the wheat, the animals, the trees laden with fruit; <br />and beyond them his ancestral home <br />full of clothes, costly furniture, silverware. <br /> <br />They'll take it all away from him—O God—they'll take it all <br /> away from him now. <br /> <br />Would Kantakuzinos show pity for him <br />if he went and fell at his feet? They say he's merciful, <br />very merciful. But those around him? And the army?— <br />Or should he fall down and plead before Lady Irini? <br /> <br />Fool that he was to get mixed up in Anna's party! <br />If only Lord Andronikos had never married her! <br />Has she ever done anything good, shown any humanity? <br />Even the Franks don't respect her any longer. <br />Her plans were ridiculous, all her plotting farcical. <br />While they were threatening everyone from Constantinople, <br />Kantakuzinos demolished them, Lord John demolished them. <br /> <br />And to think he'd planned to join Lord John's party! <br />And he would have done it, and would have been happy now, <br />a great nobleman still, his position secure, <br />if the bishop hadn't dissuaded him at the last moment <br />with his imposing hieratic presence, <br />his information bogus from beginning to end, <br />his promises, and all his drivel.<br /><br />Constantine P. Cavafy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/john-kantakuzinos-triumphs/
