Note:

Written 1899, published 1901.

The title is from Dante's Inferno, Canto 3.60: "After I had recognized some of them, / I saw and knew the shame of him who / through cowardice, made the great refusal" The poem refers to Celestine who became pope in 1294 and abdicated five months later, saying the great "No." Dante sees this as an act of cowardice, Cavafy as one of honor.

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