Pharos and Pharillon by E.M. Forster

When at the hour of midnight an invisible choir is suddenly heard passing with exquisite music, with voices- Do not lament your fortune that at last subsides, your life's work that has failed, your schemes that have proved illusions. But like a man prepared, like a brave man, bid farewell to her, to Alexandria who is departing. Above all, do not delude yourself, do not say that it is a dream, that your ear was mistaken. Do not condescend to such empty hopes. Like a man for long prepared, like a brave man, like the man who was worthy of such a city, go to the window firmly, and listen with emotion but not with the prayers and complaints of the coward (Ah! supreme rapture! ) listen to the notes, to the exquisite instruments of the mystic choir, and bid farewell to her, to Alexandria whom you are losing. C. P. CAVAFY.[1]

Footnote 1: For a study of Cavafy's work see p. 91.