|
|
In addition to being a brilliant military mind and feared ruler, Napolean
Bonaparte (1763 - 1821) was a prolific writer of letters. He reportedly wrote
as many as 75,000 letters in his lifetime, many of them to his beautiful wife,
Josephine, both before and during their marriage. This letter, written just
prior to their 1796 wedding, shows surprising tenderness and emotion from the
future emperor.
Paris, December 1795
I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating evening
which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil. Sweet, incomparable
Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart! Are you angry? Do I see
you looking sad? Are you worried?... My soul aches with sorrow, and there can
be no rest for you lover; but is there still more in store for me when,
yielding to the profound feelings which overwhelm me, I draw from your lips,
from your heart a love which consumes me with fire? Ah! it was last night that
I fully realized how false an image of you your portrait gives!
You are leaving at noon; I shall see you in three hours.
Until then, mio dolce amor, a thousand kisses; but give me none in return, for
they set my blood on fire.
Back to LoveLetters Index
|
|