Charles - Love Letters from Famous People

Dec 23, 1782

...should I draw you the picture of my heart it would be what I hope you would still love though it contained nothing new. The early possession you obtained there, and the absolute power you have obtained over it, leaves not the smallest space unoccupied.

I look back to the early days of our acquaintance and friendship as to the days of love and innocence, and, with an indescribable pleasure, I have seen near a score of years roll over our heads with an affection heightened and improved by time, nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart.

Good morning. Though still in bed my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us. I can live wholly with you or not at all - yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home, send my soul enwrapped in you in the land of spirits. Yes, unhappily it must be so, you will be the more resolved since you know my fidelity to you, no one can ever again possess my heart- none-never- Oh, God! why is it necessary to part from one whom one so loves and yet my life in W. (Vienna) is now a wretched life, your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men at my age, I need a steady, quiet life, can that be under our condition? My angel, I have just been told that the mail coach goes every day and I must close at once so that you may receive the L. at once. Be calm, only by a clam consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together, be calm, love me, today, yesterday, what tearful longings for you, you, you, my life, my all, farewell, Oh continue to love me, never misjuge the most faithful heart of your beloved L. ever thine ever mine ever for each other.

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Evening, Monday, July 6

You are suffering, my dearest creature - only now have I learned that letters must be posted very early in the morning on Mondays to Thursdays - the only days on which the mail-coach goes from here to K.

You are suffering

Ah, wherever I am, there you are also - I will arrange it with you and me that I can live with you.

What a life!!! thus!!! without you - pursued by the goodness of mankind hither and thither - which I as little want to deserve as I deserve it

Humility of man towards man - it pains me - and when I consider myself in relation to the universe, what am I and what is He - whom we call the greatest - and yet - herein lies the divine in man

I weep when I reflect that you will probably not receive the first report from me until Saturday

Much as you love me - I love you more

But do not ever conceal yourself from me - good night

As I am taking the baths I must go to bed

Oh God - so near! so far!

Is not our love truly a heavenly structure, and also as firm as the vault of heaven?

...would I, if I could, supplant one of any of the affections that I know to have taken root in you - that great and solemn one, for instance.

I feel that if I could get myself remade, as if turned to gold,

I WOULD not even then desire to become more than the mere setting to that diamond you must always wear.

The regard and esteem you now give me, in this letter, and which I press to my heart and bow my head upon, is all I can take and all too embarrassing, using all my gratitude.

- Robert Browning

(1812-1889)

And now listen to me in turn.

You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me - my heart was full when you came here today.

Henceforward I am yours for everything.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

(1806-1861)

You will only expect a few words, what will those be?

When the heart is full it may run over, but the real fullness stays within.

You asked me yesterday "if I should repent?"

Yes, my own Ba, I could with all the past were to do over again, that in it I might somewhat more, never so little more, conform in the outward homage, to the inward feeling, What I have professed, (for I have performed nothing) seems to fall short of what my first love required even, and when I think of this moment's love...I could repent, as I say.

Words can never tell you, however, form them, transform them anyway, how perfectly dear you are to me, perfectly dear to my heart and soul.

I look back, and in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence, you have been entirely perfect to me, I would not change one word, one look.

My hope and aim are to preserve this love, not to fall from it, for which I trust to God who procured it for me, and doubtless can preserve it.

Enough now, my dearest, dearest, own Ba!

You have given me the highest, completest proof of love that ever one human being gave another.

I am all gratitude, and all pride (under the proper feeling which ascribes pride to the right source) all pride that my life has been so crowned by you.

God bless you prays your very own R.

Dear Madam,

The passion of love has need to be productive of much delight; as where it takes thorough possession of the man, it almost unfits him for anything else.

The lover who is certain of an equal return of affection, is surely the happiest of men; but he who is a prey to the horrors of anxiety and dreaded disappointment, is a being whose situation is by no means enviable.

Of this, my present experience gives me much proof.

To me, amusement seems impertinent, and business intrusion, while you alone engross every faculty of my mind.

May I request you to drop me a line, to inform me when I may wait upon you?

For pity's sake, do; and let me have it soon.

In the meantime allow me, in all the artless sincerity of truth, to assure you that I truly am, my dearest Madam, your ardent lover, and devoted humble servant.

August 1812

My dearest Caroline,

If tears, which you saw & know I am not apt to shed, if the agitation in which I parted from you, agitation which you must have perceived through the whole of this most nervous nervous affair, did not commence till the moment of leaving you approached, if all that I have said & done, & am still but too ready to say & do, have not sufficiently proved what my real feelings are & must be ever towards you, my love, I have no other proof to offer.

God knows I wish you happy, & when I quit you, or rather when you from a sense of duty to your husband & mother quit me, you shall acknowledge the truth of what I again promise & vow, that no other in word or deed shall ever hold the place in my affection which is & shall be most sacred to you, till I am nothing.

I never knew till that moment, the madness of my dearest & most beloved friend I cannot express myself this is no time for words but I shall have a pride, a melancholy pleasure, in suffering what you yourself can hardly conceive for you don not know me. I am now about to go out with a heavy heart, because my appearing this Evening will stop any absurd story which the events of today might give rise to do you think now that I am cold & stern, & artful will even others think so, will your mother even that mother to whom we must indeed sacrifice much, more much more on my part, than she shall ever know or can imagine.