Napoleon to Josephine
I have your letter, my adorable love. It has filled my heart with joy… Since I left you I have been sad all the time. My only happiness is near you. I go over endlessly in my thought of your kisses, your tears, and your delicious jealousy. The charm of my wonderful Josephine kindles a living, blazing fire in my heart and senses. When shall I be able to pass every minute near you, with nothing to do but to love you and nothing to think of but the pleasure telling you of it and giving you proof of it? I loved you some time ago; since then I feel that I love you a thousand times better. Ever since I have known you I adore you more every day. That proves how wrong is that saying of La Bruyere [1]“love comes all of a sudden”.
Ah, let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less graceful, less tender, less good. But never be jealous and never shed tears. Your tears send me out of my mind… they set my very blood on fire. Believer me that it is utterly impossible for me to have a single thought that is not yours, a single fancy that is not submissive to your will. Rest well. Restore your health. Come back to me and then at any rate before we die we ought to be able to say: “We were happy for so very many days!” Millions of kisses even to your dog.
[中文译文]
拿破仑致约瑟芬
我收到了你的信，我的至爱。你的信使我充满了欢乐……自从与你分手，我一直闷闷不乐，愁眉不展。我唯一的幸福就是伴随着你。你的吻给了我无限的遐思与回味，还有你的泪水与甜蜜的嫉妒。我迷人的约瑟芬的魅力就像一团炽热的火在心里燃烧。什么时候，我才能在你身边度过每分每秒？除了爱你我什么都不做？除了向你倾诉并证明我的爱恋的那种愉快，什么也不想了？我难以相信，不久前我才爱上你，可是自那以后我的爱已经增长了千倍。从相识的那刻起，我对你的热爱便与日俱增。这正好说明拉布吕耶尔说的：“爱，突如其来”多么荒谬。
啊，让我再看看你的美中不足吧。你要再少几分甜美，再少几分优雅，再少几分温柔，再少几分姣好；但不要嫉妒，不要流泪。你的眼泪会让我六神无主，热血沸腾。相信我，我的思绪无时无刻不在你身上，我的意念每时每刻都顺从着你。好好休息，早日康复。回到我身边，在我们离世之前不管怎样都能够说：“我们曾经有多么幸福的日子啊！”千百次的吻你，甚至你的爱犬。
