Paris, December 1795

I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating¹ evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil². 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 fully³ 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. 

　　注：拿破仑（Napoleon Bonaparte）（1769-1821）出生于法国的科西嘉。他不仅是一位出色的军事家和另人敬畏的统治者，还是一位多产的书信写手，一生写了数万封信，其中大部分是写给其漂亮的妻子约瑟芬的。这封信写于1796年他们的婚礼之前，表明了这位未来君主对爱人的温柔与情感。

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