Letter 027 — XXVII
Original French
Milan, le 28 novembre 1796.
Je reçois le courrier que Berthier avait expédié à Gênes. Tu n’as pas eu le temps de m’écrire, je le sens facilement. Environnée de plaisirs et de jeux, tu aurais tort de me faire le moindre sacrifice. Berthier a bien voulu me montrer la lettre que tu lui as écrite. Mon intention n’est pas que tu déranges rien à tes calculs, ni aux parties de plaisir qui te sont offertes; je n’en vaux pas la peine, et le bonheur ou le malheur d’un homme que tu n’aimes pas, n’a pas le droit d’intéresser. Pour moi, t’aimer seule, te rendre heureuse, ne rien faire qui puisse te contrarier, voilà le destin et le but de ma vie. Sois heureuse, ne me reproche rien, ne t’intéresse pas à la félicité d’un homme qui ne vit que de ta vie, ne jouit que de tes plaisirs et de ton bonheur. Quand j’exige de toi un amour pareil au mien, j’ai tort. Pourquoi vouloir que la dentelle pèse autant que l’or? Quand je te sacrifie tous mes désirs, toutes mes pensées, tous les instants de ma vie, j’obéis à l’ascendant que tes charmes, ton caractère et toute ta personne ont su prendre sur mon malheureux cœur. J’ai tort, si la nature ne m’a pas donné les attraits pour te captiver; mais ce que je mérite de la part de Joséphine, ce sont des égards, de l’estime, car je l’aime à la fureur et uniquement.
Adieu, femme adorable, adieu, ma Joséphine. Puisse le sort concentrer dans mon cœur tous les chagrins et toutes les peines; mais qu’il donne à ma Joséphine des jours prospères et heureux. Qui le mérite plus qu’elle? Quand il sera constaté qu’elle ne peut plus aimer, je renfermerai ma douleur profonde, et je me contenterai de pouvoir lui être utile et bon à quelque chose. Je rouvre ma lettre pour te donner un baiser… Ah! Joséphine! Joséphine!
Musean translation
Machine-assisted Musean English translated from the French of the 172 Napoleon letters selected from Tancrède Martel, ed., Œuvres littéraires de Napoléon Bonaparte, tome 1 (Albert Savine, Paris, 1888). French Wikisource contributors supplied the scan-backed transcription: https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Livre:Bonaparte_-_Œuvres_littéraires,_tome_1,_1888.djvu (page histories credit contributors). The transcription is CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/; this adapted text and translations are shared under the same license. Extraction removes markup and editorial notes; selected transcription repairs were checked against print images.
Milan, November 28, 1796.
I have received the courier Berthier sent to Genoa. You did not have time to write to me; I can easily understand that. Surrounded by pleasures and amusements, you would be wrong to make the slightest sacrifice for me. Berthier was kind enough to show me the letter you wrote him. I do not intend you to change any of your plans or the amusements offered you; I am not worth the trouble, and the happiness or unhappiness of a man you do not love has no right to interest you. For me, to love you alone, make you happy, do nothing that might displease you: that is the destiny and purpose of my life. Be happy, reproach me for nothing, take no interest in the happiness of a man who lives only through your life, enjoys only your pleasures and your happiness. When I demand of you a love like mine, I am wrong. Why expect lace to weigh as much as gold? When I sacrifice all my desires, all my thoughts, every moment of my life to you, I obey the power your charms, your character, your whole person have gained over my unhappy heart. I am wrong if nature has not given me the attractions to captivate you; but what I deserve from Joséphine is consideration and esteem, for I love her madly and her alone.
Farewell, adorable woman, farewell, my Joséphine. May fate gather all sorrows and all suffering in my heart, but give my Joséphine prosperous and happy days. Who deserves them more than she? When it is established that she can love no longer, I shall contain my deep sorrow and be content to be useful to her and good for something. I reopen my letter to give you a kiss… Ah, Joséphine! Joséphine!
Plain English translation
Independent machine-assisted Plain English translation from the 1888 Martel French edition, not a historical English translation. French Wikisource contributors supplied the scan-backed transcription: https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Livre:Bonaparte_-_Œuvres_littéraires,_tome_1,_1888.djvu (page histories credit contributors). The adapted transcription and translation are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Extraction removes markup and editorial notes and makes documented transcription repairs. French-source model review is not human specialist certification or a complete scan collation.
Milan, November 28, 1796.
The courier Berthier sent to Genoa has arrived. I quite understand that you had no time to write to me. With all the games and pleasures around you, why should you make the smallest sacrifice on my account? Berthier was good enough to show me your letter to him. I have no wish for you to alter your arrangements or give up the entertainments offered you. I am not worth it, and the happiness or misery of a man you do not love has no claim on your attention. As for me, loving you alone, making you happy, doing nothing that might upset you: that is my life's fate and purpose. Be happy, do not reproach me, and give no thought to the happiness of a man who lives only in your life and finds enjoyment only in your pleasures and happiness. I am at fault when I ask you to love as I do. Why ask lace to be as heavy as gold? When I sacrifice every wish, every thought, every moment of my life to you, I am obeying the power your charms, your character, your whole being have acquired over my unfortunate heart. It is my fault if nature has not given me the charms to hold you captive; but I do deserve consideration and esteem from Joséphine, because I love her exclusively, madly.
Goodbye, adorable wife, goodbye, my Joséphine. May fate put every sorrow and trouble into my heart, but give my Joséphine prosperous, happy days. Who deserves them more than she? Once it is clear that she can no longer love, I will keep my deep pain to myself and be content to be of use and good for something to her. I reopen my letter to give you a kiss. Ah, Joséphine! Joséphine!
About this section
Letter 027 — XXVII is part of Letters to Josephine by Napoléon Bonaparte. This page sets the French original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 27 of 172 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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