Letter to his wife

You are my only love. You have me completely in your power. I know and feel that if I am to write anything fine and noble in the future I shall do so only by listening at the doors of your heart. I would like to go through life side by side with you, telling you more and more until we grow to be one being together until the hour should come for us to die.

To the "Immortal Beloved"

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 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 conditions? 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 calm 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 misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved L.

ever thine
      ever mine
            ever for each other

To Lady Hamilton

"Victory," October 19th, 1905
My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of my bosom. The signal has been made that the enemy's combined fleet are coming out of the port. We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them before tomorrow. May the God of battles crown my endeavors with success; at all events, I will take care that my name shall ever be most dear to you and Horatio, both of whom I love as much as my own life. And as my last writing, before the battle, will be to you, so I hope, in God, that I shall live to finish my letter after the battle. May heaven bless you, prays your Nelson