Germany Dolph's Letter #51

Dear Sweetheart, Keats wrote to Fanny Brawne

"I have no limit now to my love. I have been astonished that men could die martyrs of religion. I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more. I could be martyred for my religion — love is my religion — I could die for you. My creed is love + you are its only tenet. You have ravished me away by a power I cannot resist... My love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you..... Yours for ever."

But unlike Keats my Fanny Brawne + I married + it shall not be a matter of dying for each other; rather living for each other.

You know I've given a lot of thought to us — + it's been my thought that whereas some men make their life work some occu- pation which does not include the wife + that occupation is what they live by + FOR. Now to work I consider a privilege + I enjoy working but I feel it is more important to live — enjoy life — + to enjoy life I must + can only do it with you. You + I — that's the way it's to be. I like to be with you, having you around, doing things together. So the problem of what I shall do after I come home to provide us not with money, but with money to live, which shall not take too much of my time. It must be a position wherein the working hours are not long + the week- ends + vacations extensive.

Of course we can decide upon it when I come home. See how anxious I am to be with you darling. I love you so very much.

I hope you are well.

Your devoted husband, Dolph.