John Keats to Fanny Brawne.

My dearest Girl,

This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair.
I cannot proceed with any degree of content.
I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you
from my Mind for ever so short a time.
Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else – The time is passed when I had power to
advise and warn you against the unpromising morning of my Life –
My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you.
I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again
my Life seems to stop there – I see no further.

You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving –
I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you.
I should be afraid to separate myself far from you.
My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it?
I have no limit now to my love – You note came in just here –
I cannot be happier away from you –
‘T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles.
Do not threat me even in jest.

I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion –
I have shudder’d at it – I shudder no more
I could be martyr’d for my Religion –
Love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you.
My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet.
You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist:
and yet I could resist till I saw you;
and even since I have seen you, I have endeavored often
“to reason against the reasons of my Love.”
I can do that no more – the pain would be too great.
My Love is selfish – I cannot breathe without you.

Yours forever
John Keats