New Cross
Hatcham
Surrey
12th September, 1851
My Dearest Elizabeth
You have exalted me by penning the most beauteous verse about your love for me.
Although I cannot match your splendid style, nor express myself as lucidly, I would rather die than fail to reply. So I needs must try, as I impatiently while away my time in wait for your return to the countryside from the excitement of the city.
Your most recent verse counts the ways you say you love me. Now I beg your permission to reciprocate, in like manner, by counting my affections for you.
As it is said that 10 is a perfect score, I henceforth offer you a full complement. I could list 100 – nay, 1,000 – ways I love you, but my fear is that, if I do, you will suspect overstatement in respect that I have transgressed against our love.
Although I could not do so in 1,000 years, your erudition will heed with me the great Bard’s words regarding embellishment when he put upon another’s tongue those barbed words concerning the hazard of “protesting too much”.
And so my darling, although my love for you is of epic proportions, I implore you please to be content with this Perfect Ten.
1 Your engaging personality paves my way to creativity.
2 Your creative libido honours my flesh with self-esteem.
3 Your selfless enthusiasm lifts my veil and sheds fresh light.
4 Your light-hearted laughter infuses my spirit with renewed optimism.
5 Your optimistic outlook bestows my soul with extended perceptions.
6 Your perceptive perspective indulges my mind with positive thoughts.
7 Your thoughtful compliments complement my need for others’ confidence.
8 Your confident bearing fulfils my desire for Taurean pride.
9 Your proud integrity meets my yearning for mutual honesty.
10 Your honest love surfeits my being with unbounded thanks.
Yes, Beth – experiencing your lucent qualities is a glittering privilege, especially as they empower me with new-found knowledge. Would that I in turn deserved a perfect 10; then I, too, could reserve my berth in heaven.
On the fifth anniversary of our blessed marriage, I offer these sincere reflections to you as I wait with increasing longing for your return from the Tennysons’ soirée.
Yours forever
Robert