Robert Schumann to his fiancée

Leipzig, 3 Jun 1839

The most certain thing is still that we continue to love each

other with all our hearts and I feel sure that in your heart

there is a rich fund of love, and you will make your husband

happy for a long, long time. You are a wonderful girl, Klara!

There is such a host of varied and beautiful qualities in you

that I will never know how you have managed to bring them

all together during your short life. But there is one thing I

know, Klara, and that is: I believe you would have been a

very different girl if you had never met me at so early a stage

and been impressed by my gentle way. Leave me this

belief, it makes me happy. I taught you to love,...

and drew you close, to be the ideal bride as I imagined her;

you were my most gifted pupil, and as my reward you said

to me: "Well, then, take me, take me, take me, take me,

take me, take me, take me!"