[FROM KÖNIGSMARCK TO SOPHIA DOROTHEA]
[Hanover, _latter part of 1693_.]
While I was reflecting on the miserable state in which I found
myself they brought me your letter, which I had little expected.
My joy was so great that I forgot my sufferings, throwing myself
on the letter as if nothing were wanting to me. You have done
everything that I wished to see you do; it therefore only remains
for me to thank you for your kindness, and to give you every
assurance of my fidelity:
_Io ti saro fedele,
Ne mai ti tradiro.
Se ben mi sei crudel,
Sempre t’adorero._
If you do not believe me, I am ready to abandon Mother, Kinsfolk,
Friends, Possessions and Country, the better to convince you of
it; and it will only depend on you whether I shall take the
journey of which you are well aware. My unhappy condition
furnishes me with a good excuse; I shall be able to pretend
illness for a long time. If you agree with me, I beg you to let me
know; for I will take my measures accordingly; it is the greatest
proof [of my affection] which I can offer you at present; so pray
accept it, and thus make me happy; for the satisfaction of seeing
you far surpasses the ambition which I have of making my fortune.
I could not find any greater [good fortune], and that of
possessing you is so dear to me that I do not any longer meditate
on any of the others. By your letter you have so purified my heart
that there no longer remains in it the slightest suspicion of
jealousy; the eagerness which you show to know the state of my
health sufficiently convinces me that you love me. To meet your
wish, I will tell you that I suffer extremely; yet the pain of not
seeing you greatly exceeds that of my fall. I expect to be better
in four days; but if you accept my proposition, I shall keep my
room for ten days longer. This will not prevent me, so soon as I
shall be able to walk, from being able to embrace you in the
well-known locality; to have news of you, I believe that the
safest way is for one of my people (in whom I am able to place
confidence)....