约瑟芬早年过得十分动荡，她嫁的丈夫博阿尔内子爵是个花花公子，一事无成只会花天酒地，后来在法国大革命中被推上了断头台。约瑟芬受他的牵连下狱和死囚关在一起，本来也是要送命的，却因为美貌而得到赦免。同年，拿破仑结识约瑟芬，1796两人结为夫妻。拿破仑对约瑟芬的感情热烈而真挚，从情书中可见一斑。
　　I have your letter, my adorable love. It has filled my heart with joy since I left you I have been sad all the time. My only happiness is near you. I go over endlessly in my thought of your kisses, your tears, your delicious jealousy. The charm of my wonderful Josephine kindlesa living, blazing fire in-my heart and senses.
　　我收到了你的信，我祟拜的心上人。你的信使我充满了欢乐……自从与你分手以后，我一直闷闷不乐，愁眉不展。我唯一的幸福就是伴随着你。你的吻给了我无限的思索和回味，还有你的泪水和甜蜜的嫉妒。我迷人的约瑟芬的魅力像一团炽热的火在心里燃烧。
　　When shall I be able to pass every minute near you, with nothing to do but to love you and nothing to think of but the pleasure of telling you of it and giving you proof of it?
　　什么时候我才能在你身旁度过每分每秒，除了爱你什么也不需做；除了向你倾诉我对你的爱并向你证明爱的那种愉快，什么也不用想了?
　　I loved you some time ago; since then I feel that I love you a thousand times better. Ever since I have known you I adore you more every day. That proves how wrong is that saying of La Bruyere "Love comes all of a sudden. "
　　我不敢相信不久前爱上你，自那以后我感到对你的爱更增一千倍。自我与你相识，我一天比一天更崇拜你。这正好证明了La Bruyere说的"爱，突如其来"多么不切合实际。
　　Ah, let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less graceful, less tender, less good. But never be jealous and never shed tears. Your tears send me out of my mind theyset my very blood on fire.
　　哎，让我看你的一些美中不足吧。再少几分甜美，再少几分优雅，再少几分温柔抚媚，再少几分姣好吧。但决不要嫉妒，决不要流泪。你的眼泪使我神魂颠倒，你的眼泪使我热血沸腾。
　　Believe me that it is utterly impossible for me to have a single thought that is not yours, a single fancy that is not submissive to your will. Rest well. Restore your health. Come back to me and then at any rate before we die we ought to be able to say: "We were happy for so very many days!" Millions of kisses even to your dog.
　　相信我，我每时每刻无不想你，不想你是绝无可能的。没有一丝意念能不顺着你的意愿。好好休息，早日康复。回到我的身边，不管怎么说，在我们谢世之前，我们应当能说："我们曾有多少个幸福的日子啊!"千百万次吻，甚至吻你的爱犬。
　　词汇点津： adorable 可爱的 jealousy 嫉妒 kindles 点燃 adore 爱慕 Love comes all of a sudden. 爱琴突然降临。 set on 把……置于……上 utterly 完全地 submissive 顺从的 ought to 应该