“My one, my much-loved Friend,—You express to me your sorrow that, as it seems to you, each one of our last meetings has only brought pain and anxiety to me.—Must I then remind my loved one of Brynhilda’s words?—Not only in gladness and enjoyment, but in suffering also Love makes man blest.... When does my friend think of coming to the ‘Hill-Top,’ to the woodland’s aromatic breezes?—Should a stay in that particular spot not altogether suit, why, I beg my dear one to choose any of my other mountain-cabins for his residence.—What is mine is his! Perhaps we may meet on the way between the Wood and the World, as my friend expressed it!... To thee I am wholly devoted; for thee, for thee only to live! Unto death your own, your faithful LUDWIG.” “_Hohenschwangau_, _2nd Nov., 1865_. “My one Friend, my ardently beloved! This afternoon, at 3.30, I returned from a glorious tour in Switzerland! How this land delighted me!—There I found your dear letter; deepest warmest thanks for the same. With new and burning enthusiasm has it filled me; I see that the beloved marches boldly and confidently forward, towards our great and eternal goal. “All hindrances I will victoriously like a hero overcome. I am entirely at thy disposal; let me now dutifully prove it.—Yes, we must meet and speak together. I will banish all evil clouds; Love has strength for all. You are the star that shines upon my life, and the sight of you ever wonderfully strengthens me.—Ardently I long for you, O my presiding Saint, to whom I pray! I should be immensely pleased to see my friend here in about a week; oh, we have plenty to say! If only I could quite banish from me the curse of which you speak, and send it back to the deeps of night from whence it sprang!—How I love, how I love you, my one, my highest good!... “My enthusiasm and love for you are boundless. Once more I swear you faith till death! Ever, ever your devoted LUDWIG.” [Sidenote: _Byron’s Calmar and Orla_] Byron’s “Death of Calmar and Orla: an Imitation of Ossian,” is, like his “Nisus and Euryalus” (see above, p. 163), a story of two hero-friends who, refusing to be separated, die together in battle:—