I would not for the whole world diminish you. I know it is usual in these circumstances to protest-"I love you for yourself alone"-"I love you essentially"-and as you imply, my dearest, to mean by "you essentially"-lips hands and eyes. But you must know-we do know-that it is not so-dearest, I love your soul and with that your poetry-the grammar and stopping and hurrying syntax of your quick thought-quite as much essentially you as Cleopatra's was essentially hers to delight Antony-more essentially, in that while all lips hands and eyes resemble each other somewhat {though yours are enchanting and also magnetic}-your thought clothed with your words is uniquely you, came with you, would vanish if you vanished-
( A.S. Byatt )
[ Possession ]
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