Our collection of Celtic engagement rings embody the love, passion and spirit of some of the most romantic Irish love stories and their love letters. Choosing Celtic engagement rings can be difficult but the love letter below will give you some inspiration. One of Ireland’s most fondly admired writers, poets and satirists, Jonathan Swift was romantically involved with Jane Waring (Varina), daughter of the Archdeacon of Dromore in the North of Ireland. In the letter below Swift is supposed to be persuading Varina to marry him but in the process berates her and at points even antagonises her. He has no fortune, she is in poor health, yet he wants her hand in marriage through the innovative style of this letter; thought to be an early example of an ultimatum or reverse-psychology to win the lady’s heart!
Madam,
Impatience is the most inseparable quality of a lover, and indeed of every person who is in pursuit of a design wheron he conceives his greatest happiness or misery to depend. It is the same thing in war, in courts, and in common business. Everyone who hunts after pleasure, or fame, or fortune, is still restless and uneasy till he has hunted down his game: and all this is not only very natural, but something reasonable too; not to blame in looking after a cure. I find myself infected with this malady, and am easily vain enough to believe it has some very good reasons to excuse it…That dearest object upon which all my prospects of happiness entirely depend, is in perpetual danger to be removed for ever from my sight. Varina’s life is daily wasting; and though one just and honourable action would furnish health to her, and unspeakable happiness to us both, yet some power that repines a human felicity has that influence to hold her continually doating on her cruelty, and me upon the cause of it…
…’Tis true you have known sickness longer than you have me, and therefore perhaps you are more loath to part with it as an older acquaintance: But listen to what I hear solemnly protect, by all that can be witness to an oath, that if I leave this kingdom before you are mine, I will endure the utmost indignities of fortune rather than ever return again, though the king would send me back his deputy. And if it must be so, preserve yourself, in God’s name, for the next lover who has those qualities you love so much beyond any of mine, and who will highly admire you for those advantages which shall never share any esteem from me…
…Farewell, Madam, and may love make you a while forget your temper to do me justice. Only remember that if you still refuse to be mine, you will quickly lose, for ever lose, him that is resolved to die as he has lived, all yours,
Jon. Swift
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