The Ladies' Academy (1660)

Nicolas Chorier

In Venice at Pierre Arretin's [after 1770], 1770

Exported from Wikisource on September 17, 2024

The Ladies' Academy, 1770, PL-24

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(not part of the original work)

* * *

First academic interview: Tullie, Octavie.

Second academic interview: Octavie, Tullie.

Third academic interview: Octavie, Tullie.

Fourth academic interview: Octavie, Tullie.

Fifth academic interview: Octavie, Tullie.

Sixth academic interview: Octavie, Tullie, Cléante, Médor.

Seventh academic interview: Octavie, Tullie.

Illustration boards

Frontispiece

The Ladies' Academy, 1770, PL-24

The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Cover

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-01

FIRST

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-01

TULLIE, OCTAVIA.

Tullie.

Good day, Octavia.

Octavie.

Your servant, my cousin: I am delighted to see you; I was thinking of you at the moment.

Tullie.

I come, my dearest, to rejoice with you, at the news I have heard, at your marriage with Pamphilus: I swear to you as a friend, that I take as much part in it as if I were to share the pleasure of it, on the first night of your wedding. My child, how happy you will be! for your beauty makes you worthy of the tenderest caresses of a husband.

Octavie.

I am much obliged to you, my cousin, for the part you take in my interests: I expected nothing less from your friendship; and I am delighted that your visit gives us occasion to discuss this subject fully. I learned yesterday from my mother that I was only two days full; she has already had a bed made, and prepared in the most beautiful apartment of our house, a room, and all the things necessary for this festival. But to tell you the truth, my dear Tullie, all this device gives me more fear than it causes me joy; and I cannot even conceive the pleasure you say I ought to receive from it.

Tullie.

It is not a very surprising thing, that, being tender and young as you are, (for you have scarcely reached your fifteenth year), you are ignorant of things which were entirely unknown to me when I was married, although I was a little older than you. Angelique often told me that I should taste the most delicious pleasures in the world; but alas! my ignorance rendered me insensible to all his words.

Octavie.

You surprise me, Tullie, and I find it difficult to believe what you want me to persuade of your ignorance. Do you think that I do not know that you have always passed for one of the most enlightened girls of our sex; that you have made yourself learned in history and in foreign languages; and that I do not know that the knowledge of the most hidden things of nature could not escape the vivacity of your mind?

Tullie.

It is true, Octavia, that I am under a very special obligation to my parents, that they have brought me up in the study of all that is most beautiful and curious to know; I have also endeavoured to answer perfectly to their intention: for, far from glorifying my knowledge and beauty, according to the custom of those of our sex, I have avoided pomp and gallantry as a dangerous pitfall, and have made every effort to acquire for myself only the reputation of a wise and honest girl.

Octavie.

Those who do not wish to flatter us, say that there is nothing rarer than a learned and enlightened woman, who keeps herself within the bounds of honesty. It seems that the more light we receive, the less virtue we have; and I remember, Tullie, that I have heard you make speeches on this subject, which did not feel the affectation you have just shown in describing your conduct. For, let us speak frankly, is it possible that your beauty, which alone is capable of inflaming hearts, has not given rise to occasions of amusement, which you have not been able to resist? No, I cannot persuade myself, since your very wit would be sufficient to engage those who would be so blind as to be insensible to the features of your face.

Tullie.

What, Octavia! Where is the simplicity of Earlier? The name of marriage frightened you; and now you speak of love, beauty, and entertainment! You know what it is to engage a heart, and your mind is quick enough to discover what I wanted to conceal from you. I will confess everything to you, since you have been clever enough to penetrate the sentiments of my heart; I do not wish to make any more mystery with you: I only ask you for an ingenuity like mine, and that the confidence you will give me in your friendships be sincere.

Octavie.

Ah, Tullie! How difficult it is for a girl in love to hide outside what is going on inside herself! You may disguise yourself by your words, but I see in your eyes the movements of your soul; and the sympathy that exists between these two parties, has made me know the truth of it. Be more sincere and truer, then, and do not abuse the credulity of a young girl like me. If you ask for it, I will open my heart to you as to my most intimate heart; and that you may not doubt it, I will give you proofs of it, by the account of what passed between Pamphilus and myself.

Tullie.

I love you with all my soul, my dear child; and the confession which you have just made to me with so much tenderness, urges me still more to cherish you more: begin, then.

Octavie.

You will know that Pamphilus has come to my house very often; he has paid me several visits. and I have always observed in his actions the true movements of a man whose love has made himself master: but above all for some time he has begun to be bolder with me; and the assurance he received of marrying me, took away all the fear he had before. One day, among other things, he threw himself at my collar with such impetuosity, that I was surprised; he kissed me with so much heat that I was quite inflamed, and I cannot conceive the cause of these extraordinary movements.

Tullie.

Was Sempronia absent? were you alone, and did you fear nothing of Pamphilus?

Octavie.

Yes, my mother had gone out, and I do not know whether I had any reason to apprehend anything of him.

Tullie.

But what, did he demand nothing of you but kisses?

Octavie.

I cannot say that he received any of them, but rather that he stole them; so he took several of them, with great tenderness, lovingly throwing his tongue between my lips.

Tullie.

And what feeling did you have for then?

Octavie.

I will confess to you that I was seized with a certain unexpected heat, which set me on fire; all the parts of my body were animated by it; and the colour which rose to my face, served to rid me of this importunate; he imagined that it was an effect of my modesty; therefore he gave me a moment's rest, and withdrew his hand.

Tullie.

Continue, continue; What did he do with his hand?

Octavie.

Ah! How hostile I am to these thieves' hands, which are always in action! They almost gave me a fever, so much did they cause me heat. He first slipped them into my bosom, where he tenderly pressed my nipples; and saying, laughing, that he found one harder and firmer than the other, he threw me down at full length on the little damask bed, where we were sitting.

Tullie.

Ah! you blush, little cousin; that is to say, everything was done there.

Octavie.

Restraining me with his left hand, he made all my efforts useless; (I say things as they happened) he slipped after his right hand under my skirts, and everything at once. ah! I am ashamed, I dare not say the rest.

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! Are you still so timid and so foolish that you are ashamed to say things by their name? Drive away this fear and this imaginary modesty; There is nothing more ridiculous in a person who professes to be wise: go on, then, and think only to whom you speak.

Octavie.

Immediately he lifted my shirt on my knees, and handled my thighs by tickling me. Ah! my cousin, if you had seen him then, you would have admired him; he was red as fire, and all his actions were accompanied by so much heat, that you would have been surprised.

Tullie.

How happy you were during this banter, and how these sweet pastimes gave you a taste of pleasures!

Octavie.

Having therefore raised his hand a little higher, he seized that part which distinguishes us from the other sex, and from which an abundance of blood has been flowing every month for a year for a few days.

Tullie.

Courage, Pamphilus, courage; go on, you don't start badly.

Octavie.

Consider, Tullie, her wickedness; after several evils which he caused me by tickling me everywhere, he said to me: Ah, my heart! ah, my dear Octavia! it is this part that will make me happy; suffer, my love, that I... I thought I should faint at these words: this place, Tullie, has a little red and bright slit; he put his finger into it; but the place was too narrow. I felt a sharp pain.

Tullie.

Well, what did he say?

Octavie.

At the moment when the pain which he caused me with his finger made me utter a few sighs, he cried out: "Ah, she is a maid, she is a virgin whom I shall have in share!" and immediately he opened my thighs, which I pressed as tightly as I could, and threw himself upon me, who was lying on the bed.

Tullie.

Well, what? you say nothing; did he put nothing but his finger in this place of which you speak to me?

Octavie.

Ah! I felt... but I dare not say it.

Tullie.

Go on, then; what a fool you are! What you suffered then happened to me as well as to you. There is nothing more daring than a husband, than the delay of the enjoyment of a good that is promised to him, desperate; he is always in anxiety, and can have no rest, until he has plucked, or rather torn to pieces, this flower of our virginity.

Octavie.

I felt then between my thighs, I know not what hard and heavy, which was filled with heat: he pushed it into this cleft with great violence; but gathering up all my strength, I threw myself on my side, and got rid of him by this means, by putting my hand in front of the place where he wished to enter.

Tullie.

How! you could with your hand parry so great a blow, and put down so brave a horseman? You may not always be strong.

Octavie.

Yes, I could, my cousin. Ah! "Wicked man," said I, "who obliges you to do me so much harm?" By what fact did I attract this ill-treatment? Ah! if you love me, Pamphilus... As I said this, I wept, and was so troubled, that I no longer recognized myself, and I had scarcely a free judgment.

Tullie.

Pamphilus, then, could not pierce thee with his pike, nor make himself master of the place?

Octavie.

No, because I turned away from it; but alas! if you knew, Tullie, I felt myself as soon watered (naked as I was to the navel) as with rain, which the sun had warmed: I imprudently put my hand to it; but I had no sooner touched this liquor, with which the fury of Pamphilus had moistened me, than having found it thick and viscous, I conceived I know not what horror of it.

Tullie.

Neither of them had the victory?

Octavie.

I believe that Pamphilus had the advantage; for since that time he has always been present in my mind; it seems to me more amiable and agreeable than it has ever appeared to me. This confusion and anxiety shows me that he was the victor; I burn with a secret and hidden fire, the fire of which I cannot extinguish; I do not know what I desire, I cannot express what I wish: I am only certain that of all men I cannot love one more tenderly than he; it is dear to me alone, and it is from it alone that I expect pleasures and delights, which I cannot yet conceive: but, alas! Will you believe it? I do not cease, in this ignorance, to wish for them ardently.

Tullie.

Has not some pleasant dream charmed you while sleeping? Have you not dreamed that you enjoyed the embraces of your lover, and that you already shared with him the sweetness that the Hymen prepares for you?

Octavie.

I must not lie to you, my cousin; I have night and day the image of Pamphilus before my eyes, and this imaginary presence has sometimes caused me an incredible voluptuousness during sleep. But alas! when I think about it, it is like running after a phantom, to seek pleasure in the imagination; I would much rather have recovered the opportunity I lost by my folly, by refusing him what he wished of me: but alas! there is nothing more to hope for on that side.

Tullie.

And why can't you see it today, or tomorrow?

Octavie.

No, that cannot be; The reason for this is this: you will know, Tullie, that when Pamphile and I were jesting together, I had scarcely lowered my skirts, and hid her chemise from her, when my mother came into the room, and surprised us.

Tullie.

Ah! how I fear for you! for I know the temper of Sempronia.

Octavie.

She said nothing to us, however, that could show her anger to Pamphilus or to me; she only asked us, laughing, what we were talking about, and which of us loved each other more tenderly: for as for the one (she continued) who deserves to be loved better, I have no doubt, it is you, Pamphilus, and I believe that Octavia will not dispute it with you; I hope, however, that since marriage is to unite you with my daughter, you will have friendship for her, and that your good nature will draw from you the affection which should be an effect of her merit.

Tullie.

All this is well before your lover; but after he had gone, did she not say anything to you?

Octavie.

He had no sooner gone out than she questioned me what she had seen of both; I did what I could to excuse myself; but she obliged me to confess the truth to her. I therefore complained to her that Pamphilus had almost oppressed me by her violence; but that I did not know what he wanted, and what he sought; that for my part, if I had sinned, I did not know in what way. She asked me if he had not raped me; (this was his term) I told him no. Know, my daughter," she continued, "that in a short time you are to be the wife of Pamphilus: if you were so complacent as to grant him before that time what he wishes of you, you would afterwards be the most unfortunate in the world; for it is certain that he would abandon you: if he were so constant as to receive you for his wife, he would have nothing but contempt for you. Since that day, it has been impossible for us to be alone together.

Tullie.

Sempronia was right; for a young man has no sooner tasted the pleasures of love, by enjoying the caresses of a girl, than he conceives disgust at it, as soon as he has received the last favor of it: but I praise your ingenuity and the candour with which you have told me this story; you will lose nothing by it, and you will find in me a naivety like yours. Sempronia begged me yesterday to instruct you in all the most secret secrets of marriage, to teach you what your conduct should be towards Pamphilus, and what are her prerogatives and advantages. It is necessary, my dear, that we should sleep together to-night; I will serve you as a husband, until another will give you a taste of more solid pleasures."

Octavie.

I want it with all my heart, my cousin. I can employ the time that remains to me no better than in the study of the science which is at the same time so necessary and so unknown to me.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-01

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-02

SECOND

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-02

OCTAVIA, TULLIE.

Octavie.

Well, Tullie, here we are lying together in the same bed: you have been looking for an opportunity for a long time; and the absence of Orontes, your husband, has caused him to be born to you according to your desire.

Tullie.

I cannot sufficiently express the joy I feel at it: it is enough to tell you that I burned with love for you, and that the violence of this passion made me pass many restless nights; my grief was insupportable, at not being able to enjoy at my pleasure the object which I cherished more than myself.

Octavie.

But, my cousin, I believe that if you cherished me then, you love me no less now.

Tullie.

Yes, my heart, I love you, or rather I long and die of love for you; and I can even assure you that my passion is equal to that of Pamphilus.

Octavie.

What do you mean by that, my cousin? for I do not conceive the connection between the friendship you bear me, and the love that Pamphilus can have for me.

Tullie.

I will explain it to you; but first drive away all that shame and puerile modesty, which might disturb the pleasure of our conversation.

Octavie.

Have I not sufficiently laid down all my timidity, when you wished me naked in this bed, and obeyed you? Is it not enough that I have gone to bed with you, in the same spirit, as if it were with Pamphilus; and that I promised you that you would find in me as much docility as in a novice?

Tullie.

I hope so. Well, as the first proof of your obedience, give me a kiss, but a kiss that proceeds from the heart.

Octavie.

I grant you not only one, but a thousand, if you wish.

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! that you have a divine mouth! how bright your eyes are! and how the form of your face has to do with the beauty of Venus!

Octavie.

But what, you're throwing the blanket! I do not know what I should not have reason to fear, if you were not Tullia: here I am quite naked in your arms, what more do you want?

Tullie.

O Gods! if you would grant me the power to make here the real character of Pamphilus! But alas! I believe that your power is limited, since I notice no change in my nature.

Octavie.

What, Tullie! Will Pamphilus take my two nipples in this way? Will he make his kisses as frequent as yours? and will he bite my lips, my collar, and my breast as you do?

Tullie.

All these things, my little heart, will only be the preludes to love; it will be slight attacks that will precede a greater fight; and all these caresses may pass for trifles, if you compare them with the supreme pleasure.

Octavie.

Ah! withdraw, Tullie, you put your hand too low: ah! ah! you pinch my buttocks; Why do you tickle this part so hard... that you look at so fixedly?

Tullie.

I contemplate, my love, with sensible pleasure, the field of Venus; I admire her beauty; it is tight, it is narrow, it is strewn with roses, and its charms would be powerful enough to bring the gods down to the earth.

Octavie.

I think you are mad, Tullie, to kiss me, to look at me thus above and below: I see nothing in any part of my body that surpasses the beauty of yours; and you have only to stop your gaze on yourself, to satisfy your curiosity.

Tullie.

It would not be modesty in me, but rather folly, if I denied that I was endowed with any beauty: I am still only nineteen years old; and being the mother of only one child, I cannot have lost all the pleasures that were formerly found in my person. Therefore, Octavia, if you can receive any kind of pleasure from me, act freely, I do not oppose it.

Octavie.

Neither did I; I grant you all that you wish: but I know that from a girl like me you cannot receive any satisfaction; and I cannot conceive any pleasure with which you can amuse me in the same way, being of the same sex as myself. It is not that I cannot cast my eyes on your face, that I do not imagine that I see a garden planted with lilies and roses, suffer me to use these terms.

Tullie.

It is you, scoundrel, who has a garden where Pamphilus will gather flowers, and taste fruits more delicious than the meat of the gods.

Octavie.

I have no garden that you have not as fruitful as mine. For what do you mean by this garden? where is it planted; What are the fruits of this?

Tullie.

This mouse makes me know your wickedness: what you pretend to ignore, you know better than I.

Octavie.

Perhaps you call by that name, that part of which you close the entrance with your right hand, which you tickle with your fingers, and pinch and excite me by scratching it.

Tullie.

Yes, it is she; you have guessed: but, fool that you are, do you not know what it is good for, and do you not know how to use it?

Octavie.

If I had learned it out of marriage, I should be dishonest, and unworthy of your affection; but do me the favor to instruct me in it: let us go back to bed; for being seated as we are, all naked, we might catch cold.

Tullie.

I am willing to do so; but be careful. The garden of which I spoke to you is that part which is placed under the lower abdomen, in the middle of a little mountain, clothed with a will-o'-the-wisp: this cotton is a sure sign that a girl is in her maturity, and that the flower of her virginity is good to be gathered. Several names are given to this part of the body; the folly of lovers makes them sometimes call it a Ship, a Field, a Ring, &c. but the most common term is a Con. Admire, Octavia, the situation of this part; (Take these sheets off your shoulders, you are afraid of gathering cold.) Do not think that it is placed between the thighs, for any mark of ignominy that it carries with it, as our devotees think; but only to make their use easier and more voluptuous. This little elevation that you see covered with this cottony moss, is called The Mount of Venus; it is a mountain, Octavia, which those who are fortunate enough to ascend it, prefer to Parnassus, Olympus, and all the most famous of antiquity.

Octavie.

Ah! How charming is your conversation, and how willingly I would give you the enjoyment of all the parts of my body, which you seem to desire so much, to taste in exchange the sweetness of your conversation!

Tullie.

Kiss me, then, my dearest, and relieve by your kisses the violence of the love I feel for you, do not refuse to my eyes and hands the pleasures you can grant them: it will do no harm either to Pamphilus or to you. But alas, all my efforts are useless! How vain they are! and how miserable I am, that I cannot quench the fire that consumes me!

Octavie.

I make you the mistress of my body, and I grant you the enjoyment of that part which you tickle, if it can contribute to your contentment: your will may serve you as a rule in all your searches.

Tullie.

You make me the mistress of this path that leads to the sovereign good: ah! I see the door; but alas! I cannot make use of the power you give me, I have no key to open it, no hammer to strike, nor any other instrument that can facilitate my entrance. Ah, Octavia! Allow me to make an attempt.

Octavie.

Ah, God! What game do you want to play by stretching yourself out on me in this way? What, mouth to mouth, breast to breast, belly to belly! Tell me, then, your drawing in this banter? must I kiss you as you hold me?

Tullie.

Yes, my little heart, grant me this grace, and do not refuse my caresses, since they can only give you pleasure. Open your thighs, and raise them to mine: that is good; you have been as punctual in obeying me as I have been prompt in commanding you.

Octavie.

Ah! ah! Tullie, how you press me; ah, Gods! what shocks! you set me on fire, you kill me by these agitations: at least extinguish these torches, for I am ashamed that the light is a witness of my patience. Do you think, Tullie, that I suffer this from any other than you?

Tullie.

My dear Octavia, my love, embrace me entirely, and receive: Ah, ah, ah! I cannot, I discharge; Ah, ah, ah, I'm dying of pleasure!

Octavie.

Withdraw, Tullie, you overwhelm me with the weight of your body. What! You don't say anything? Have you lost your speech?

Tullie.

Ah! it is done; my Goddess; I have been your husband, and you have performed the office of wife: never, (I swear to you,) have I felt a sweeter voluptuousness than that which I have tasted in your embraces.

Octavie.

Ah! Would to the gods that I had a husband as amiable as you! that you would have a wife who would cherish you; that she would love you, and that—" Ah, God! I'm all wet! Where does this come from? I did not perceive it: was it you, Tullie, who watered me in this way? How could this have been done?

Tullie.

Yes, it is I, my little heart, who have rendered you this good service; but what was your feeling in this banter?

Octavie.

To tell you the truth, the pleasure I shared with you was not very great: I only felt a few emotions; and a few sparks from the fire with which you burned, have warmed my part. But please, tell me if other women conceive a similar love for their sex, or if this malady is peculiar to you?

Tullie.

All women, my dear child, burn with the same fire; and it would be necessary to be as cold as marble, and as hard as porphyry, to remain insensible to the sight of what is most amiable: for what is more charming than a young girl, beautiful, cozy, white, and clean as you are?

Octavie.

Ah! my cousin, I am beginning to feel a little tickling and a certain itching in this place, which gives me much contentment; but I believe that this is nothing, if we compare this pleasure with that which we receive from men when they sleep with us.

Tullie.

You are right, my little wife, and you will experience it next night with complete satisfaction; but much greater, than if you received it from any other man than Pamphilus.

Octavie.

"Why is that, my cousin?" Don't all men do it in the same way?

Tullie.

No, poor innocent girl: it is not that; but this is because, outside marriage, pleasure is always accompanied by fear and fear, and often followed by misfortunes. Besides pregnancy, childbirth, and a thousand other inconveniences, which are the fruits of our secret familiarities, expose us to strange accidents. But, on the contrary, in the pleasures of Hymenaeus, there is a bold and tranquil satisfaction, which is not to be found in the others; besides that marriage is a veil which hides and covers the defects of our conduct, since we can without fear or chance amuse ourselves, first of all that we are clothed in it. There are therefore pleasures for virgins, as well as for those who are not celibate: they can themselves find an attempt at the pleasures that others taste; but much purer, since discord and jealousy scarcely ever disturb them. Do not be surprised, then, that one girl should conceive love for another: for my part I burn with this passion; and I would very willingly prefer your embraces to those of Orontes, although I cherish them very much. You must not, my darling, esteem me less honest for it; this mood is not peculiar to me: the French, the Italians, and the Spaniards, cherish each other in this way; and often, if modesty and shame did not restrain them, they would give themselves public marks of this passion, when they see each other.

Octavie.

Ah! How charmed I am, my cousin, by your conversation! I should prefer my position to those which we consider the happiest, if I were as learned as you.

Tullie.

Well, my Goddess, my love, my Venus, you are no less virgin than you were; I would do nothing to rob you of this beautiful flower, which is reserved for Pamphilus: he will still find the garden gate shut, and he must be under a secret obligation to me.

Octavie.

I think that Pamphilus should not show you much gratitude for this; for if you did not open it, it was rather from a want of power, than from a lack of inclination.

Tullie.

I can see that you don't know what a is. The ladies of Milesi made themselves of leather, eight fingers long, and large in proportion. Aristophanes says that in his time almost all women used it; today, among the Italians and Spaniards, they are much in use, and this instrument makes one of the most precious pieces of furniture in the toilet of all the ladies of Asia.

Octavie.

I don't understand what it is, or what it can be used for.

Tullie.

You will learn it in time; but let us talk about something else.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-02

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-02

THIRD

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-03

OCTAVIA, TULLIE.

Octavie.

AH! ah! ah! how you throw yourself on me! ah! if the gods had changed your sex, and had metamorphosed you into a man, what would not have happened to me?

Tullie.

My little heart, Pamphilus will do all the same: he will close your mouth with his kisses; he will lovingly suck your two nipples; in a word, he will cover your whole body with his own, and give you shocks all the more pressing, as he surpasses me in strength and vigour: his agitations will be so violent that the bed in which you will be in will make a noise, the whole room will tremble, and the panes and windows will burst with them. I tell you nothing that I have not experienced myself; for on the first night of my wedding, which Orontes robbed me, the efforts he made were so great, his movements so rough, and his agitations so surprising, that all who were in rooms at a considerable distance heard them very clearly. Imagine, my heart, what a state I could have been in, I who gained the victory, by the very admission of my adversary!

Octavie.

Ah! what shall become of me; if Pamphilus is as vigorous as Orontes! If you have had so much trouble, although you were stronger and older than I, ah! there is no doubt that I shall succumb, and will not be able to endure such severe attacks.

Tullie.

You must not conceal from yourself that you will have a little to endure when Pamphilus pierces you with his instrument: but this sorrow will also be succeeded by sweetness, pleasures, and tickles, which I cannot express to you, and which will soon efface the least memory of past sorrow.

Octavie.

Ah! my dear Tullie, shall I be ridden by a Cavalier as amiable as you? If this be so, I will not envy Parnassus its Apollo, nor Mount Olympus its Jupiter. Ah! how happy Orontes is to possess you, and how you lead a very sweet life! But what are you looking at so fixedly, making me open it like this... Ah! you extend my lips a little too much from this part; Well! What do you see inside?

Tullie.

What do I see there? ah! I see in it a flower, whose color and brightness prevail over purple and scarlet. It is a treasure, the enjoyment and possession of which I would prefer to all that is richest in the world.

Octavie.

Withdraw, I pray you, that lascivious finger which you have put in me: ah, ah! you advance it again, you hurt me; withdraw; one more blow, I beseech you.

Tullie.

Ah, how I pity you, precious shell, a thousand times more suitable for giving birth to love and grace, than that from which Venus is said to have issued! Ah! how happy Pamphilus is, and how he was born under a favorable constellation, since the gods must make him master of a thing at the same time so amiable and so loving!

Octavie.

Why do you say that you have compassion on me, and that this part makes you pity? Must something untoward happen for one or the other?

Tullie.

It is the friendship I bear you that makes me sensitive to your evils, even before they have occurred; I foresee the pains and fatigues that you will suffer in the first attacks of Pamphilus. Ah! How bloody the fight will be! I can imagine that I can already see with what cruelty this poor part will be torn apart. Have you seen the weapons he is to use?

Octavie.

No, but I felt them, and it seemed to me that they were the club of Hercules, as much on account of its size as of its prodigious length.

Tullie.

I know from Orontes that there is not a man in the city better provided with this part than Pamphilus. Orontes has one, eight fingers long; but he says that it is nothing compared to him, and that he has a limb the length of eleven inches, and the size of your arm, (I speak of the place nearest to your hand.)

Octavie.

Ah, Gods, what a monster! What, he will drive this whole prodigious machine into my belly? I can suffer such a thing? No, no, the mere thought astonishes and horrifies me, and my heart fails me by the mere reflection I make on your words. Eleven fingers! oh, great Gods!

Tullie.

Do not lose heart, my child: it is true that the member of Pamphilus surpasses in length that of Orontes; but it must also yield in size. For do you see my arm well?

Octavie.

Certainly, I see it.

Tullie.

Well, when his member is warm, and when he swells up with anger against me, he is of this size; and with all this, it is very well proportioned to its scabbard.

Octavie.

What, he does not hurt you, and your party can easily receive him? Is it possible! You must satisfy my curiosity, and I must see with my own eyes what I cannot conceive with my mind. Tullie, get on all fours on the bed, and turn your thighs towards the light; Spread them as far apart as you can, so that I may better consider the extent of this part.

Tullie.

Well, be satisfied; but take care not to stray into a path which is much wider than yours, and which has many detours unknown to you. Am I well posed in this way? Do you like this situation?

Octavie.

Ah! God, how lustful, how lustful she is! Ah, I cannot see the beauty of your buttocks without contemplating them lovingly; and I cannot even help giving them a thousand kisses.

Tullie.

Ah! how lascivious you will be, little cousin! Ah, how you bite me! Leave this jest, then, and consider well the length, breadth, and depth of this country which you have discovered: well, open still more the two lips of this part; Well! What do you see?

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! what I see I should never have believed: I see the place where Corsius rushed fully armed with his horse; I see a path where I believe that even Priapus could go astray. Is it possible, Tullie, that my game should become like yours without a metamorphosis of the gods?

Tullie.

Well, are you happy; Is your curiosity fully satisfied?

Octavie.

Yes, I am, and I have considered you so well in the position in which you were, that I think I now know all that is most hidden in that part which makes us women. It remains, Tullie, to teach me something of the member of man, and what it is usually called.

Tullie.

I want it, with all my heart. You will know, then, that this part of man is situated in the same place as ours. It is commonly called the saw, the member, the spade, the rod, and by Antonomasus, nature. There are still a thousand other names which we use in our furies. Learn, then, that this limb, this life, this nerve, or as you wish to call it, outside the venereal act, is cowardly and pendulous; and it may be said that it is only a portrait, in short, of what it is in action: for at this moment it rises, it swells, it lengthens, but of a surprising length, and becomes so furious, that at first the mere sight frightens us. In the attacks in which he makes himself master of our virginity, he causes us a stinging and sensible pain; but it is soon appeased by the excess of pleasure we receive a moment later.

Octavie.

Pleasure I do not yet know; pain, I don't want to experience it; but as for fear, it already seizes me.

Tullie.

Below this limb there is a purse furnished and surrounded by small curly hairs, which nature seems to have put there to preserve the heat of this part, which must never lack it. Now in this purse there are two small globes which are the marks of virility: they are not of a very regular roundness, but they are very hard; and the firmer they are, the more they are able to give pleasure. They are vulgarly called testicles or balls. There have been persons in whom nature has been so liberal of these treasures, that they have been provided with three; as Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse: and there is still a noble and illustrious family in Italy, of which all the descendants have the same advantage. Confess with me, Octavia, that the wives of these athletes are happy, and have much happiness, since there is nothing sweeter and more capable of soothing the pain which the precipitate entrance of the V—— causes us, than this sweet liquor, this sweet nectar, this precious elixir, which issues abundantly from the porous veins of these little balls of flesh. This liquor is called semen, cum, semen, &c; and of all animals, there is none in which it abounds more than in man: now imagine with what rain the wives of those who are so well divided are watered.

Octavie.

Perhaps, Tullia, Pamphilus will also have three, and I have reason to believe so; for, as I have told you, he watered me so profusely, that not only my thighs and my belly to the navel were wet with it, but even my shirt and skirts.

Tullie.

This is not surprising; for it would be a shameful thing for a young man like him to make a sacrifice to Venus, or rather to beauty, without pouring out this heavenly dew on the victim in abundance. This liquor is like the saliva of the V.. of man; it is so full of spirits, that it goes out vehemently, and is sometimes carried within three feet of the person from whom it starts. Imagine, then, Octavia, the excess of pleasure that one feels, when, after several shocks and frequent agitations, it comes to discharge itself into the womb, and fills it with this divine ambrosia. Ah! it causes such a tickling and a sweet itching of the part, that we fall into ecstasy, we lose the use of our senses, and our soul seems to abandon all its functions, to taste with us, or rather to become intoxicated with the excess of this voluptuousness. Ah! Octavia, there is no term that can properly express to you the nature of this contentment.

Octavie.

I shall never tire of hearing you, my cousin; and your conversation is so charming, that I wish Orontes to be often absent, in order to find an opportunity of passing similar nights with you. What, you yawn?

Tullie.

Yes, my child, I am asleep, and I can no longer resist sleep.

Octavie.

Let us continue our conversation; Why fall asleep so early? grant this grace to her who caresses you.

Tullie.

You don't know what you need, you little fool: you need rest more than I do; you must know that next night you will not find sleep in the fury and embraces of Pamphilus: therefore rest, that you may gain strength to withstand, as a true daughter of Venus, all the assaults that will be given you.

Octavie.

I will do what you wish, but rather to please you than for any interest I take in my health; she is, thank God, good enough not to need all these accommodations. Sleep now, I promise you to be silent.

Tullie.

Give me a kiss, my heart, before I close my eyes.

Octavie.

Take, here is my mouth, my lips, and my whole body, I put it in your power: be content.

Tullie.

Ah! kisses capable of making the gods jealous! ah! How full of tenderness are these embraces! How delicious are these touches! Allow me, my little wife, to sleep with you, as Mars rested with Venus: let me cover with one hand this part so amiable and this mountain consecrated to love; that I touch your buttocks with this one, and those buttocks so white and so firm. That is good, so do not stir. As soon as I am awake, I promise to continue our conversation. Sleep, my little heart.

Octavie.

Sleep yourself: you are a strange loveseat; you want to rest, and you do not cease to act foolish and to jest.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-03

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-03

FOURTH

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-03

OCTAVIA, TULLIE.

Tullie.

How happy I am with my sleep! I slept soundly for seven hours without interruption. And you, Octavia, how did you spend the night?

Octavie.

As for me, I have been awake for a good hour, and I am in extreme anxiety at a horrible vision I have had.

Tullie.

Tell me about it, I pray you.

Octavie.

I thought that Pamphilus and I were walking in an avenue of trees in the coolness, to protect ourselves from the sun, and that he was making amorous complaints to me, which were the more agreeable to me, as they proceeded from a deep tenderness which he has for me. He asked me for a kiss with extraordinary eagerness; I refused him: but all my refusals only made him more obstinate and bold; and as he is infinitely witty, he knew how to do so well, that he at last persuaded me to give him that kiss so much desired. But as you know, Tullie, that in love one favor attracts another, he was not satisfied with the favor I had granted him; he kissed me with one hand, while he tried to slip the other into my bosom. I resisted him as much as I could; and it was only by your help, Tullie, that I got rid of it. I fled at once, but he pursued me with great speed; and at the moment when he was about to join me, I turned my head. Ah, Tullie! If you only knew what a monster I saw!

Tullie.

And what monster, Cousin? Had some furious wolf rushed upon Pamphilus? or had not despair made him pass his sword through his body?

Octavie.

Not at all; God forbid! let him pierce me myself with his member, rather than so great a misfortune ever befall him. What I saw: listen, Tullie, you will be surprised; what I saw was Pamphilus, who was changed into the form of an ugly Satyr, much as painters represent them in pictures. His whole body bristled with hair; from his forehead protruded two goat's horns, very straight and very sharp: for the eyes, the nose, and all the rest of the face, he had his first face. This is not all: he threatened me with a life twice as long and as large as that of the best-hung man; his thighs and legs resembled those of a goat: he threw himself upon me suddenly, kissed me, and in a fury wanted to come into action. What more do you want? so horrible a vision has awakened me, and I still tremble with the fright it has caused me, My dear Tullie, you who have so much learning, who know nothing of what can be learned, could you explain to me a dream so strange as this?

Tullie.

Assuredly, I can, and the interpretation is very easy; but I will tell you about it in due course, because it is not very necessary for you to know it now.

Octavie.

Eh, please, satisfy my curiosity, and do not leave me any longer in the frights in which I am: I beseech you, my little wife, or rather my little husband; (since you have done the duties on me) I beseech you, I say, in the name of all that you hold dearest in the world.

Tullie.

Since you are so curious, you must be satisfied; there is no way of refusing anything to what one loves. Learn, then, that this dream augurs for you great pleasures which you will taste in your youth, and which you will receive from a foreign love: its augury likewise shows that Pamphilus will be blackened by this stain, which now tarnishes the reputation of a husband whose right of his bed has been violated. That is to say, as a good Francis, that you will make him a cuckold.

Octavie.

Who, me! I would make Pamphile a cuckold! God forbid to have even the thought of it!

Tullie.

It is not necessary, I imagine, to tell you who are those who are called cuckolds; You must know that it is the husbands whose wives do not keep the conjugal faith.

Octavie.

I know this very well; but all right, my cousin, do you think me capable of falling into so great a fault? What, I would do such an affront to Pamphilus? no, I would rather die. Have you ever deceived your Orontes? I cannot persuade myself: I have too good an opinion of your honesty, and you will oblige me to have the same sentiments for my person on this point.

Tullie.

Do not be so scrupulous, I do not predict anything that will not happen to you. In the past, people were stupid enough to believe that cuckolding was an ignominy; but now we are disillusioned: for what is this great evil at which so many good people laugh with good reason?

When you don't know it, it's nothing;

When you know it, it's a small thing.

We are therefore cured today of this old error: it is only fools who break their heads by it; the most wise know well that it is a pure idea; they say nothing, and I think they are right; there is always enough left for them: besides the fact that marriage is usually the tomb of friendship, we have a right to look elsewhere for what we may like. If men act in this way every day, although they often have more beautiful wives than those of others to whom they give themselves; Hey! why should we not enjoy the same privilege as them? The union of wills forming the strongest knot of marriage, if it happens to be broken, either by the contrariety of the moods, or by the great facility with which we soon become disgusted with what we possess, does not the obligation to keep the faith mutually cease? (You can understand this reasoning.) Thus becoming quite free, and our hearts not being without some amusement, nature, which is wise in all that she does, allows her to seek some object that occupies her, and to attach herself to those who have some sympathy with her.

Octavie.

I have seen, however, persons who condemned these liberties as great crimes.

Tullie.

I believe so; and it is true that the civil laws are contrary in this respect to those of nature; but this is only to avoid the disorders that might occur in the world. Learn, then, Octavia, that the evil of cuckolding, the enormity of which is so much preached to us, ought not to frighten us, any more than this fine term of honor, which is not a real virtue, but a phantom and a pure chimera. It is not that in our little amorous businesses we should not avoid brilliance; it would be extreme impudence to make our husbands cuckolds highly; We have to keep up appearances. By a false or real indulgence for the poor man, to use a little hypocrisy, to make a few grimaces in time and place, to speak very little or not at all of the person we love, to take the shepherd's hour at the right time: these are the means of living happily in the servitude of marriage, by hiding the mystery of our hearts; and to plant horns of plenty in our husbands, without their noticing it.

Octavie.

You surprise me, Tullie, by the admirable facility you have in expressing yourself and speaking on all things: all your morals, however, will not induce me to do what you preach; I love Pamphilus too much to put such a beautiful cap on his head.

Tullie.

Wait, wait a little longer until you have lost your virginity, and I am sure you will change your mind, and that in a few months your husband's caresses will become insipid and insipid to you. We grow weary of having the same burden on us night and day, and change is to us a spicy stew; and there are very few, if any, women who do not make use of the opportunity when they find it.

Octavie.

I tell you once more that this does not persuade me, and that Pamphilus may rely on my fidelity; all that you say is fine and good, but it is always enough to make us blush.

Tullie.

Ah! how obstinate you are! Who is it, I pray you, that can turn an insurmountable necessity into reproach? If it is fate that gives us such a violent inclination, what means of avoiding succumbing? Even Minerva, nor all the Vestal Virgins, could resist it; and you would like... But let us return to our dream; have you not seen anything more concerning Pamphilus?

Octavie.

Nothing at all; and while you were buried in a deep sleep, I went over pleasantly in my mind all that you had told me of the most secret mysteries of love.

Tullie.

I am delighted to have such a good schoolgirl as you; I will see to it that you will pass from my embraces to those of Pamphile, as learned as it is necessary to enjoy this pleasure well." Let us continue our lesson: you already know that an arrow of flesh must be pushed into this slit of which I have described to you, and which is between your thighs, which will pierce you as far as the seventh rib.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! you are jesting, Tullie; I do not know by what means it could be?

Tullie.

Be that as it may, he will put that nerve which makes him man, in that part of your body which makes you a woman; your two sexes will put themselves in each other; and from two you will become one. Here is how it will be done.

Octavie.

Ah! how I am filled with fear and desire! I wish to know this mystery, and I fear that you will tell me.

Tullie.

He will first throw his arms on your collar, and press you so hard naked, that it will be impossible for you to escape from him, even if you wish to.

Octavie.

I pray you, my dearest, tell me how Orontes did it on your wedding night; for as to Pamphilus, you can tell me nothing certain: every one kisses as he pleases; some more, others less, and I believe that in this there is no rule.

Tullie.

You are right, Octavia, I will satisfy you; and you must be as cold as marble, if you do not feel some emotion by the picture I shall give you of our amusements, and of the game I played with Orontes, when he robbed me. Ah, Gods! What pleasures I tasted last night! the image of it is too sweet to me to forget, I shall remember it eternally.

Octavie.

Begin, then, Tullie; I am in the greatest impatience in the world to hear you: you can speak without fear; the whole house is in a deep sleep, all nature in repose, silence reigns everywhere; in a word, everything favors our pleasures and our games.

Tullie.

After my mother had undressed me naked, she put me to bed; she put a very white cloth under the head of the bed; she then embraced Orontes and me, and told her to give me a kiss in her presence. This proceeding of my mother's made me quite confused; then she withdrew, closed the door, and took the key to her room, where there were many of our relatives, among whom was my dear Angelique.

Octavie.

Is it this same Angelica of whom you have so often spoken to me, who was the best of your friends, and with whom you lived in the utmost confidence and familiarity?

Tullie.

It is herself; if you knew her, you would be charmed as I am by her beauty, her manners, and that certain je ne sais quoi which wins all hearts. It was a few months before, when my marriage was celebrated, that she had been married to Lorance; he is a young man very amiable for the qualities of body and mind. Angelique had therefore very accurately informed me of the pains I should suffer in the first attacks that were to be given to my virginity; she had taught me what I ought to do on my side, what I ought to say, and she had forgotten nothing of all that could make our pleasure greater: in short, I knew even the slightest circumstances of a perfect conjunction. Being therefore so well prepared, I waited for my adversary, in the resolution to receive him well, if he had more strength than I; I did not yield to her in courage: I would only have wished to be delivered from a certain modesty, which prevented me from making use of all my skill at first.

Octavie.

I am not surprised that you slept naked on your wedding night with Orontes: I know that my mother does the same every night with my father.

Tullie.

Patience: moderate a little this indiscreet ardor of learning everything in a moment; only listen to me: you will know after all, deep down, I will not forget an iota, and I will tell you everything by its order. As soon as my mother had retired, and Orontes had seen me all alone at the place destined for the battle, he took off his clothes with such precipitation, that he appeared in a moment quite naked on the edge of the bed, when I thought he was still very much impeded.

Octavie.

It was because he certainly had the fire in his back, and could not extinguish it except by your help.

Tullie.

Ah! how playful you are! do not interrupt me any longer, if you wish to know what you wish to learn. One could see clearly in the room as in broad daylight; my mother had taken care to have a quantity of torches placed there. I saw, therefore, before the bed a beautiful white and plump body; but having pretended to turn my eyes away out of modesty, I perceived below his Saw straight as a pike; he was of a size to defend himself well, and from time to time he raised his head, as if he wished to salute me out of respect, or else to threaten me with the harsh assault he was about to make on me.

First Orontes drew all the blankets from the bed (for it was in the month of June that we were married), and then he exposed me naked to the greed of his eyes; I then put one hand on my bosom, and with the other I covered my part, in order to hide these two most precious places of my body, and to hide them from the light. But alas! I was not long the mistress of these two places; he soon took possession of it; and taking me from the hands that guarded them, he boldly placed his own in them. He looked at me with eyes full of love and fire; he kissed my mouth, cheeks, collar, breast, nipples, belly, and performed all these actions with an air so passionate and so full of tenderness, that I was sensibly moved. After all these ceremonies, which were very agreeable to me, he put the middle finger in my C... as deep as he could; and it was (as he himself confessed to me in the heat of our embrace) to know if I was a maid: seeing the testimony of the finger, concerning the virginity of a girl, is much more certain than that of the Vit. For besides the fact that the latter in his fury is not capable of making almost any discernment, he is of such a size as to be able to fit only the head, into which the other can easily enter entirely.

Octavie.

Look at the malice of the pilgrim!

Tullie.

All men are equally curious on this subject, and we must forgive them for the suspicions they form of us. But how much joy a new bride has when she sees that she is found a virgin; and how much pleasure the husband has in plucking a flower which is now so rare! For when one has his virginity as you have it, and as I had it, one always finds evident marks of it in the place where he resides; and what obliges them to make this curious inquiry is because they know that we not only lose our virginity by the intercourse we have with men, but also that we can take it away from ourselves.

Octavie.

I am afraid, Tullie, that you do not hear what you say.

Tullie.

I will speak to you another time about everything that concerns this matter; everything has its place, Orontes being therefore sure by the small entrance of my part, and by the exact visit of the finger, that I was as he wished me to be, he threw himself on the bed and kissed me; and by a thousand little caresses, and the most passionate words he could imagine, he tried to animate me to the battle.

Octavie.

But what! You, who have such a pretty and agreeable mind, did you say nothing? Were you dumb? Were you of stone?

Tullie.

What did you want me to do? I sighed instead of speaking; I repulsed him, a moment later I attracted him, I fled, and I approached: the modesty which covered my whole face, stifled my most amorous desires, and at the same time inflamed them; and this passion became more violent in me, in proportion as I wished to check its fury. Orontes therefore felt that I was all on fire in spite of myself: "Courage, my dear Tullie," said he to me lovingly, "favor me, and do not oppose the enjoyment of my felicity, which depends only on you; open for yourself this little palace, where is the throne of graces, laughs, and the most innocent games! "My Goddess," said he, smiling, "here is the key, take it yourself; but I refused it. What are you apprehensive? he continued; if you are all mine, why refuse me favors that are so justly due to me? Yes, Orontes, I replied, I am willing with all my heart to be all yours; but in order that I may be worthy of your esteem, do not allow, I beseech you, that I prostitute myself to all these filths that you wish to demand of me; spare my modesty: I have no doubt that you love me; but it seems to me, with your furies, that your passion has rather the character of hatred than of an honest and regulated love. My dear Orontes, in the name of God, have mercy on me; Will you be insensible to the tears you see I shed?

Octavie.

Were you crying all right, my cousin?

Tullie.

Yes, I shed a few tears, but they did not in the least weaken him; on the contrary, he became more furious: "If you love me," said he, "leave there, I pray you, this inconvenient modesty; I am surprised that you still have any, after you have exposed yourself quite naked to the eyes of a naked man like me: you will never have more," he continued, "until you show that you have none towards me, and do in this conjugal bed all that I think necessary for our common pleasure." You know the power that the right of marriage gives me over you, and therefore do not oppose anything. During all this dispute, his member was furious, and beat his head against both my thighs, as if he were enraged at what we could not agree with.

Octavie.

Ah! my poor Tullie, how I pity you! the wounds you are about to receive make me tremble for you!

Tullie.

You turn everything into mockery; listen seriously, if you are wise, to the most serious thing in the world.

Octavie.

Ah! ah! ah! well, I listen, go on, and don't be angry.

Tullie.

Without further ado, he forcibly opened my thighs with one of his own, and discovered the way by which he wished to go: he immediately mounted on me, and stretched himself at full length over my body. What remedy then to defend myself? I was quite astonished to feel myself burdened with so heavy and heavy a weight; he held his instrument in his hand, as if to stop its projections; and having placed the point justly on the lips of my part, he threw himself headlong upon me: but he advanced nothing; for the avenues were too narrow to receive at first sight so furious an enemy. At the first and second shocks, he did not gain an inch of soil; at the third and fourth, I felt that the spirits of Priapus were exhaled; (thou knowest, Octavia, that precious seed which nature has consecrated to generation and voluptuousness) is called the spirits of Priapus, and as if the cataracts of this divine liquor had opened, they made a sort of deluge of it everywhere outside. It was then only a skirmish, and not a real fight; I nevertheless suffered stinging pains within the game, on account of the violent and repeated efforts made by my adversary to make himself master of the place.

Octavie.

Could you help screaming?

Tullie.

The way to be silent! I cried out as if I had been skinned. I calmed down, however, a little afterwards, because Orontes had the complaisance to mess around, for fear of making me cry out more: he placed his invention in such a way that the head almost touched my navel; and all this space between them even to my bosom was flooded with seed. I then took the linen that was under the bedside, as my mother had ordered me, and I first cleaned her v. with it, and wiped it after the parts of my body that were wet with it. In the meantime he devoured me with his kisses; and like a man who returns from ecstasy, he only sighed, without being able to utter a single word.

Octavie.

Ah! the poor child, how painful he was!

Tullie.

After these first attempts, he rested a little: "I wish to die now," said he, "if I love you only my eyes, more than my life: can anything be seen in the world so beautiful as you? Are you a Goddess or a mortal? Ah, Gods! what a beautiful bosom! can we even find in that of Venus more firm, better rounded, and which are at such a fair distance from each other? He handled them at the same time, he could not sit down to contemplate them, he kissed them, sucked them with the extremities of his lips, and gently bit that little pimple which is one of their principal pleasures.

I confess to you, Octavia, that these little games pleased me infinitely, and made me desire a second conjunction. He would then put one of his hands between my thighs, he would jester with my will-o'-the-wisp, he would press the two lips of my little Connaut against each other; afterwards he opened them again, and put all the fingers in them one after the other. I would like, he said:

So much do I love the deduced lover,

That each finger was a big V....

You would be much more pleased;

Besides that it would not happen

Let these V... were ever weary

To pay each of you his rent.

I am much obliged to you, I replied, for all your wishes; I have no use for so many reveries. If a single Vit causes me so much pain, what would it be if you had as many as fingers? Surely you would kill me before you got out of bed. Nature is very wise to have kept men so short; be content with what you have, and do not make your lust criminal by such extravagant wishes. Orontes listened to me with pleasure, and laughed with all his heart at my simplicity. In vain did I reason and be angry, he still held his hand on my calibistri; and showing me his furious instrument with the other, he told me to take it. I refused him at first; but having become a bolder one, I obeyed him. Ah, what a monster! Will you believe it, Octavia? I could scarcely grasp it; and I felt a horror to see him so rough, so hard, and so hot. "It is with this," he continued, "that I am going to split you in the middle, and that I am going to break down those doors which render your virginity inaccessible." Courage, my Nymph, my Goddess: it is in the hope that I shall remain victorious, which your mother has given you to me; when she comes back to congratulate us, what would she say if she found you a maid as before? She would call me a coward and an imbecile, and would not, no doubt, wish me for her son-in-law, not having been able to exercise the function of husband over you. Ah, my dear Orontes! "You will infallibly put me to death if you will force into my belly an instrument so heavy and so furious." But he was deaf to my words; he mounted his beast again, and I led the bidet with my hand to the door of the stable. However, he raised one of my thighs with one hand; and under my auspices, it pushed and repulsed strongly: I patiently suffered these first attacks; but he became so furious in a moment, that, having pushed it with more vigour than he had yet done, he put it in about two fingers.

Octavie.

Did you not feel any evil?

Tullie.

I felt an unbearable pain. "You are killing me, Orontes," said I; I cried out in a pitiful voice, or rather, it was not cries, but howls. In anger, I withdrew his member with my hand; but he was angry at it, and gave me a rude correction, so far as to treat the boldness I had taken as insolent. I was therefore obliged, to appease him, to put him back in his place, where he was no sooner than a shower of milk came out, which somewhat softened the pain he had just caused me. His instrument having therefore become loose and exhausted by this last attack, it was necessary to make a truce for some time.

Octavie.

Tell me, Tullie, did this rain penetrate much earlier?

Tullie.

No, my little heart, not a drop of it entered; only the edges and extremities were moistened with this sweet liquor, yet Orontes lamented to me greatly: "If you loved me, Tullia," said he, "you would not refuse, as you do to an unfortunate man who dies for you, the true fruits of your love." "I love you," I answered, "and with the tenderest love that can be felt: but unhappy as I am! do you want to make a butchery of this bed? consider that I am very young, and that my body is extremely delicate. "Do you not know," said he, "that this part of your body is no longer yours, but mine?" Can you be ignorant of it, you who have such fine acquaintances? Why, then, should I dispute the enjoyment and possession of a thing which belongs to me, and which is so justly due to me? Ah! "Orontes," I replied, "if you knew how cruel the pain you are causing me to suffer, you would have pity on Tullia, if you had any love for her." This sorrow, he continued, can only be glorious to you; and the more bitter it is, the more honest you will appear about it, besides that it will not be long, and that it must be followed by a pleasure that never ends. Do you know," he added, "that you have made a great mistake in having caused me to scatter this divine seed abroad? there is no greater crime: you have thereby deprived me of the advantage of becoming a father; you killed my children and yours before they were born; you have taken away from them the soul they did not have: see how criminal your impatience has been!

"My dear husband," said I, "I do not wish to dispute with you on this subject; I confess that I am guilty; forgive me, then: I will be more obedient to you; I shall constantly suffer all the pains you cause me; and to increase your pleasure, I will stir as best I can. O Goddess! I said, at the same time, who preside over Hymenaeus, be favorable to me; inspire me with the most amorous sentiments, and the movements most conformable to the inclination of my dear Orontes, and I will obey you blindly. He was satisfied with this submission; he kissed me several times, tickled me, handled me everywhere: all these little games were usually the heroes who announced the fight to me. "Come," said he, "take courage, do what you have promised me." See how in a short time your enemy has become formidable! It seems to see him that he wants to put everything to fire and blood: but however furious he may seem, you can easily overcome him; only wait for him with a firm foot; and during the fight, devoutly invoke the God of amorous battles. That," he continued, "lie down, and do as I am going to tell you, if you wish me to be your husband." Raise your thighs as high as you can, and make your feet drop when I am on you: very well; embrace me now with all your might, that I may not be able to separate myself from you."

Octavie.

You no doubt kept your word?

Tullie.

Yes, I did as he told me of the thighs, and kissed him so closely that it seemed as if I wished to cling to him. He began by kissing his eyes, and then opened with his fingers the place where he wished to enter. He posted his instrument of war at the entrance, and took his measures so well, that, having pushed it with all his might, I felt him enter farther than he had been able to do before. Seriously, Octavia, I thought he had torn me to pieces; my grief was so great, that not only could I not restrain my tears, but I had not even constancy enough to prevent myself from crying aloud. Orontes, then touched with some pity, stopped short in the middle of his course: "I make a truce for a moment," said he: "take courage, however, you have little more to suffer; this time I have gone more than half the way; See it for yourself. The danger in which I was, made me put my hand to it, and I found that it spoke the truth; but what remained outside was the fat and the most nervous: he put his tongue to my mouth; and having uttered at the same time a blow or two, he went farther on. Ah; unhappy that I am! I said, you are killing me; stop, my dear Orontes, moderate these cruel shocks a little. With all this, in spite of my grief, I held him firmly in my arms, and I still had my thighs in the air, in order to help him by this posture to finish so great a matter soon. At last, at the fourth shock, having collected all his strength, he made Priapus enter entirely, glorious and triumphant, into a place which had been so well defended. The bed which was the field of battle trembled, and the noise he made was so great, that he made all my relatives who were in the next room judge that it must be quite broken. I cried out louder than ever, and begged Orontes to remove from the cheek the arrow with which he had pierced me to the entrails. It is at this hour, said he, that I can say that from the very pure virgin that you were, you have become a very chaste woman: you must no longer apprehend anything; the path where one goes to the height of pleasure is open to you and to me; all your sorrows are past: I am going to sprinkle this water of Venus all inside your flower-bed, and I will give you a kiss that will serve you as a signal. Scarcely had he finished speaking, when he kissed me, and at the same time I felt myself wet to the bowels with a warm and viscous blood. All the pleasure I had then was a slight itch. It was not the same with Orontes; the continual kisses he gave me, his touches, his tender words intermingled with amorous sighs, his eyes half bright, half dying, sufficiently testified that his joy was infinite.

Although he had made the discharge as a valiant man, he would not make a fool of himself: "I will recompense all the losses I have made," he said to me pleasantly, "and I will use them as a conqueror." What! "Orontes," said I, "are you not satisfied?" Tell me what the rights of the victor may be? I will receive the laws you wish to impose on me, whether you wish to treat me as a slave or as a free woman. "When we have made ourselves masters of a place," he continued, "which has cost so much sweat and so much blood like yours, we can stay there as long as we please; there is nothing that can force us to leave it: these, Tullie, are the most sacred rights of a victorious Vit; and I pretend that you confess your defeat, and that your Fool, all broken and torn, should acknowledge him as his sovereign. However, prepare yourselves for a new assault: you are now at the end of your sorrows, and I wish you to confess that there is no more solid and sweet pleasure among mortals than that of Venus. In order to make it more sensible to you, I want to teach you what you should do; as I grow downwards, push up as vigorously as you can: it will not be difficult for you, who are young and robust. I obeyed him; I did my duty so well, that my buttocks were more mobile than his, Orontes seeing that I was so learned: "Courage," he cried, "push, push, very well, very well, what an Amazon! my soul, my little heart, my Venus, how much pleasure you give me! Is there a mortal so happy as I! Ah! Gods! I do not envy your felicity; the one I now enjoy is a thousand times purer and more solid than yours: ah, ah, ah, Tullie, my dear Tullie, I die! And I, Orontes, said I, feel, ah ..., I feel, and I cannot say what.

Octavie.

You kill me, Tullie, by your speech I languish and die in expectation of so great a pleasure.

Tullie.

While we were so closely attached to each other, I felt this liquor flowing, which, by its tickling, provoked me at the same time to the discharge; I felt myself burned all over my body with such a furious heat, that, having no regard for any modesty, I pressed my enemy, I tired him by my outbursts: one would have said, from the mobility of my buttocks, that my buttocks were full of quicksilver, which nothing could fix. At last, we were so happy that time, that the two ejaculations took place at the same moment; it was with so much bravery on both sides, that if Venus had been a witness of our combat, I believe she would not have known to whom to attribute the victory. Scarcely had we begun to breathe, Orontes and I, when we heard the door open; my mother and Angelique entered our room at once, and bolted it.

Octavie.

They did not put him out of the house so well as Orontes had put him out of your house, is it not true?

Tullie.

Laugh with all your heart, you little fool; you will not have so much desire to do so, when in a few hours you feel the assaults that will be given you.

Octavie.

Then, as then, everything has its time; Continue your story.

Tullie.

I first took the blankets which Orontes had thrown at the foot of the bed; and I covered her nakedness with it, and mine: for I was ashamed in this equipage in the eyes of my mother; I had not so much regard for Angelique, for we knew each other as well as you and I. My mother embraced me, and then addressing Orontes, said, "My son, how well you have fought! you are a hero; My daughter's screams are witnesses. irrevocable for his defeat: I congratulate you on your victory; if you had not conquered, Tullie would have been a widow, though married. Angelique, however, threw herself at my collar, and gave me a thousand kisses, with tears in her eyes. Ah! my poor child," she said to me in a low voice, "how ill-treated you Orontes! he is a real butcher. Whenever I heard you cry out so loudly, I cursed him with all my heart; but, tell me, how are you?" "Very well," said I; and at last, after so many labors and so many cruel pains, I tasted that great pleasure, which is the happiness of life. Are you a woman? she added. Yes, I am, my darling; and when I go over in my mind the great blessings that come to us from losing virginity, I confess that all the richest treasures do not equal them: I am already so accustomed to them, that I would rather do without eating and drinking than these pleasant pastimes. "It is very well," said she, "you speak like a Sybil; and every girl who does not taste the delights of Venus, does not properly enjoy life. As we all have a violent inclination to it, it has taken it into our heads to moderate these innocent movements of nature by chimerical ideas of honor; they even want religion to take part in it: fools are frightened by it; but the wise believe nothing of it; what they do is to avoid the outside, and to hide appearances, in order to accommodate themselves to the ignorance of the age. It would have moralized more, if Orontes had not approached us. Angelica saluted him, and paid him a compliment of congratulation, on the fact that he had fortunately overcome a virginity which might have given Jupiter pain.

Do you know that Angelique has a great deal of wit, and that she says things with an air that pleases everybody? My mother gave Orontes a large cup of hippocras: "Drink this, my son," she said to him, "to strengthen yourself and restore the strength you have lost; if you believe me, you will rest a little; you have gained enough glory to-night. She made me eat three candied nuts, and gently whispered in my ear to obtain a few hours' truce from Orontes, because sleep was necessary to me. As she was returning with her company, Orontes called Angelica, and begged her to remain a moment to witness his valour: as soon as she looked at me, he suddenly sprang upon me, and gave me such vigorous jerks, that it seemed as if the bed was threatened with imminent ruin, so trembling was it. My mother and Angelique burst out laughing; and far from defending me, they left me all alone, exposed to the fury of Orontes. His course was a little longer than usual; but also the seed penetrated deeper into the womb, where I felt a tickling so sweet that it caused a kind of lethargy to all my senses. The affair ended, our horseman left his post, and left it quite attenuated, and with bowed head.

Octavie.

No doubt that, in this humiliating posture, he begged your pardon for the blood he had caused you to shed?

Tullie.

I wanted to wipe it with the linen as I had done on other occasions. It is not necessary, he told me; it is as dry as if it had not swum in the lake of voluptuousness. He then put his hand to my part; and having pushed a finger very far, found that my womb was not wet. "May the gods favor us!" he cried. I have no doubt that from this blow the fruit of our love will be formed in your womb, my dear Tullie. Enough is enough, my heart, rest a little, until I provoke you to new fights. As I was tired, sleep soon made itself master of all my senses; I slept a good three hours, during which Orontes could not close his eyes. He kissed me from time to time, and looked at me everywhere; I slept so soundly, that I did not wake up: he gently removed the sheets and the blanket; (I was lying on my back), and having gently enlarged my thighs, he saw the amorous circus where he had already made three races. He admired the beauty of my body; and in this pleasant and inflamed contemplation of so charming a spectacle, he made his entrance into that place which he had so well visited. At the approach of so amiable a guest, I opened my eyes to receive him. What joy for me!" he cried! you live, my Goddess! I feared that it would happen to me in the same way as to Periander, Tyrant of Syracuse, to caress a dead woman. "I will show you," said I, "that I am alive." Well, my heart, do it; "You could not," he continued, "give me a greater mark of your love.

Octavie.

What did you do to show him that you lived? but I can well conjecture.

Tullie.

Well! Tell me, what do you think?

Octavie.

I think you moved your buttocks as quickly as you could.

Tullie.

You have just put your nose into it, Octavia; That's right. Being therefore backwards, and feeling myself squeezed, in proportion as Orontes pushed downwards, I pushed upwards with extraordinary vigour. While this cadence lasted, we were belly to belly, chest to chest; in short, we were so closely held together, that if Orontes' body had been filled with seed from the feet to the head, I should have had it all to the last drop.

Octavie.

Did this struggle last long?

Tullie.

Alas! only for a moment; for if we measured this pleasure by its duration, we should find it too short a century. It seems to me that nature has made a great mistake in forming us: her masterpiece would have been much more accomplished, if she had made of our parts a pond full of seed, in which the member of man could have swam, and that she had made of this member a fountain, and a living spring of the same liquor.

Octavie.

You, who are so learned, my cousin, tell me the reason why this pleasure lasts so short?

Tullie.

It is not very easy to find it; This difficulty has made all antiquity sweat, and not one has yet had the audacity to decide it: but I love you too much, my little heart, to refuse you anything; Here's what I think.

To unravel this question, you must know that the philosophers did not agree on the seat of the soul: Hippocrates places it at the ventricle of the brain; Zeno and the Stoics, in the head and in the heart; Empedocles puts him to blood; as also Moses: which was the cause that this wise legislator forbade the Jews to eat the blood of beasts. Galen believed that each part had its own soul; Aristotle that it was spread throughout the body; and I (with all due respect to all these great men) believe that its true seat is in the testicles of man and woman. According to this opinion, it is easy to answer the question you asked me concerning the brevity of venereal pleasure; for, as I have just told you, if the seed is the seat of the soul, (as there is no doubt about it) every drop that comes out is a portion of it, so that nature has been very wise to moderate its ejaculation, lest by abandoning it to our inordinate desires, it should be completely evacuated, which would involve the whole human race. A proof of what I say is that we see every day that men who do not want to take this pleasure in moderation; repent of it, and that their lust very often costs them their lives, by the exhaustion of the vital spirits which is made in the battles too often repeated. It is true that women do not risk the same danger, because...

Octavie.

Tullie, that is enough; what you say is too learned for me: you will oblige me much more to continue your narrative, which I have imprudently interrupted by my curiosity.

Tullie.

I was, if I am not mistaken, when Orontes awoke me with his instrument. The leisure he had had during the three hours that I slept to contemplate me had so warmed his imagination, that his member was foaming with fullness: I felt him rummage in my entrails, and I stirred so much, that the affair was soon over, because Orontes at the fourth shock paid the usual tribute of his seed. which, mingling at the same time with mine, we both lost our speech.

Octavie.

Tell me, I pray you, my dearest, did he not hurt you in this attack? I have the curiosity to know, because as I burn with desire to enjoy this pleasure soon, which you represent to me to be so great, and as I fear the pain that precedes it, my heart is wavering between hope and fear.

Tullie.

Ah, how foolish you are to be frightened for so little! whatever pain there is, the pleasure is infinitely greater.

Octavie.

I believe you, my cousin; for only when I hear you speak, I feel a tickling and a strange itch in this part.

Tullie.

So much the better, so much the better, it's a good sign. you can in the meantime, without so much mystery, scratch it, if it itches you so much. No, no, let me do it, I understand that wonderfully.

Octavie.

This itch that I suffer is an effect of your speech; your expressions are so lively and so natural, that you represent objects as if they were seen, as if they were felt. But what are you doing, Tullie? Ah, take away that adulterous finger that sets everything on fire! Finish, I pray you, tell me how you passed the rest of the night with your little husband.

Tullie.

Orontes slept for some hours; For my part, I did not only close my eyes, however much I wished to rest: the torches were still lighted, and it occurred to me to open a window that looked out into the garden. I got up naked, and opened it without Orontes waking; I extinguished the torches, for it was daylight; and as I wanted to pee, I took the chamber-pot: but as the urine fell out, it gave me such a pungent and biting pain, that I could scarcely bear it. The groans I uttered awoke Orontes; he looked at me fixedly, and said, "What hurts you, my darling?" I left the chamber at once when I had not yet finished. "I thought you were asleep," said I; I am ashamed to have offended your eyes by the sight of a dishonest object. "This, no doubt," he continued, "is a great evil in having seen you piss; Know that a thing ceases to be dishonest as soon as it is necessary. Riding, drinking, eating, sleeping, pissing, &c. are actions which can only be dispensed with by ceasing to live, and consequently have in themselves no image of filth. I first went back to bed without answering, after having wiped myself well. Orontes threw me incontinently between his arms and thighs; he kissed me, and gave me gently on the buttocks, sometimes with one hand, sometimes with the other. He begged me to handle his invention, in order to excite him to a new combat: I obeyed him; and in a very short time I saw it grow in size before my eyes, (the hand of a beautiful woman has a marvellous virtue for this purpose.) "I will now ride you," said he, "in a new manner; put your left thigh on my right; I did so: he pushed very hard, but he could not enter because of our situation, which made access more difficult. He made me raise my left thigh even higher; but with all this he could only go half the way; so that, being tired by this posture, which was inconvenient to me, I threw myself at him, leg here, leg there: I confess to you that I was glorious to see my adversary under me, and I set my horse so well, that we arrived at the Port of Salvation. Orontes confessed to me that he had never tasted so delicious a pleasure.

Octavie.

Apparently you did not feel any harm?

Tullie.

No; for by dint of moving my buttocks, I dissipated the rest of the pain, besides that the way was already beaten. During these movements, I slightly tickled the skin of the testicles, I pressed them both with my fingers, I irritated them so much by this banter, that they poured out in profusion this divine liquor of which they are depositaries.

Although I had made my discharge, I did not wish to quit the game so soon; and as all my modesty had vanished by changing my posture, I kissed Orontes in the eyes, in the mouth, everywhere; I bit his lips and cheeks; I passed my hand over his whole body; I pinched her buttocks; I tickled him; at last, I returned to him with wear and tear all the caresses he had given me in our first embraces. My mother had promised that she would come to visit us early in the morning; we heard him approaching: "Vienna who will," said Orontes; I promised you to do it seven times, but one is missing, let us finish it, so as not to break your word. As soon as he heard that my mother was near the room, and that she was putting the key to the lock, he came upon me: "Here," said he, "Divine Tullie, here is the key I wish to use to open your study; At the same time he entered, and shook so violently, that my mother, who had just arrived, was quite surprised to hear the bed tremble so much: I pretended to sigh with shame, and to be angry. "What do I see," said she, "my daughter?" Wasn't the night long enough for your debates? well, you give yourself to your heart's content. "I beg your pardon, mother," said I, "I am very sorry that you should catch me in this turpitude. Meanwhile Orontes shook vigorously, as if the presence of my mother had animated him. Obey, said she, to your husband, and do not be ashamed to perform the office of a bride; I am going away soon, to let you enjoy each other peacefully. Immediately she went out. Orontes, heated by the ardour of the fight, begged me to do my duty; I understood very well what he meant to say to me: that is why, as he advanced, I pushed him away, as if I wished to throw him from the bed to heaven. He praised my courage, and was charmed by the mobility of my buttocks; I told him that he ought rather to praise me for the love I had for him, which made me forget myself, to abandon myself to movements so dishonest for a young woman. But as soon as I felt the moment of pleasure approaching, I thought that all the veins of my womb were opened: "Make a move, Orontes, I can bear it no longer, I am dying, ah! ah! ah!... The poor child hurried as much as he could to relieve me; but in vain did he move his buttocks, he did not get a drop out of his pipe: one would have said that all his radical temper was exhausted. He kissed me tenderly, and conjured me to help him in so great a work: I succeeded so well, that at last I excited him to ejaculation; but he did it long after mine. Having rested a little in my arms without making a joke, he got up from the bed, and having called his servants, he dressed; he first gave me a kiss, begging my pardon for having shown so much cowardice with me: it was thus that he spoke to me: "I am ashamed, my dearest, to have made so few errands in so beautiful a field." As he was thus mocking, my mother returned with Angelique; they carried two large bowls of consommé: my mother presented one to Orontes, and gave me the other, which I swallowed very well. Orontes, in order to appear more valiant, said that he had no need of it; nevertheless he took it as I did, without much ado.

Octavie.

I imagine, Tullia, to see in your conversation a faithful picture of what is to happen to me: what consoles me is, that if Pamphilus causes me as much pain as Orontes has done you, I shall also have the same pleasures that you have tasted, and perhaps they will even be sweeter; for my part being smaller and narrower than yours, and Pamphilus' member three inches longer than your husband's, it will give me the more pleasure in it, as it penetrates me more deeply.

Tullie.

I only wish you, my little heart, for the friendship I bear you, that Pamphilus will do his duty as well as Orontes did it. But sometimes it is time to rise; I believe that if you had rested on Parnassus, you would not be better instructed, and I hope that with the lessons I have just given you, you will defend yourself from the attacks of Pamphilus as well as any one of your age.

Octavie.

I am infinitely obliged to you, my cousin; I know, as I believe, enough: provided that Venus and her son favor me, I have so good a hope of my skill and courage, that I will not even utter a cry, nor shed a tear in the height of the fight.

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! take care, my poor child, that you do what you say; this constancy would have a bad effect on you, and would produce suspicions in the mind of Pamphilus that would be disadvantageous to you. There is nothing that causes more joy to a husband on the first night of his wedding than when his wife testifies by her tears that she suffers much in action: he mistakes her groans and sighs for the last accents of the voice of a dying virginity. Now think of what you have to do, and think that I am speaking to you as a friend.

Octavie.

You are right, my cousin; I will cry out so loudly, that Pamphilus will not be able to have any suspicion of my virginity. Give me a kiss, amiable Tullie, before I get out of bed.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-04

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-02

FIFTH

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - L'Académie des dames, 1770, Séparateur-03 OCTAVIE, TULLIE.

Tullie.

AH! my dearest, be welcome: I arrived yesterday from the country, where I left Orontes, and I was in the greatest impatience in the world to see you again. Well, what! What does the heart say? but how do you come so late?

Octavie.

I come, my cousin, with the intention of spending the night with you; I swear to you that the fifteen days that I have not seen you have lasted me a century, although I have spent them in pleasure. I have found in Pamphilus' embraces all the sweetness you had made me hope for: he did his duty as a gallant man, and fought with so much vigour, that he was obliged to go into the country to take a little rest, and to relax himself from his errands. In short, my dearest, I have every reason to be pleased with it.

Tullie.

I am delighted, my darling; but I am still more glad that we shall sleep together to-night, and that we shall be able to talk freely of our loves: I am already anxious for us to be in bed, that we may kiss you, and hear the story of what has passed between you and Pamphilus. But let us go to bed.

Octavie.

I wish it with all my heart, my dearest, and I wish to be able to pour into your body the same torrents of voluptuousness with which mine has been watered; I wish he could be as sensitive to these pleasures as your mind will be by the account I will give you. Here I am now undressed.

Tullie.

And so do I; but you must take off your shirt, there is nothing like lying naked naked.

Octavie.

What, joking! you take it from me; let me take it away from myself. Ah, Gods! how you throw yourself at my collar, leg here, leg there! I think you are mad, so let us go to bed."

Tullie.

Well, here we are, my little heart; kiss me very tenderly.

Octavie.

As many kisses as you like; but, please, remove this adulterous hand from this place... Would you defile a young bride in this way?

Tullie.

Foolish! What have you to fear here with me? let me have the entertainment I wish; I have left these torches burning on purpose, that my sight might have its pleasure, as well as the other senses.

Octavie.

But, Tullie, must not the laws of friendship yield to conjugal love? If I suffer now, and you enjoy my body, as you have already done, shall I not offend my husband?

Tullie.

Are you capable of such foolish reflection? But what! You have nothing more to reproach me with: ah, ah, ah!

Octavie.

What! what have you to laugh at like that?

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! What a metamorphosis! this little slit, where the seat of your virginity was, is changed into another of prodigious extent. Ah! goodness of Venus! What an opening! open your thighs a little.

Octavie.

Well! What do you want, jest? I obeyed.

Tullie.

Ah! how different a woman's is from a virgin's! Ah! ah! Gods! what an entrance! I think I could even put my whole hand through it.

Octavie.

Eh, eh, eh, you are setting me on fire, I can't take it any longer, if you don't withdraw. Do you want me to commit adultery in your hands, I who would rather die than violate the faith I have promised?

Tullie.

We shall see in the sequel whether these feelings last. However, let me admire this prodigious change: no, I believe that of all men there is only Pamphilus who can fill this pit. You are much more open than I, although I have already had a child, and have often amused myself with several, I fear that this will make you unfit for pleasure.

Octavie.

What does it matter to me, provided that Pamphilus is pleased with it, and that his instrument is proportioned to my scabbard, for it is for him alone that he has made a way, and not for others. What is surprising, however, is that, with all this breadth, the last time he rode me, he cried out that I was pressing him everywhere, that he was as cramped as if I had clasped him in my hands. In short, he said that the pleasure he felt could not be greater.

Tullie.

And you, what did you say?

Octavie.

I did not speak, but I enlivened her by a thousand kisses which I tenderly gave her; I relieved him by my jerks, and by little movements of the buttocks, which I made from time to time.

Tullie.

Ah! If you would relate, my dear, all that happened from the beginning of your frolic to the end, how much satisfaction you would give me!

Octavie.

I wish it, my Tullie, since I cannot think of these sweet pastimes, until I feel much pleasure in them. You will know, then, that before I had left the bed where I had lain with you, all the relatives and friends of Pamphilus had assembled at our house. You remember well that when we both entered the house, he came to meet me with a very amiable air; and you have noticed how he gave us both a kiss, telling me that, had it not been for my mother, he would have come to me in bed to chastise me for my laziness. After this, you know how the whole assembly returned their civilities to us, in what manner the contract was made, and how the ceremony took place: so much so that it seemed as if nothing was wanting for the feast but the victim.

Tullie.

It is with more reason than you think, that you call your virginity a victim, since it is she who is to be sacrificed, or massacred, and torn to pieces with bloodshed.

Octavie.

All these formalities being regularly observed, Pamphile and I stayed together. It was for this reason that he asked me, with great tenderness, if I wished to be his: I replied that, being no longer mine, he was master of my person, and that, having been able to dispose of nothing but my heart, he knew that he possessed it. However, he gave me a thousand kisses; and by a thousand tender caresses, he set me on fire: I was entirely beside myself, and I may say that I could breathe only by his means. During these sweet pastimes, I had two maids at my side, whom my mother had ordered to stay, to be witnesses of what was going on. They lowered their eyes during all this jest, and dared not look at us fixedly. "My love," said Pamphilus, addressing me, "bring these girls out, their presence is not necessary here; for what have we to do with them? God forbid, I said in a whisper, that I should be so indiscreet! Do you think of it, and what would my mother and all the family think of if we were left alone in this way? He interrupted me with a thousand kisses, and immediately my mother entered. "Ah, Gods!" she said, "how you overwhelm my poor Octavia with caresses! Do you like him? Ah! "Do you doubt it?" he resumed at once; even love could add nothing to make it more ardent: but alas! "Mother," he continued, (speaking to Sempronia), "since you have been kind enough to give me so beautiful and amiable a person for my wife, allow me to exercise the functions of a husband now; I beseech you, grant me this grace." "You have no regard for Octavia's delicacy, which is only in the sixteenth year of her age?" reflect on that, my son. Ah! have pity on me," replied Pamphilus; I can bear it no longer, I am no longer master of myself, and I burn within with a fire that can only be extinguished by Octavia: allow me to enjoy it, and be liberal of a good that belongs to me; you cannot refuse me without robbing me of something of my own. She smiled at these words. "You do not consider, my son," said she, "how out of season all your requests are: believe me, wait till this night; the delay will make the entertainment more agreeable to you, than if you followed your first outbursts: I wish with all my heart," she continued, "to be able to grant you what you desire; but you see yourself that neither time nor place can permit it. Ah! "My dearest mother," replied Pamphile, "have compassion on your son-in-law. Octavia is not so cruel as you; and doubtless it will not refuse me to relieve my pain, since it is it that causes it. "Well, my daughter," said my mother, "will you cure Pamphilus of his illness; Do you agree with it, what do you say?

Tullie.

And why wouldn't you have wanted it? you were too wise not to consent to it.

Octavie.

Modesty at first covered my whole face, and even prevented me from speaking. "What, you say nothing?" replied my mother; that is, you consent. Well! withdraw a little, let me speak to Pamphilus; I must warn him in particular of something that concerns you. I went three or four paces away, and listened so well to their discourse, that I did not lose a word. "My son," said she, "you see that it is with reason that I tell you that time and place are not fit for your amusement; judge for yourself: here are all our relatives and yours who are about to arrive; there is no bed in the room where you are: what do you intend to do at this juncture?" I nevertheless yield to your eagerness," she continues; and to give you some proof of this, I place Octavia in your hands, but on condition that she will satisfy your lust for the present only once: next night you may take as much as you please, and you will have leisure to taste the sweetness of marriage at length. I grant you, therefore, though I know that there is no comfort in the room which Octavia can use to put herself in an advantageous situation for herself and for you: you will no doubt lose your trouble and your oil; but this is preaching to you in vain: above all, have regard to his youth. I warn you of this, because I have heard that you have a monstrous limb, the prodigious length and size of which might be injurious to it, if you did the matter too hastily. This, Tullie, is what I heard; after which my mother called me, and said to me, "My daughter, you are no longer yours, but in the power of your husband: these are the laws of marriage." He asked me to put you at his disposal for a moment; neither you nor I can refuse it: I have therefore granted it to him; but on condition that he will enjoy you for that time only once: therefore, as soon as he has finished, do not fail to get rid of him, by leaving the room quickly; if you do the opposite, I shall be angry with you." I promised her everything she wanted. Above all," she continued, "put yourself in all the postures he desires, and take good care that, through your fault, the seed does not fill the place for which it is intended; but take care of yourself in such a way, when it is upon you, that not a single drop of it falls outside. After this warning, she gave me a kiss, and left me alone with Pamphile. We lost no time, and were already ready for battle, when my mother returned, saying that she had forgotten to tell us what was most necessary. Pamphilus had already made me sit down on a very large bench, which was attached to the wall, and covered with a carpet; he had made me spread my legs, and had made me put my feet on two stools to raise them: I was naked to the navel, and my adversary already held his arms in his hand. As soon as my mother had entered, and saw me in this posture, Ah! "Gods!" said she, "how ingenious love is, and how convenient this situation is for both! but she was much more surprised when she saw Pamphile's instrument, bandaged in a strange manner. Ah! goodness of Venus! "What a monster!" she cried, "what a monster! Be of good cheer, my daughter. However, I had recovered myself to a decent posture, and had lowered my skirts; I asked my mother what she had forgotten to tell us. "Octavia," said she, "as it is not necessary that those who will dine with us should see in your clothes the marks of your banter, I thought it proper to warn you to take off your clothes. She then undressed me herself, leaving me only my shirt; she kissed me; and calling to Pamphilus, who had retired a little, "Come, my son, come," said she; this is the battlefield where you must fight," and then she went out, laughing. As soon as Pamphilus saw himself at liberty, he closed the door upon us; and throwing himself at my collar, he gave me a thousand kisses, and pulled my shirt from me. Being thus quite naked, he looked at me on all sides, and satisfied his sight by his looks, and his hands by his touches. He then made me sit down as before, and put both feet back on the two chairs; then he slipped his right hand under my buttocks, and bringing them close to him, he placed his instrument at the entrance of the door, and tried to me.

Tullie.

Courage, courage, it is not bad: but you, what were you doing?

Octavie.

As for me, I was almost motionless; I let him do it, and I refused him nothing: he had stripped naked like me. Having approached and raised his battery opposite the place he was attacking, he said to me, "Octavia, my heart, kiss me, raise your right thigh, and press it on my loins." I do not understand, said I, what you desire, I do not understand your design: besides, have pity on me, I beseech you. He made no reply, and raised my right thigh himself, as he wished; and at the same time he pushed his Vit, but so rudely, that I thought it was the blow of death he had given me, so much pain did it cause me: I immediately exclaimed. Be silent, my heart, he said to me, you will hardly have to suffer any more; remain as you are, and do not change your place. He therefore put his hand under my buttocks, and put me on again, but with so much violence, that I cried out louder than I had done. My mother, who was in the next room, ran up at the noise. "What, Pamphilus," said she, standing at the door without entering, "is this what you promised me just now?" I had allowed you to make a game out of it, but not a fight. She said no more: Pamphilus discharged when she finished these words, and I felt myself watered the entrance of the game as with a hot rain. It was for this reason that he pushed on with more vehemence, and this viscous humour favoured his efforts: he advanced two or three fingers, and poured out all his seed in the place he had made for himself within; until it was too abundant, and overflowed without, and my clod was all wet with it.

Tullie.

But what! Were you motionless? had you no feeling? and did you not discharge as valiantly as he?

Octavie.

I will confess to you, my dear Tullie, that I understood at first what the pleasure of Venus was. When Pamphilus moved thus in my arms, I suddenly felt such a great itch within, that, being no longer mistress of myself, I pushed and moved my buttocks with incredible fury; he then went out, I know not what, by me, which gave me a pleasure which I cannot express to you. The tickling was so sweet, the excess of pleasure so great, that I died; and with languid looks, I heaved a few sighs: my face was all on fire, and my whole body was in extreme despondency. Ah! ah! ah! my dear Pamphile, I said, I am dying, I can bear it no longer; stop my soul which is ready to go out: ah, Gods! How willful is the death you give me! Courage, courage," he continued, "my dear child; let us begin a new battle: recover your strength, and I will resume my arms in my hand. He did so; taking up his Vit, which he had withdrawn, he put it back inwards: an admirable thing, Tullia! No sooner had he entered, than he stirred up new fires for me, and made me make such a copious discharge, that it seemed to me rather urine that flowed than semen, so impetuously did it come out. Ah! if Pamphilus had been in a state at that time, I believe we should have tasted perfect pleasure. He discharged a little afterwards, and I was very displeased that he finished his course so soon.

Tullie.

You say things so naively that you make me beside myself by your speech; you have set me on fire. Kiss me, my heart, kiss me, my dear Cléante! I can't take it anymore, I'm burning, I don't know what I want; ah! fuck me!

Octavie.

What do you mean with your Cléante? there is no doubt some mystery behind it. What do you want? What do you want from me?

Tullie.

Ah, please, my darling, my dear child, relieve your poor Tullie a little: lend me your hand.

Octavie.

I give it to you completely; what do you want to do with it?

Tullie.

Put it, I pray you, in this place which is all on fire; thrust thy finger inwards as soon as thou canst: serve me as a husband, my dear Octavia; come upon me, and by your shocks, try to extinguish this fire which you have excited by your speech. Well, that's good; shake it now, while I hold you in my embrace. Ah! how our two parts are joined to each other! ah! how I like you in this way! even stronger; ah! it is at this blow that I can no longer bear it, I can no longer bear it, I sink, I sink: ah! Cleante, push, push, I unload, ah! ah!...

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! how lustful you are! I believe that love itself would drown in this torrent of seed that comes out of your loins. Ah! I feel I don't know what; Ah, ah, my dearest, my heart, let us both die together. Who could have imagined that this banter would have been followed by such sweet pleasure? Ah! I'll do it again! Ah, ah, ah, I'm swooning...

Tullie.

I'm delighted that you shared the pleasure with me. Here I am, thanks to Venus, a little recovered: let us return to Pamphile, whom you left all perspiring in the attacks on your fortress.

Octavie.

I am willing to do so; but tell me first what you meant by Cléante, and for what purpose you implored his help. For why did you not rather call your dear Orontes, who is so amiable, and who loves you so tenderly?

Tullie.

I will teach you in time: I will confide to you my most secret thoughts, and you will enter into the knowledge of my most hidden amusements; and even, if you wish, you can share them with me. But I do not wish to interrupt you now; continue your discourse, and make me remember another time what I promise you.

Octavie.

I will not fail to do so, for I am very curious to learn it: but let us return to our history. Although the limb of Pamphilus had become paralytic, and seemed to ask for a truce with bowed head, it nevertheless did not cease to threaten me by its prodigious size and length. He was all covered with the dew which he and I had poured out so abundantly; and from time to time he became animated, and approached the door, as if to make a new entrance. I, who knew that he was weary, and that it was enough for a blow, said to him, "Well, Pamphilus, are you satisfied?" Will you not tire of tiring a young girl like me with your fury? Rest, and remember the prayer which my mother has made to you. No quarter," he continued, "I do not surrender so easily; while he was speaking, he kissed and handled me everywhere with extraordinary transports. This banter excited him, and he was already beginning to harden, and to prepare for new attacks, when I adroitly drew myself from his arms. He pursued me at once: as I ran through the room to avoid him, I kicked against a bench, which fell; My mother came to this noise, and knocked at the door. Pamphilus gave me my shirt, which was all wet with his seed; he took his own, and opened it to my mother. "Well," said Pamphilus, when she had entered, "come and judge the blows?" "No doubt," she replied, "I know that you are a valiant soldier; but I am very much afraid that you have lost your trouble: I see that you are a man of good faith, and that you wished to give me back my daughter as I gave her to you. She mocked him in this way, because she had observed that he had made little progress; besides that I believe that she had looked through the lock at what had passed.

Tullie.

Truly, you must not doubt it: the most holy women have curiosity about these sorts of things; and I will tell you, that the day after the first night of my wedding, I was obliged to relate to my mother from point to point all that had passed between my husband and myself. She even wanted me to teach her even the smallest of her banter. While I was telling her about it, she kissed me, and kissed me with unequalled tenderness.

Octavie.

Sempronia was no less curious. You will know that a little after she had entered, Pamphilus withdrew with her clothes to another room, so much so that she was left alone with me. She closed the door on us, and throwing herself at my collar, said, "Well, my dear Octavia," said she, "have you been well entertained?" do not be ashamed to tell me: the interest I take in everything that concerns you, obliges you to conceal from me nothing that can give me joy. As she said this, she kissed me, she was all on fire; her eyes breathed nothing but love, and I could judge by her countenance that she felt strange emotions.

Tullie.

This should not surprise you: for, besides the fact that Sempronia is of a very amorous temperament, she is scarcely twenty-nine years old; she was married at thirteen, she became pregnant that same year, and she gave birth to you at the beginning of her fourteenth.

Octavie.

I made no answer to him at first; but she pressed me so hard that I was obliged to satisfy her. Well! said I, I have obeyed you, and I have granted Pamphilus what he desired of me. "Speak freely, my daughter," she continued, "it is now that you are no longer a child; it is enough that you and I are wives, to not want judgment, since our husbands give us wit, in the same way that they cause us pleasures.

Tullie.

She was right, and I have seen very coarse and stupid girls become more witty and enlightened, as soon as they had tasted the sweetness of marriage.

Octavie.

I am of this opinion; and indeed it seems that our spirit is secluded and shut up with our virginity. As long as we were daughters, whatever light we had at that time, we knew only the bark and surface of things; a chimera may frighten us, a trifle terrifies us, and it is only he who can pluck this flower who is capable of enlightening us. Qui aperit vulvam, aperit & mentem. That is to say, only he opens our minds, who opens our. It seems that when we are born, nature gives no other seat to our understanding than that which this lower part occupies, and more conformable to its operations; it requires violent efforts and shocks to rouse it from its baseness, and to place it in our brains.

Tullie.

Very well, very well: ah, ah, ah! that is to say, without Pamphilus you would be ignorant, and that it was his life that gave you wit. Mentula mentem incussit.

Octavie.

Having therefore become a little bolder by my mother's discourse, I spoke to her a little more freely: "I am," said I, "as I was when I came here; nothing has happened to me, except that Pamphile has wet me on all sides. What!" she said, "he has made no progress?" "No," said I; for besides the fact that his instrument could not enter because of its size, he lost his strength after several shocks while spreading his seed. "That is well done," she continued; show me your shirt. I showed it to him; as soon as she saw her, "O my daughter," she cried, "what loss have you made? ah! how happy you would have been, if this abundant rain had watered your interior. "Yes, my darling," she continued, looking attentively at the parts of my shirt that were stained with them, "there would have been enough to give us an heir as robust as Hercules. She made me leave her; after this, she gave me another, coëffed me again, and omitted nothing to make me appear more brilliantly.

Tullie.

What did she do with the shirt you had left? I think she considered it well.

Octavie.

Certainly: she looked at her on all sides; I was ashamed of it myself. "It is a deluge, my daughter," said she, "that you have suffered, and not a mere sprinkling; but how is it that you cry out so loudly? for I see no mark of tears of your virginity. "It is doubtless," she continued, "that the place has been attacked, but that they have not been able to make themselves masters of it: take courage; I hope things will be better tonight. After this she withdrew, and shut up my shirt in her study.

Tullie.

The night has its pleasures as well as the day; and the amusements it offers us are much purer than the others, since tranquillity reigns there. I do not ask you what happened at dinner; only describe to me that amorous night which filled you both with pleasure.

Octavie.

We began to live as soon as the day expired; and we were no sooner relieved of the importunate visits which custom makes frequent at these sorts of festivals, than we breathed a little, Pamphilus and I. You know, since you were present, how my mother took us both by the hand, and led us into the room, where the bed, where I was to be so well treated, was prepared. But I forgot to tell you that a little before her shut herself up with me in that room, where my virginity had borne the first attacks. I had no sooner entered it, than I smelled the smell of a certain perfume, which was very sweet and pleasant: "Raise your skirts and your shirt to the navel," said my mother. I obeyed him at once; as soon as she saw me naked, she smiled: "You must confess, Octavia," she said, "that you are worthy of Pamphile." "It is necessary," she continued, "to save you both a great deal of trouble, that you rub your part with this liquor." At the same time she drew out a gilded gilt vase which was filled with it; I put my two fingers in it; and having taken them out all perfumed with this perfume, I carried them to my invention, and greased all the edges. It is not your will-o'-the-wisp, nor your clod that must be rubbed with it, it is the inside; she immediately dipped her finger in the pot, and gave me this wonderful anointing herself; she penetrated as far as she could. "I was," said she, "stronger than you when I was married to your father, and with all this I could never have endured it, if the same artifice had not been used. I confess to you, my cousin, that this anointing had a prodigious effect, and which surprised me; it caused me such a great itch at the part, and such a sweet tickling; that she put me out of my mind, for I came very near forgetting myself entirely of what I was, and running to meet Pamphilus to solicit him to battle.

Tullie.

These kinds of unctions are almost always used, especially when the girls who are married are young and delicate.

Octavie.

What more do you want? you know how you put me to bed; and to use these words, as you said the last farewell to my virginity. As soon as Pamphilus found himself alone with me, he closed the door of the room, with the intention of opening mine, and looked all over, and made a careful search to see if there was any one hidden.

Tullie.

It is a strange thing that this sort of game does not want witnesses; & tamen fine testibus non agitur: that is to say, it cannot be completed, if the Cou... who are the witnesses of virility, are not part of the game.

Octavie.

After you had gone out, my mother asked me if I was not afraid; I told her that I feared nothing of a person I loved: she added, that if I wished, she would beg my husband to spare me a little; I replied that I should suffer heartily under these ill-treatments, if he could derive pleasure from them. Pamphilus, who was far from us, listened so well that he heard the whole discourse. My mother went out, wishing us a happy night, and he came to me immediately with haste, and kissing me closely, he said to me, "Ah! How much I am obliged to you, my dearest, to be kind enough to put yourself in my hands without any condition! you will lose nothing by it; I promise you already, for a return of your love, that I will do nothing without your consent. I hope, too," he continued, "that you will be so obliging as not to refuse me anything." Alas! "What resistance could I employ against the person in the world whom I cherish most?" His servants had already undressed him; nothing remained to him but his shirt with a straitjacket; he soon got rid of it, and thus threw himself naked into the bed. It was then that he embraced me with unequalled ardor, and gave me a thousand kisses: he handled my nipples, he touched my belly and thighs, and did all this to me with such great protrusions and transports, that it was easy to know that he was no longer master of himself.

Tullie.

What! Did he forget the principal part? Was she who was supposed to make him happy, deprived of his caresses?

Octavie.

No, but that was where he ended; he handled it like the others, he put his fingers in it, even kissed it; and smelling the smell with which it was perfumed, he smiled, "Ah, my heart! said he, "you are all roses and myrrh; I know well that it was Sempronia who wished to make this path of voluptuousness easier for me. I also wish, he continued, (pointing to his long, fat, and ruddy Vit) that art should help Nature in me; and in order that this formidable instrument may do its duty with less pain, I will rub it with a jasmine ointment, which I have purposely taken: "You, O my goddess! prepare yourselves to defend yourselves, and to sustain as well the attacks I wish to give you.

Tullie.

Ah! I pray all the gods and goddesses who preside over the hymen, in a word, all the divinities who have been sensitive to love, to assist you in this difficult moment.

Octavie.

I believe that if I had only expected relief from that quarter. I should soon have run out of patience.

Tullie.

You do not know, then, that no marriage was made in the past, when there were not three or four divinities present, each of whom had his own particular office on that day. Dea Virginensis was the one who began the ceremony, and who untied the girdle of the new bride: she was followed by another who placed the bridegroom and bride on the field of battle; they called her, Deus Subigus: another presided over the action, especially when the husband, having mounted on his wife, pressed her vigorously; this was Dea Præma: finally, the last of all these officious deities was called Dea Pertunda: all his application was to make the member of the man enter with greater ease into the part of the woman.

Octavie.

Really it took them many ceremonies in the past to take a virginity? not so much is brought in now; and Pamphilus, without the help of the gods, came to the end of mine, which was as difficult as that of any other: listen, this is how he did it. You know, Tullie, that he is very young, since he is scarcely twenty-two years old; but he is not the less robust: having therefore put me in the usual posture, he spread my thighs, and withdrew my hand, from which I covered the place where he wished to enter: it is true that I did not make much resistance. This done, he threw himself upon me: this new charge terrified me a little; he perceived it. "Do not be afraid," said he, "my dear child, only be firm," said he: these words were followed by a furious shock, which made the whole head of his life go inwards. This movement was so violent, that I thought it had torn me to pieces; I put my hand into the place to prevent him from entering any further, but Pamphilus objected: "Withdraw," said he, "this hand which disturbs our pleasure; take courage, there is hardly any way to go to reach the height of bliss.

Tullie.

What were you doing on your side?

Octavie.

I held the rest of his member, which had not entered, firmly in my hands, and grasped it firmly, while he renewed his jerks. Ah! "My heart," he said to me at once, "press, grasp, and clasp as tightly as you can what you hold in your hands." I felt myself incontinently watering the interior with a heavenly rain. Pamphilus no longer stirred; and what surprised me the more, was that not a drop of all this liquor was lost, which was not so diffused, as I felt the canal from which it issued become flaccid, and diminish in my hands nearly half of what it had been before.

Tullie.

Did you have light in your room at the time?

Octavie.

No doubt, and one could see as clearly as at noonday: that is good, my darling, said Pamphilus; ah! how much pleasure you have given me! but will you," he continued, "let us rest a little?" "I consent," said I, "so he messed up; but, what is astonishing! no sooner had he drawn his Vit, than I felt a terrible itch within: it was so great, that, no longer possessing myself, I threw myself at his neck, kissed him, kissed him, and tried to excite him again by my sighs. He was not insensible to all this; and making me caress for caress, he tickled my part, which was all on fire, he opened my lips, closed them, and did so much that I discharged all at once, but with so much force, that all my seed sprang out, with all that with which I had been filled. This surprised Pamphilus: "Who would ever have thought," said he, "my dear Octavia, tender and young as you are, that you should have been so in love, and so fit for pleasure?" "All those who are of your age," he continued, "do not feel the least emotion in the first attacks; and you have ravished yourself to heaven! No, said he, looking attentively at the seed I had discharged, it is not a mere flow, it is a deluge; and you must, no doubt, have living springs of this liquor within, to supply such abundant ejaculations. Ah, how playful you are! I said to him, "All this seed that you see sown is not mine; it is the one with which you have filled me. "It does not matter," said he, "whether it is yours or mine; but I am delighted that you have shared the pleasure, and that you have tasted it to its full extent. "I have no reason to complain of it," said I, "and I have been sufficiently rewarded for the pains and pains you caused me by your first furies. My mother having forgotten to put a cloth under the bedside, I took the sheets to wipe myself, and clean myself everywhere. "That, my dear Octavia," said Pamphilus, as soon as he saw that it was done, "I ask you to do at this hour for my pleasure all that I desire of you, and I wish that all the things for which I am sensible may affect you equally." "I understand you well," said I, "and I consent to all that you wish; but, please, spare my modesty a little, and do not demand of me those dishonest movements which tire my body and mind. No, no," he replied, "that is not what I desire; I ask of you the very contrary: for I only wish that you were motionless, and that, without making any movement of the backside, you would keep your front uncovered.

Tullie.

It is lawful for a husband to give such laws as he pleases to his wife, and it is the prudence of the latter to observe them without murmuring; she is foolish if she imagines that there is anything dishonest in the obedience she renders him.

Octavie.

I also obeyed him without much ceremony; he begged me to handle his instrument for him, which was beginning to harden, and I did the same; what more do you want? I put it in order. He mounted on me, and did so well, that at the first blow he entered half of it. There were still five inches of it outside; this annoyed him, for it seemed as if he wished to hide his whole body in it. It is now, said he, my heart, that it is a question of doing something good; count all my shocks, and above all take care not to be mistaken in the number. Immediately he pushed on higher; and while I amused myself by counting, he redoubled his efforts with so much violence, that he broke the barricade; he made himself master of the place, and entered the citadel entirely. The pain I felt at that time prevented me from completing the account. Ah! you kill me, I said to him, you kill me; Withdraw, I pray you, this instrument from the wound it has inflicted on me. Hey, please... Not at all. "Far from that," said he, "I will advance it still more, if I can;" and as he said this, he shook so rudely, that he hid himself entirely within; his hair touched mine, and we were never better united to each other than at this moment. Ah! stop," I cried at once, "I can take it no longer, you pierce me from side to side; you touch the depths of my bowels; ah! I can no longer resist it! He had compassion on me, and withdrew half of his life: "What is the matter with you, my poor little wife," said he, "have I touched the bottom of your canal?" go, do not be afraid, the game will soon be over: as he spoke he pushed insensibly, and advanced: "First," he continued, "that you will feel some pain, warn me, my dear child; I will retire; I love you too much to wish to take a pleasure that causes you pain, and thus convert my lust into cruelty. He then pushed his member still further; and as he shook with force, "Stop," said I, "I pray you; What is the use of growing like this? he could not hold on to more. Four inches more were needed before it was all lodged within. "I know now," said he, "what measure of life you need to avoid hurting yourself, and I believe that, provided there are three of mine left outside, you will not be inconvenienced: nevertheless, that all may be of use, grasp well with your hand everything that appears outside; clasp as tightly as you can, and let your hand supply the defect of your part: do not be ashamed of it, he continued; for the whole body of a beautiful child like you is nothing but a delicious. I obeyed him, and he moved so well, that at the tenth shock he discharged; I felt a little tickling, but that was all.

Tullie.

How many blows did you count in this second fight?

Octavie.

Twenty, before he had disturbed the count, and ten after: but with all this I do not know the number; for when I cried out that he killed me, that he wounded me, he always pushed with more force: therefore judge for yourself.

Tullie.

And how did you pass the rest of the night?

Octavie.

The rest of the night was spent in jest. Pamphilus was all stretched out over me, he took pleasure in making me suck his Vit, to the last drop; he was kissing and kissing me, when all of a sudden we heard a door open near our bed: it was my mother, who began to laugh at first when she saw us. "Well," said she, "have you been well entertained?" "Ah, mother," said I, "how you have put me in the hands of a man who is inconvenient! he did not give me a moment's rest. "You are very sorry about it," she replied, laughing, and then addressing Pamphilus, she said to him, "Well, brave soldier, is it with a woman that you are lying?" "Octavia," said he, "will tell you news of it; do you not see her all distressed at having lost her virginity? "It is now," said my mother, "that I acknowledge you as my son, and as my son-in-law." After this she gave us a restaurant broth, to restore our lost strength; she extinguished the torches which were still lighted at the foot of the bed, and withdrew. As soon as she was gone, Pamphilus embraced me closely; and after a few caresses, as we were weary and tired, sleep took over all our senses, and we both slept a long time. It was already broad daylight, when, waking up, I perceived the body of Pamphilus all uncovered; I must confess to you in good faith, my dear Tullie, that I looked at him and looked at him everywhere with extraordinary curiosity. No, I do not believe that among all men there is anything more beautiful and more amiable: all the parts of it are formed with unequalled regularity. He was lying on his back so much that I could contemplate him as I pleased: his stomach is white and well filled; his arms are long and of a perfect roundness; his thighs fat and robust; the belly moderately elevated; his legs neither too fat nor too thin: in short, he is a masterpiece of nature. His skin is white, and without any spot to render it deformed: one would have taken him, to see him thus, for a marble statue.

Tullie.

Was Pamphile's member also asleep? You don't say anything about it.

Octavie.

Would you believe it, Tullie? it is even formidable during its rest; it seemed as if he were threatening me: but what surprised me more was, that he drew fresh fires from my eyes, when I looked at him so attentively; they animated him, and communicated themselves to his spirits. It seemed that he was capable of conceiving some feelings of glory, of being thus regarded by his mistress; he moved and raised his head several times. These movements awakened Pamphile; and I, as soon as I perceived it, pretended to be in a deep sleep, and he turned round on my side. What, said he, are you still asleep, my darling? Ah! "Why," I replied, "do you interrupt my repose? Yet he kisses me, he kisses me, he caresses me; and after looking at me everywhere, with lascivious eyes and the most amorous in the world, he mounted on me and told me to remember my promise, that is to say, not to stir. This last time gave me much pleasure, and the tickling I felt was so great, that I did not keep my word, and I could not help jerking my buttocks with incredible speed. As soon as he perceived this, he redoubled his shocks, and let his Vit into the guards; I did not feel pain as before, I only heaved a sigh; I was immediately sprinkled with a liquid balm, which completed the cure of all my ills. Pamphilus swore to me that he had never tasted so perfect a voluptuousness as in this conjunction, "Behold, my dearest, how we passed the night; and after a few words, we fell asleep again until eleven o'clock in the morning, when we got up: you know the rest as well as I do.

Tullie.

Pamphilus is not so brave a horseman as I thought: to make only three races in one night, with such a fine steed, ah! it is cowardly to be satisfied with so little. It is not that I am surprised, Octavia, when I reflect on the length and size of her limb; for it is a certain thing, that almost all men whose lives exceed the ordinary measure of nature, are not so good fools as others.

Octavie.

I believe so, my cousin; but I am surprised that men are not always ready for battle, seeing that there is nothing so sweet as the pleasure we receive from it: they are cowards, if we compare them with us; we taste voluptuousness much more than they do, we are much more sensitive to it, and much more prompt to discharge.

Tullie.

I hear you well; you draw these truths from the warmth with which you have borne the assaults of Pamphilus: you would not be the daughter of Sempronia, if you were not as much in love as she; and you would have no relation to your mother, if you did not have a penchant for pleasure.

Octavie.

It is a mark of her virtue, that she has so well overcome this weakness: for whatever inclination she has had for entertainment, she has never done anything that could make her pass for a lustful woman.

Tullie.

I see, Octavia, that you do not know her as well as I do: you will let me tell you of her news?

Octavie.

You will make me happy.

Tullie.

You will know, then, that Sempronia, from her infancy, was inclined to pleasure; that Lucretia, Victorie, and I, who daily converted with her, became by her means the most lascivious girls in the city. We were then nine or ten years old, and Sempronia was twelve; she was very fond of Victorie, and had also a very tender affection for Lucretie and me. She was a part of all our childish amusements, and acted with us as if we had been of a different sex from hers: she called us her lovers; she said that she wished to teach us how to make love; she looked at us with languid eyes; she protested to us that she had nothing dearer in the world than we were; that she loved us desperately, and that she burned with a fire, that only we could extinguish it. All these amorous declarations were followed by a thousand kisses and caresses. We, who were too young to be sensible of all this banter, did nothing but laugh at all her manners, and innocently granted Sempronia all that she wished of us. We spent almost all the afternoons together, in exercising ourselves in these sorts of games, and sometimes she subtly passed her hand under our skirts, and handled for us with incredible ardour that part which distinguishes us from men. She put her fingers into it one after the other, and yet kissed us, slipping her tongue between our lips with extreme warmth: sometimes the amusement went further; for she made us bend our whole bodies to the ground, and then twist us up to the waist, and thus satisfied her sight by the nakedness of our front and back. She handled our buttocks, pinched them, bit them, and even kissed them with surprising transports; in short, there was no caress of which she did not notice, when she was in her fury. I remember that she sometimes played the mistress and governess; and making us raise our skirts, she whipped us with rods, when we had failed in some circumstance of the game: she often set our buttocks on fire; we were angry about it; and to appease us; she also laid herself naked before us, and obliged us to do the same. To avenge ourselves for the wrong she had done us, we gave her the whip one after the other; she endured it very patiently, although she made a few grimaces by form. I must confess to you, Octavia, that she had a beautiful body; there was nothing whiter, firmer, or more polished; her buttocks were admirable for their roundness and firmness. But let us return to our story: after we had grown weary of whipping her, she got up, and told us that it was her turn. She made us lie down at full length on our backs, and sleep on boxes; she made us open our thighs; and after a few caresses, she threw herself on us; (remark that we were all naked), and joining her part to ours, she stirred and shook as if she were of a different sex. Well, must not Octavia, a daughter of such a mother, be like Venus? eh, eh, eh, what do you say?

Octavie.

I will believe, Tullie, what you have just said, provided you let me know how it could have been done, that with so great an inclination to pleasure, my mother never did anything against her honour.

Tullie.

Ah, ah I do; just listen to me. Three or four months before Sempronia was married, we were all together one day in the afternoon amusing ourselves; his father and mother were absent; they had left her alone with her governess, who was at that time occupied in the affairs of the house, so that she was at liberty, and had nothing to fear from either side. She had a little page of fourteen, whose name was Mona Lisa; he was as handsome as an angel, and had a mind as pretty as his body; he sang pleasantly, and danced with marvellous skill. Sempronia, who presided over all our games, said that he must have been part of the party; we consented with joy, because he was very amiable: she therefore sent for him, after taking precautions against any surprise. As soon as he entered, he sang and danced with peculiar pleasure; but the game did not stop there. Sempronia had another intention; therefore she interrupted him at every step he took, she pushed him into the middle of a dance, and excited him by a thousand attacks to another amusement. O the beautiful girl, she said to us, pointing to it; how pretty she is! how amiable she is! Look, my companions, how wise and modest she is? I swear to you," she continued, "that it is not a man, but rather a young virgin, who dishonors our sex by covering herself with a boy's dress." Mona Lisa defended herself at first by rather witty repartee; but Sempronia told him so much, that she pushed him to extremity: he blushed according to the custom of young men, and tried to get rid of the rest of us by fleeing: but it was in vain, the game was not equal; and running after him, we soon recaptured this fugitive. We brought him to the foot of the bed, which was in the room. Ah! "It is now," said Sempronia, "that we must see whether it is a girl or a boy," she immediately passed her hand through the opening of her stockings.

Octavie.

What! and Mona Lisa did not defend herself? ah! ah! ah!

Tullie.

"Withdraw," said he, defending himself slightly; if you are not careful, I will see myself whether you are a maid or not." Sempronia, however, did not let go of her hold, she still held in her hands the instrument of this Adonis; and having drawn him out, she made Victorie and me touch him. We who were still poor innocents; we looked at him attentively, and admired how he could manage to make it so, that by the touches of Sempronia, he should lengthen and grow in size before our eyes. "Well, Mona Lisa," said your mother, "do you know the use of this piece of furniture, and what it can be good for?" "I have never experienced it," he continued; but I have no doubt what it can be used for. "Well, well," interrupted Victorie simply, "he must tell us." "I consent to it," said he, "provided it is one after the other; and this place," he continued, pointing to a little bed of tapestry, which was only a foot high, "will be fit to give us the necessary lessons: I will begin with Sempronia." He immediately took her by the hand, and made her lie on a Turkish carpet, with which the room was covered; he placed two cushions under her, one under her head, and the other under her buttocks, and found this place more convenient than the bed. "That," said he, "is now that I am going to tell you what you want; he immediately put on all his clothes, and pulled up the skirts of Sempronia as high as he could; he thus discovered the beautiful place which was to serve as a field of battle; he stretched out his thighs, and knelt between them.

Octavie.

What! did you see all this? Were you present at this show?

Tullie.

No doubt I saw him as you see me. Sempronia herself took the member of the Mona Lisa, and asked him, as he handled it, what he wanted to do with it. "I wish," said he, "to thrust it far into this slit which I touch; and immediately he threw himself on her belly to belly: after some effort, he went in. Sempronie cried out: "Ah, Mona Lisa! withdraw, you will wound me; You're hurting me. "Do you want me to leave the game?" "No, no," said she, "finish, since you have begun; but make a living. He immediately redoubled his shocks; and at every movement he made, Sempronie sighed, and said, "Eh, eh." She uttered no word, until she felt the approach of pleasure. Ah, ah, said Mona Lisa, kiss me, my Goddess, my Heart, my Love; Ah, ah! I piss, I piss. "And so do I," said Sempronia; Advance, my dear fellow, advance as much as you can: ah, ah! I can't take it any longer, I'm dying, ah! that this pleasure... Here she lost her speech, and a little afterwards added, "Is pleasant!" As soon as they had finished, your mother arose, and came to me: Ah! "My dearest," said she, embracing me, "how sweet is the amusement I have just taken! Ah, how amiable this game is! let us now quit," she continued, "all our childish jests; they have nothing approaching these exercises: in truth, Mona Lisa is a learned and agreeable master. As she finished these words, Mona Lisa kissed her. "What!" she said, "I feel all wet under my shirt; Where does this come from? Mona Lisa made her lift her skirts: "Take care," said he, "that no one is noticed by this widespread humour; for we would draw from this consequences that would be disadvantageous to us; he wiped it with a handkerchief. Victorie looked curiously: "And how," said she to Mona Lisa, "could it have been done?" What have you both done together, to be so wet? "Do you want to learn it?" said Mona Lisa. we have done what our fathers and mothers do, what those who are married do, and what I will do with you now, if you will. I will begin with the youngest, while I am still in a condition to give a second lesson.

Octavie.

This speech puts me in a strange astonishment! O my mother! What a life, or rather what a disguise!

Tullie.

"Victorie is the youngest and prettiest," I said to the Mona Lisa, "it is for her to begin." "You are equally beautiful and amiable," he continued, "and you will both taste it one after the other. He immediately slipped his hand into our bosom, to Victorie and to me; but he still found only the remains of our nipples; because they were not yet formed: they might well serve as ornaments, but they were too small to withstand attacks. "If these half-globes have not enough to please you," said Sempronie to the Mona Lisa, "you will find another place lower down that will make up for their absence." He smiled at these words; and throwing himself at the pass of Sempronia, he asked her permission to kiss her nipples, which had made a part of her happiness: she allowed him to do so; so he kissed them lovingly, biting and sucking the extremity. He made Victorie and me handle them: we admired them; for although they were not yet in their perfection, there was nevertheless nothing more amiable; they were firm, white, round, and of a beautiful and just distance. Mona Lisa was not satisfied with this, he touched Sempronia again under her skirts and her shirt, and made us contemplate her on and underneath. I must confess, Octavia, that after you I have not seen a body better taken: her thighs are round and chubby; her white and polished buttocks; its part is placed the most advantageously in the world: in short, it is a masterpiece, there is nothing more beautiful; and you would not be satisfied with your mother, if you were not as accomplished as you are. While we were thus staring at her, her Adonis was not content with satisfying her sight; he wanted all his senses to share the pleasure: he touched and handled it above and below; he kissed her indifferently everywhere. Ah, God! "Oh!" he cried, "let my condition keep me away from the possession of so beautiful a body!

Octavie.

And in the meantime, what was Sempronia doing?

Tullie.

She was not idle during this jest: she embraced Mona Lisa closely; she uncovered his buttocks, and handled them; she took her instrument from him, she stirred him up, and put him in such a good humour, that he called Victorie, telling her to look attentively at the beauty of Sempronia's behind: he took her by the arm, and threw her to the ground. Your mother rose at once to make room for them, and give place to their entertainment. Victorie tried to defend herself, but in vain; your mother and I took her one on one side, the other on the other: we had to yield to force; she consented to everything, provided, she said to Mona Lisa, that you did not hurt me. "Far from doing you harm," said he, "I wish to fill you with pleasure." So saying, he lifted up her skirts and shirt, and showed us the field of Venus in the open. He stood between his legs; he handled the part, opened it, put his finger in it; it was not yet covered with any hair, and its opening was so small; that it appeared only as a line a little sunken. "Courage, Mona Lisa," said Sempronia: "you are there in the posture of a suppliant, with your knees on the ground; What are you waiting for to return your adoration? He obeyed; and with the most amorous transports and sallies in the world, he kissed all the parts of that amiable body, without forgetting the principal one, which it seemed as if he wished to devour. What more do you want? this game set him on fire, he burned with love; and in search of refreshment, he threw himself upon this tender victim, and pierced it. She cried out at the first blow: "Ah! withdraw, I will not suffer this. All these cries were of no avail; for at the fifth shock, the Mona Lisa entered entirely, and made a copious discharge within.

Octavie.

What! Were you both present?

Tullie.

Surely, and we congratulated the Mona Lisa on having come to the end of so pretty a virginity. The affair being over, Victorie rose, and said innocently that she had just felt I know not what humour issuing from her slit. Mona Lisa immediately lifted her skirts, and cleaned her; we then saw blood mixed with the seed. Mona Lisa embraced him closely, and begged his pardon for the wrong he had done her: after this he spread out his handkerchief; and showing us the stains of blood with which he was marked, he told us that they were the marks of his triumph, certain proofs that he had fought with a virgin. "What, scoundrel," said Sempronia, "was I not?" "No doubt you were," he replied; but as your age made you a little more open, the marks of my victory were not so evident.

Octavie.

You make me pity, Tullie, to remain so long looking at others, and judging of blows without sharing their amusement.

Tullie.

Everything will have its time. You will know, then, that Mona Lisa was entirely dejected, and all her strength was exhausted. "Well," said I, "you are tired, you can bear it no longer, my poor child; and I look very much like I have come out of this wedding a widow, and have no part in the feast. "No, no," said Sempronia, "do not be afraid, you will be satisfied, and I am willing to endorse the Mona Lisa." "In fact," she continued, addressing him, "you need to regain your strength; go to my governess, and beg her on my behalf to send me the collation for me and my companions. He went there, and brought a little afterwards a large pie with jams, and a bottle of excellent wine. I first cut off a large piece of this pie, and gave it to the Mona Lisa, so anxious was I that it should soon be in good condition; he did not eat it, he devoured it, and drank a glass of wine, which I presented to him with the same avidity. Sempronia and Victorie had the same care as myself; every one gave him as he pleased: therefore he was soon satisfied. The collation being done, he took me by the hand, made me do two or three rounds of dancing, and then throwing himself at my collar, "Ah! my dear Tullie, you were afraid of coming out of this wedding a widow: do not be afraid, I am as vigorous as before. He kissed me; and after a few other caresses, he threw me on the cushions which had served Victoria and Sempronia. What more shall I tell you? he made me in two or three blows as he had done to the others.

Octavie.

So he found the entrance very easy?

Tullie.

Don't you know that we Italians are extremely open from our earliest youth?

Octavie.

You must at least except yourself from the rule as well as I do; for I could not have been deflowered except with sensible pains, and you told me that you had not been deflowered without difficulty.

Tullie.

No doubt, but here is the reason. We were married to two extremely membrus men; therefore it is not surprising that we appeared narrow to persons who could not find women too large for them. Orontes and Pamphilus may dispute it with any other; I even believe that they should scarcely yield to Priapus; and that if the good matrons of Lampsacus had had them after this master Couillaut had been placed in the rank of the gods, they would not have deplored his absence so much as they did. Do you know what Priapus was? Here is what he said of himself:

The pleasure I take cannot be small,

I never f... swimming;

And the reason is that my Vit

Can't find a Con too broad.

If we believe him, he was a master sire; Well! I believe that our husbands can say the same, because they take the prize over all the balls in the world. Sempronie and Victorie also confessed to me, that on the first night of their wedding, they had done the trick without any trouble on either side: it is certain, however, that their husbands are not badly divided, so it comes from another cause. There can be no doubt about it, Octavia; and it is a truth that the Italian and Spanish women are so split, that it seems that they were born rather for mules than for men. It is true that Mona Lisa had already opened the passage, and this is perhaps what made the entrance so easy.

Octavie.

In fact, it may well be: I did not reflect on it.

Tullie.

Alas! what I said about it was only in jest. The poor child had none at that time, longer than the middle finger, and the size of his invention did not exceed that of my thumb. The physicians say that those which are more than seven or eight inches long, exceed the limits of nature: and the reason they give for this is, they say, because the neck of the womb can ordinarily extend in venereal action only by this length; that a greater extension cannot be made without great work, and without inconveniencing the woman. The same is true of the size: for the member of the man swelling and becoming furious, as sometimes happens, the affair cannot be terminated without incredible pains and pains of the one who is being ridden. This, Octavia, is what I had to tell you of our amusements with Sempronia; Is your curiosity satisfied?

Octavie.

Assuredly, and you have taught me things that put me in the last surprise. I had hitherto believed that there was no woman more holy than my mother, and whose morals were more irreproachable: but I see the contrary; and I do not know how it could have been done, that my father, who is very suspicious, and who has an extraordinary delicacy on the point of honor, has never seen anything in her but praiseworthy. He loves her madly, and believes her to be the wisest and most honest woman in the world; but what is still more surprising, the backbiter which spares no one, and which publishes our most secret vices, has never censured her conduct, nor discovered in her the least defect that has given rise to criticism.

Tullie.

This should not surprise you: a prudent person always knows how to get out of trouble well; and most women who perish ought not to attribute the cause to their amusements, but only to the little precaution they take when they take them. There are some who do not wish to be loved quietly; they take glory in their infamy, and prefer to hear a little bad said of them, than not to hear of them at all. This is the true road to perdition; for you must know, Octavia, that it is not in the nature of things that praise or blame consists: no, it is in the use we make of them; and it is prudent to prescribe limits to ourselves, so as not to be blinded to our appetites, and to give occasion to say that we live without rule and without judgment. Imagine, my dear Octavia, that if you wish to live happily and contentedly in the state of marriage in which you are engaged, you must believe that there is nothing that is not permitted to you, and that all things are forbidden to you. It seems a little obscure to you.

Octavie.

Probably; for I do not conceive that the use of a thing can be permitted and forbidden at the same time.

Tullie.

Learn, then, that all that you can do conveniently, without offending the eyes of your servants and your husband, is permitted; and on the contrary, that what you cannot execute without danger is forbidden. This, in two words, is what should regulate all your actions; these are the true maxims which you ought to follow if you are wise, and to them alone I owe all my pleasures and amusements. It is only, Octavia, by their practice, that I have preserved my honor and reputation; you can do the same, if you observe them. We are all equally inclined to voluptuousness, we all have the same inclination to it; and good and bad: but it is to be remarked that the latter do not trouble themselves in the least about reputation; they prefer pleasure to all things, and this is what makes them pass for infamous. Among the others, there are some wise; but there are imprudent ones, who, taking false steps, perish for the most part in the flower of their age, or end their days in the darkness and obscurity of a prison, where poison and iron are the instruments that punish their too open conduct. It is not the same with those whose character is prudence: they live happily to the last breath; and the circumspection they use in all their actions, would make them pass for saints in the most infamous places, in the very midst of the brothel. You see, Octavia, that there are many paths that lead to the same end, that is to say, to pleasure, and that it is the wisdom of a woman not always to follow the most beaten. You understand all this.

Octavie.

Yes, Tullie, and I shall be obliged to you all my life, for these good and spiritual instructions: go on.

Tullie.

As soon as I was married, I applied myself particularly to know the temper of my husband; I examined his inclinations and inclinations, and I forgot nothing to have a perfect knowledge of them. After this, I considered three things: what was above me, what was outside me, and what was within. I looked upon religion as exalted above all things; and as she holds the first rank in politics, (though in nature she has none) I made a serious reflection on all the duties to which she bound me. I then saw for what I was indebted to all men, and finally what I owed to myself. I knew, therefore, that it was necessary that married women should be very religious, or at least that they should have the appearance of one; for you must know that she who is not virtuous in herself, if she makes her the character of it outwardly, is preferable to she who is in fact virtuous, but who does not appear to be so. A woman's happiness depends entirely on the esteem of her husband; she is happy, if she can pass in her mind for wise and honest; but, on the contrary, she is miserable, if her too open conduct gives suspicion of her irregularities. In the beginning of our marriage, our husbands love and cherish us on account of our beauty, and the other external pleasures which they find in our persons; but when these first furies of love are past, and they have had their fill of our embraces, they have for us nothing but a love of esteem, that is to say, if our conduct appears to them without reproach, and whether they believe us to be put to the test of gallantry.

Octavie.

I am beginning, my cousin, to enter into the direction of this morality; this great disguise of manners shocks me.

Tullie.

Ah, how difficult it is to reduce you! You must know that there is nothing but glory in masking oneself with virtue; one cannot cover oneself with a more precious veil, and all the wisdom of sex cannot find a surer way to pass one's life in pleasure.

Octavie.

What! a woman, then, ought to abandon herself to all sorts of vices, and have no regard for virtue?

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! you do not enter into my thoughts; far from having no regard for virtue, it must make an open profession of it, but in such a way that it takes care not to glorify it in a bad temper. She must temper this apparent austerity of manners by so much sweetness and charm, that, without it seeming that she has any intention of pleasing anyone, she is agreeable to everyone. Far from despising the laws and customs which are established by long usage, she ought to have them in veneration, and observe them with such exact regularity, that her life abroad differs in no way from honesty, while under this veil she seeks her amusements. It must appear a mirror of holiness outside, while those whom it wishes to make happy will confess that there will be nothing more lascivious. This conduct may surprise you: but you must know that it is less prejudicial to civil life than the practices of those holy and devout women, who do no good except for the purpose of making it appear evil; and this, they say, by a principle of virtue. O the beautiful virtue, which transforms good into evil! This, Octavia, is the end of the moral which I propose to you: Palàm vive omnibus, clàm & in tuto tibi: that is to say, that you must follow the sentiments of the wise, and the customs of the people; and that in reserving for yourself your most secret thoughts and actions, you must sacrifice to him the exterior, and all external appearances. It will be easy for you to observe all this; you have only to imitate your mother Sempronia.

Octavie.

I understand all this talk, Tullie; but why offer me my mother as an example?

Tullie.

You must know, Octavia, that your mother is as well known to me as you are: I have suffered her jests, as you have endured mine; and these are the rules which she prescribed for me as soon as I was married. You must look upon Orontes, she said to me, as a divinity on earth; you must cherish him, and almost adore him, and make yourself complacent to all the requests he may make of you, without imagining that they contain anything dishonest in themselves. These, Tullie," she continued, "are the prerogatives and privileges of man; and these are the advantages of womanhood. She must believe, if she is wise, that as she was born for the pleasure of her husband, all other men are in the world only for hers. The one is his own, and belongs to him by right; the other is common to her and her husband. She must change herself into as many figures as Protheus, to please her, if lust requires it of her: in a word, she must neglect nothing that can serve her lust; while her lovers, on their side, will put all their skill to use to satisfy theirs. This, Octavia, is how I treat myself with Orontes, and how I act at the same time with Cléante.

Octavie.

Very well, very well; I understand what your business is with Cléante.

Tullie.

I must, Octavia, give you in a few words a perfect idea of my conduct; Listen to me. Since I have been engaged in marriage, I have divided myself equally between Orontes and Cleante: I grant Orontes all that he wishes of me for his pleasure, even those things of which I receive none; and from Cléante, I ask only those that are sensible to me. One commands me, I order the other: my husband has the enjoyment of my body, I dispose of that of my Lover; I obey Orontes, I am Cleante's mistress. Reflect a little on the difference between the condition of a free woman and that of a slave; and think, my child, that in order to live happily, we must make an alliance of these two lives.

Octavie.

What! One cannot be happy without abandoning oneself in this way? God forbid that I should ever commit the slightest fault on this matter!

Tullie.

Octavia, do you remember the dream of which I was the interpreter?

Octavie.

Probably; but you may also remember the protestations I made, that I was always faithful to my dear Pamphile.

Tullie.

What! you are reckless enough to go against the fates; that is to say, to make war on heaven, and to imagine that you can overcome by your obstinacy what the gods have resolved?

Octavie.

How, Tullie, would you like to engage me in this kind of life which is so detestable? you would make me trample under foot the sentiments of honor which a young bride like me ought to have?" No, you do not speak seriously; and what you have told me about Cléante does not pass in my mind as true: I believe you to be too wise.

Tullie.

And I believe you to be the most stupid in the world; and you are infatuated with certain maxims which displease me in the last point. Will you be happy if I make you understand how you can preserve your happiness with the enjoyment of pleasure?

Octavie.

Certainly; but I cannot conceive that you will come to the end of it: for how can two things that fight each other and destroy each other in the same subject?

Tullie.

To instruct yourself in this truth, which seems to you a paradox, learn that the men of the present day have made new laws, and introduced into the world a worship which has no relation to antiquity. The virtues of our fathers' age are the vices of this one; and actions which were not done in the past time without reward, cannot now be practiced with impunity. Amid these stable engagements, and these strange revolutions, honor has taken its birth, and has in time taken possession of most minds. Do not think, Octavia, that there is anything real about her being. No, it has no other foundation than in our imagination; and you would be deceived if you thought that its nature was of a different matter from that of those objects of reason of which the philosophers speak, which owe their production to our fancy, and which have nothing in common with well-founded truth. This beautiful imagination was invented to keep persons of our sex in a rigorous duty; it is a pure idea and a chimera, which the malice of time obliges us to follow, while wisdom dictates us not to attach ourselves to it. Let us regret, then, my child, with a great man, the happiness of past centuries, when this Tyrant, who opposes all our pleasures, was entirely unknown.

...... What a Vano

Name fouza sogetto

Those who are malicious by mistakes, idols by deception

That which, from the insane vulgar

HONOR then on the details

(Who of our natural Tyrant)

Nori mixed his assanno

From le liete dolcesse.

Of the bitter flock,

It was his harsh law.

Nota à quell alme en libertate auvez ze

But the golden law, he is happy,

Che natura selopi, S' EIPTAGE EILGE[ws 1].

This, Octavia, is what honor is; this is the nature of this honesty, which seduces you; judge from this whether it is incompatible with pleasure, and draws from this reasoning the consequences which naturally follow from it.

Octavie.

I enter into your thoughts, my cousin; but to satisfy me entirely, tell me why you preached nothing to me so much as this honor, before I was married. What was the use of deceiving me in this way, since it was only a chimera?

Tullie.

Here's the reason, my darling. While we are girls, we are forced to run after these visionary ghosts, if we want to live happily. It is not the same when we are once engaged in marriage: there is no longer any infamy for us, we have the freedom to do everything; and this beautiful cloak which covers all our amusements, puts us above the blackest and least sparing calumny.

Octavie.

I surrender, Tullie, your reasons persuade me; I have only a few small doubts left, which you will clear up for me another time.

Tullie.

That is good; it is to be reasonable to allow oneself to be won over to reason. As for the doubts that remain to you, let them not tire your mind; I want to put you in the hands of a man who will remove all your scruples.

Octavie.

I hear you well; you speak of Cléante, scruples do not rise like the shirt. But please, my dear Tullie, tell me how you became his mistress; if it was given to you, or if it was by your address that you acquired it; by what artifices thou hast been able to conceal thy amusements from Orontes, and lastly, how hast thou closed his eyes, that he might not perceive the liberties which thou didst take to his prejudice?

Tullie.

I will, my little heart: I will tell you surprising things, in which your mother had a great deal, but of which you are ignorant, no doubt. You will know, then, that a little after Sempronia was married, she asked her mother to leave her Mona Lisa always in her service: she begged her to have him accepted by Pamphile, which she did; he consented to it without difficulty, and thought of nothing less than the trade they intended to maintain.

Octavie.

For six months, Mona Lisa has been married; and with all this he always remained at home, which is doubtless a prejudice of what happened; and when I recall to myself what I saw and heard, when they were together, and despised my infancy, I agree with what you tell me, and follow your opinion. No, I have no doubt of it, Mona Lisa slept with my mother.

Tullie.

As far as I can see, you know almost as much as I do on this subject.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! how badly my mother responded to the feeling of honor that people had for her person! how well she knew how to hide her defects under the false appearances of virtue! I have often seen them laugh and discourse together, when my father was absent; Mona Lisa was then Steward of the house. I remember that once, among others, my mother and I were alone in a room: she was working at an embroidery work; for my part, I jested in the manner of children of my age, with a cat that I pulled by the ear, and lifted up in the air. So I remember that Mona Lisa entered; and after greeting my mother, and saying a few words to each other in a low voice, he took her by the hand; and in spite of some resistance she brought, he withdrew with her from my presence. I thought they had left the room, and I was already glad that they had left me alone at liberty; when all of a sudden I heard the bed tremble, and some ill-articulated accents of my mother's voice, as if she had complained. I remained attentive for some time; but fear seizing me, I ran to the place where I heard the noise: my mother saw me, and came laughing to meet me, and took me in her arms: "What is the matter with you, my darling?" I was afraid, I said, when I heard you cry out, 'What hurts you?' "It was," she continued, "that when I left the room, I kicked against the bed with such force that it caused me a sensible pain. As for the Mona Lisa I did not see him, he was already gone.

Tullie.

But afterwards, did you discover nothing of their intrigues?

Octavie.

No, they avoided my presence as much as they could; and my mother was particularly careful not to do anything in my presence that might make me conceive any bad opinion of her person. On the contrary, she did her best to pass in my mind for a wise and honest woman, whose morals are irreproachable.

Tullie.

I know; and she begged me to entertain you in those sentiments of honor which you had conceived of her person, and to see to it that you should consider her the holiest woman in the country. I think, Octavia, that it is not necessary for me to recommend to you the secret which I am revealing to you, as to my most intimate one.

Octavie.

I should be a parricide, if I did not preserve the reputation of my mother, which must be dearer to her than life. Fear nothing on that side: I must only tell you how she has abused my simplicity. Three days before my wedding, she spoke to me thus: "The day after tomorrow, my daughter, you must be married, and consequently in the power of Pamphilus: now you are pure, you are chaste, you are a virgin, and you have but this little time to remain in this state of holiness; it will be followed by the filth and filth which are inseparable from the embraces of men: all the virtues that accompany virginity will abandon you at once; and all these advantages will desert you, if you do not make your efforts by some heroic action to restrain them. Reflect on this, my child, and think that as there is nothing more divine than a virgin daughter, there is nothing so low, more vile, and more contemptible than a daughter who has been defiled. But what! "What, mother," said I, "what do you wish me to do?" if you want me to keep my virginity unblemished, you can put me in a convent; I will consent to it to please you. "No, no, my daughter," she replied, "that is very far from my thoughts; and if you were not unique in the house, the love I have for you would never allow me to bury you thus alive in a cloister. "I only ask of you," she continued, "is to preserve your mind unblemished, as I have always done, and to withdraw your affection from all the filth with which your body must be defiled. It is also necessary, my dear child, in order to make a worthy oblation of your virginity, to make a sacrifice that prevents its loss, and another that follows it. I consent, said I; but to what sacrifice do you exhort me? "The sacrifice," she continued, "which I require of you, Octavia, needs your hands and mine to be executed: it needs great courage to be very meritorious; and I fear that you lack the strength for so holy a work. "No, no," said I, "I will be as brave as it is necessary, do not be apprehended." "I hope so," she said, "my dear child; promise me, then, that you will constantly suffer whatever I think fit to make you endure: I promised him. "Well, my daughter," she continued, "since you desire to be as wise and as good as you are beautiful and amiable, we will make this sacrifice to-morrow, after you have renewed in the temple the promise you made to me."

Tullie.

Really, you're not telling me anything new. Sempronia told me this story, giving a thousand praises to your courage, and laughing at your simplicity at the same time.

Octavie.

So there is no need for me to continue.

Tullie.

On the contrary, you could not give me greater pleasure than to inform me of its particulars; for your mother has only told me an abridged account of it.

Octavie.

You will know, then, that in the morning, as soon as I got up, and dressed in my richest garments that she had prepared for me, she conducted me to Father Theodore. You will easily know him, when you know that he is one of those who affect an apparent austerity of life, and a very peculiar severity of morals: everything preaches mortification and penance on them; and their beards, which they let grow, making their faces dry and attenuated, make them pass in the minds of the people as true mirrors of holiness. After we had said our prayers, he came to me in a chapel where I had retired with my mother: "Well, my dear daughter," said he, accosting me, "you have a mother who will spare nothing to make you as perfect as you ought to be." You must, as she has told me, be married in three days: you must therefore cleanse your soul of all stain, to make you worthy of heavenly grace, which cannot enter a heart soiled with the least filth. You must know, he continued, that if you are good, the children you bring into the world will one day fill the places of the rebellious angels in heaven; but if, on the contrary, you have any bad quality, they will be infected with it, and will go on the road to perdition, to increase the number of these wretches. "It is up to you," he said, "to choose." I was so ashamed that I dared not answer her. "Speak," he continued. I wish, said I, to be good, and that they should be good. Come closer. What more do you want? I placed myself at her feet, my mother withdrew a little, and I confessed to her even the least thought of which I thought I was guilty. When he heard what had passed between Pamphilus and me, and that I had already half tasted the pleasure, he was very near becoming angry. He reprimanded me severely; and after warning me to abhor past actions, he commanded me to obey blindly all that my mother commanded me. He beckoned him to come; and having drawn from his sleeve a small bundle of ropes, he gave it to him without unfolding it. "Do not spare your daughter," said he; serve him as an example; and you, do not be too indulgent. After this we left the church, and returned home.

Tullie.

Do you not admire, Octavia, how these people abuse our simplicity, how they reign?

Octavie.

Say rather how we mock them, and how we reign. As soon as we arrived at the house, my mother took me with her into a very secluded room, which has no view of our garden. She closed the door on us, and laughingly gave me this bundle of ropes to untangle; which I did, and I knew that it was a kind of whip, composed of five cords, tied with an infinity of small knots from distance to distance. Well! "My daughter," said my mother, "it is with this instrument of piety that you must prepare yourself for marriage; it must serve you as a purgation. The good father," she continued, "has ordered us both to punish ourselves; I will begin; you will follow me: but let not the severity with which I will treat my body terrify you; do not be afraid of it, and only think that during this holy exercise of piety, my spirit will taste sweetness that cannot be expressed.

Tullie.

You were trembling, my poor child, no doubt?

Octavie.

No, but I will confess to you that I did not believe that I had so much strength to endure, as I did, so hard and painful a work.

Tullie.

For it is said that there is nothing stronger and more constant than woman; when she obstinately endures something, she overcomes herself, and bears with admirable firmness pains that would weary the greatest courage. But keep going.

Octavie.

"What is the use of wasting time," said my mother, "by giving me a kiss?" undress me quickly, in order to expose those infamous parts of the body, which deserve all kinds of tortures." I obeyed him, and left him only his shirt; which she raised on her shoulders; then, kneeling down, and taking in her hand the whip of which I have spoken to you, "Look, my daughter," said she, "how this instrument of penance must be used; learn to suffer, by the example I am going to give you. Scarcely had she finished speaking, when I heard a knock at the door. I warn him of this. "I know what it is," said she, "do not be surprised; it is the good Father Theodore, who has no doubt come to help us in this holy exercise: he told me that he would not fail to do so, if he could obtain permission to go out. He knocked a second time: "It is himself," said my mother, "open the door for him quickly." "How," I replied, "do you expect him to see you naked like this?" "You do not know, then," said she, "that this holy man knows me to the depths of my soul, and that I must conceal nothing from him. She pulled down her shirt, however, while I opened it. The Father came in at once, and praised my mother for the good example she had given me. He then made a discourse on the subject, but with so much force and energy, that I almost warned him myself, to beg him to treat me with as much rigour as he could.

Tullie.

Oh God! Were you so mad?

Octavie.

You would have had difficulty in not surrendering, and he would doubtless have persuaded you. He proved to us by a polite speech; and apparently studied, that virginity without mortification and penance was in no way meritorious; that it was only a dry and sterile virtue; and that if it were not accompanied by some voluntary punishment, there was nothing more vile and contemptible. Doubtless, he continued, these must blush with shame, who strip themselves naked before men, in order to prostitute themselves to their lust; but on the contrary the others are praiseworthy, who do so only from a principle of piety and penance. If you consider the action of the former; you will find nothing but infamous; and if you cast your eyes on that of others, you will observe that it contains every kind of honesty: the one can only satisfy mortals, but the other is capable of charming the gods. Above all," he continued, "these kinds of punishments are of great use, when one knows how to take them in their time; they are like a living spring, whose miraculous waters have the virtue of cleansing women of all the filth they might have contracted: they have no other means of purging themselves than by suffering with as much firmness and patience the penance imposed on them, as they have tasted with sensuality the pleasures that were forbidden to them. Finally, he tells us, that in this way our soul was cleansed of an infinity of faults and crimes, which shame and modesty often prevented us from revealing for our own defence.

Tullie.

O the pleasant morality! ah! that these precepts are binding?

Octavie.

After all these speeches, he took the whip in his hand: my mother knelt down on his knees; I withdrew a little; always having his eyes fixed on her. Having therefore disposed herself, she begged Father Theodore to begin the holy work, (this was all her end.) Scarcely had she uttered the last word, when a hail of blows fell on her behind, which was exposed: he then struck her a little more lightly; but at last he put her in such a condition, that her buttocks, which had been very white and polished before, became red as fire, and made me horrified to look at them.

Tullie.

What! she did not complain?

Octavie.

Far from that, she seemed to me to be insensible; she only once let out a sigh, saying, "Ah, my father! but this executor of divine justice was angry. "Where is your courage?" he continued; You give your daughter a fine example of weakness! He then commanded her to bow her head and body to the ground: she did so; never did she present him more beautiful. Her buttocks were so exposed to the blows that they did not escape one. This lasted a whole quarter of an hour, after which the father said to him, "It is enough, get up, your mind must be content." She got up and came to me. "Well, my daughter," she said, kissing me, "it is now your turn to show that you have courage." I hope, said I, that I shall not miss him; What must I do, then? "Prepare your daughter for this act of piety," said the father; I hope she will be even stronger than you. However, I had my eyes downcast, without saying anything. Will you not answer my expectations? he said to me; I will endeavour," I replied. My mother during this speech undressed me; I had nothing left but my shirt, which she pulled up over my shoulders. As soon as I felt naked, out of modesty I covered my face, I wanted to kneel. It is not necessary, my mother tells me, to stand up straight. "Well, Octavia, will you be blessed," said the father, "and put yourself in the true way of heaven?" I hope so, I say. After this he gave me a few blows, but so gently that they tickled me more than they wounded me: "Will you, my dear child," he continued, "be able to endure more severe ones?" My mother answered for me, and said that I should not lack courage. Immediately, from the top to the bottom, I felt myself burdened with it, but with so much violence that I could not help crying, "Ah! it is enough, it is enough, have mercy on me, mother. "Be of good cheer," she said, "will you finish what is left yourself?" "Very well," said Father Theodore, "let us see how she will save herself." Take," he continued, "this holy instrument of penance; chastise, as it should be, this part, which is the seat of infamous pleasure. My mother showed me with her hand how I should do; I therefore gave myself two or three blows rather roughly; but I could not go on: I could not, said I, hurt myself; if you like, I am ready to suffer all from you: as I say this, I put the whip in his hands. She gave it to Father Theodore, because, she said, I should have more merit to endure from him than from any other. So he began all over again, murmuring between his teeth I know not what prayer; I wept, I sighed; at each blow he gave, I moved my buttocks in a strange manner. At last he tired me, I could resist it no longer, and I ran from one end of the room to the other, to avoid the blows. I can no longer bear it, I said, this work is beyond my strength. "Say rather," said he, "that you are a cowardly and heartless woman; Are you not ashamed to be the daughter of so brave a mother, and to act with so much weakness? "Obey," said my mother, "I consent," said I, "do with me what you will." She immediately bound my two hands with a silk cord, because they adorned my buttocks with many blows; she then laid me on the bed: I could no longer defend myself, and therefore I was whipped in the right way. While Father Theodore was striking me thus, she kissed me: courage, my daughter, she said to me, this holy work will soon be finished; and the more blows you receive, the more merit you will have. Finally, this high priest finished the ceremony. "That is good," said he; the victim has shed enough blood to make the sacrifice agreeable.

Tullie.

Oh Gods! What a sacrifice! Say rather, what cruelty! what butchery! & what an executioner!

Octavie.

This being done, my mother untied my arms, and gave me a thousand praises, for having endured so patiently so hard a labor for a girl like myself. Father Theodore also spoke to me several very obliging words, and after having pledged me to such a sacrifice, when I had lost my virginity, he withdrew. As soon as he was gone, my mother embraced me with great tenderness: "My daughter," said she, "you must pretend to be ill with a headache, in order to take the rest you need." For my part," she continued, "I am accustomed to these kinds of exercises, and I am not the more inconvenienced for it. She then washed my bottom with rosewater; then she went away, telling me to rest well, and that she would come back to see me in two hours.

Tullie.

Do you know where she went, and what she did while you were asleep?

Octavie.

No, I swear. As for me, I could not rest for a single moment, because my buttocks itched in such a way, that I could not remain in the same place without moving and turning in all directions.

Tullie.

O ! How happy you would have been, if fate had made you enjoy the embraces of Pamphilus! Sempronia knew how to take advantage of the weather, and sent for Mona Lisa, to whom she had recommended continence for a few days. That is why he came at once. He found your mother lying on a bed: she pretended to be asleep; but he easily awoke her; he throws himself at her collar, he kisses her, he touches her, he handles her everywhere; she, on her part, takes him by a place he could not resist: what more do you want? they did the whole thing, and amused themselves in a beautiful manner.

Octavie.

How did you learn things that apparently happened in secret?

Tullie.

It was Sempronia herself who confided it to me, she told me about it down to the smallest particulars. Mona Lisa did so three times in an hour, and she discharged seven times. She feared that you had heard something from your room, which was near hers, especially when, in the excess of pleasure, she cried out several times, "Courage, push, advance, ah! I am dying, my heart fails me.

Octavie.

This, no doubt, was what I heard, but I could not imagine what was the cause of it, or that Mona Lisa was in the party. You know that he has been married for six months, and that he has married a very beautiful and amiable young person, sixteen years of age, who was the natural daughter of my grandfather.

Tullie.

Say also that she is the best child in the world, and therefore the most unhappy, since your mother deprives her of the pleasures due to her by natural right.

Octavie.

I have often seen my mother blame her and reproach her with her birth. "A girl," said she, "born as you are of an infamous love, easily follows in her mother's footsteps: she answered nothing but by her tears and tears.

Tullie.

You will know that Julie (that is her name) was boarding with the nuns, where Thérèse your aunt is Superior, when Mona Lisa was planning to settle down, complained to your mother that he had not yet received any salary for all his services. "I am entirely yours," said he; but what have I received from it, that can lead one to believe that I have the honor of belonging to you? What care have you taken of my fortune, you who know that I sacrifice myself entirely for you? If the fates carried you off, what would become of me? Besides the extreme displeasure I should have at having lost what I would have dearest, I should still be plunged into extreme misery. "Get rid of all these frivolous fears," said Sempronia, "I will put everything in order; and I have formed a design to marry you to a girl, who will be so beautiful and rich that you may not wish for a more accomplished one. I will endow her myself with my money, and will do things in a manner that will give you reason to praise yourself for my liberality. "I have," she continued, "six thousand crowns of gold in my study, of which my husband has no knowledge; I will put them in your hands, if you wish, from now on." "I am infinitely obliged to you," said Mona Lisa, "and I shall never forget such considerable benefits: I place myself," he continued, entirely to your discretion; do with me whatever you will, there is nothing I do not do to please you." "You know Julie," replied Sempronie, "whom I had brought up from an early age with the nuns: it is she whom I intend for you, there is nothing more beautiful or wiser than this child." Mona Lisa accepted it with joy, the contract was made, and Julie was placed in his hands.

Octavie.

It had already been some years since Mona Lisa had been steward of the house, and had taken care of all our property, whether in town or in the country. My father has always praised his conduct, and I am not surprised that, in recognition of his services, he received Julie in marriage. But what were the laws of the contract?

Tullie.

The laws were that the six thousand gold crowns should be paid in four years. That they would, in the meantime, be put to a merchant, who would count them, when the time expired, to Mona Lisa; that he should nevertheless receive the revenue, provided that he kept his word concerning the articles of which they had agreed the price, and here are the conditions. First, that Mona Lisa would not associate with Julie except as Sempronie thought proper. That he would not even consider her as his wife, if she desired him of him. That he would obey exactly all that she wished to command him, whether she did it orally or in writing. That he should have the care of the goods of the house as before, and that he should live in the apartment which it should mark out for him. Finally, that he would be entirely at his discretion.

Octavie.

That is to say, Julie was married and widowed all together.

Tullie.

You are right: for from the first night of her wedding, the Mona Lisa was forbidden to ride her more than twice; yet Sempronia wanted to have the best of it; and having put the newly-bridegroom in a humour, he did business with her as many as three times. After which she sent him back to poor Julie, weary and annoyed. The next day she questioned her very curiously about her health, and asked her how things had happened, whether she was still a virgin, or whether she had lost her virginity. At first Julie answered him only by her silence, her eyes and face covered with modesty. Sempronie pressed her so hard that she confessed to her that her husband had twice enjoyed her. He knew how to allow Mona Lisa to do the same the next night, and your mother made Julie take the chastity belt in the morning. The part of this amiable child was put in chains by this means; her husband was forbidden to touch her until eight days had expired. Strange thing! from that night to this day, she has only taken the entertainment fifteen times.

Octavie.

But what virtue can this girdle have to make women chaste?

Tullie.

You will learn it. When Julie got up about ten o'clock in the morning, Mona Lisa came in with this instrument which he had received from your mother: he unfolded it before her; she smiled, and innocently asked him what work it was. "It is a work," he continued, "which ought to preserve you in honesty; it is a remedy against all the weaknesses of the sex; which is called the chastity belt. Sempronia, my Lady and mistress, has borne this one several years; and it is by means of it that she has acquired such a good reputation. I hope that it will be as profitable to you.

Octavie.

Tell me a little bit about how it's done.

Tullie.

The chastity belt with which Julie has been girded, consists of a small gold grill joined to four steel chains, covered with a very thick velvet, two of which support it in front, and two behind. The ends of the chains are joined on the loins, and are attached to them by means of a lock and a very loose key. This grill is the length of six fingers, and three wide; so much so that it occupies all that space called the perineum, that is to say, from the foundation to the top of the opening of the woman's part. It is composed of three rays distant from each other, as far as is necessary, to give passage to the urine, but too close together to be able to give entry to the little finger. Ah! Octavia, how a poor Con ironclad like this is prevented from his countenance! how much he is to be pitied!

Octavie.

Say rather that he is happy, since it puts him to the test of all foreign attacks. But what did Julie say to all this?

Tullie.

Which you will perhaps say in a short time, for they are working to make you captive soon.

Octavie.

I did not know what Pamphilus meant to me, when he spoke to me, some time ago, of this mysterious girdle. He said that there was nothing more useful to an honest woman, and that my mother advised him to have her taken to me.

Tullie.

"What do you want me to do?" said Julie. (seeing that her husband threw the covers of the bed downstairs:) "Put one of your feet in these chains," said he, "and the other in these." When she had passed them both, he raised his belt upwards, and put the grill in front of his part; and joining the ends of the chains to his loins, he fastened them behind, and closed the lock with the key. "It is now," said he, "that your honor is safe: are you not sorry for it?" "No," she replied, "well, get up," said Mona Lisa to her, "and walk about the room." She got up at once, and made two or three turns, not so conveniently as before, because the width of the grill obliged her to spread her thighs, for fear of hurting herself. "You will get used to it afterwards," said her husband, "and it is no wonder that it gives you a little trouble at first." Afterwards he made her whole body bend to the ground, and in this posture he looked at her attentively: he could not sufficiently admire the beauty of her buttocks; for it seems, Octavia, that nature has taken pleasure in forming them, so beautiful are they. He tried, if he could pass his little finger between the grill and the skin; but he could not, and he knew that there was nothing to fear, either before or behind. He went quickly to Sempronia: "It is now, madam," said he, accosting her, "that I come to bring you two keys: but, please," continued he, (showing her his bent instrument, "all on fire, take this one first." "I consent to it," said Sempronia, "and I will receive him with a good share." She immediately put herself on her clothes, and lifted up her skirts and shirt; he laid her on a little bed, and finished the affair to the satisfaction of both parties. He then had a long conference with her. "I wish," said she, "to tell you now how I pretend you used it with Julie, I want you to have no intercourse with her, except to have children; for pleasure, when you wish to take it, I understand that it will not be with any one but me; that you shall be her husband, and my lover together: and in order that she may believe that all other men do not act in any other way with their wives, I will not put the key into your hands except every fortnight, and you shall not use it until you have tasted the pleasure with me twice; for it would be dangerous for her to experience once what you can do. "As I have no doubt," she continued, "that, being young as she is, she has a great inclination for voluptuousness, I will beg Mother Teresa, my good friend, to extinguish her fires a little by fasting and penance. As for you, Mona Lisa," she continued, "if you are always very constant, and cherish me as you have done hitherto, you will test how far the liberality of a woman can go when she loves; but on the contrary, if I acknowledge you to be unfaithful, and perceive that your love grows cold. I already declare myself your irreconcilable enemy. "I accept these conditions," said he, "they are too advantageous for me to refuse: yes, Sempronia," he continued, "I receive them from the most amiable of all women: Julia will be your slave, I place her at your disposal; and even if you wish, I will not sleep with her at all. "God forbid," she said, "that I should thus separate those whom I have been pleased to unite." I only ask you to let me know when you see that she will lean towards the flesh, so that I may put things in order by sending her for a few days to the nuns where she was a boarder. As for the fires with which she will enliven you by her touches, you can come and extinguish them in my embraces. That, Octavia, is how far your mother's jealousy goes, who wants to possess the Mona Lisa all alone.

Octavie.

For it is extreme, and I believe that you have lost by it.

Tullie.

You are right: for Mona Lisa loved me, but she turned him away from me; and in order that I might have no reason to complain, she gave me Cléante in her place. He is a well-made and accomplished young gentleman; there is only one thing that prevents him from being esteemed equally by everyone. You will know, Octavia, that in the fervour of youth, he embraced one of the most austere filth that is established: he recognized some time afterwards that his step had been a little too precipitate, and that he had fallen into a trap, thinking to find a treasure. So he returned to his country; and took off the habit he had put on. He then tried to marry some party worthy of his condition, but this change of life, which was passed off as a levity, was a considerable obstacle to it; and all his great possessions and other qualities, which ought to have made him commendable, were entirely useless to him: so true is it that the world judges of things only with extreme ignorance, as if a man who had come out of a cloister were made in a different manner from others. These are prejudices of our mind, which allows itself to be tyrannized by usage and custom. But let's not stray from the subject. Cléante, therefore, seeing himself thus discouraged, would think no more of marriage, but came to this city, and, as you know, lodged for some time with your father, who is allied to him. This was the occasion of our acquaintance, since, as I went very often to your house, scarcely a day passed that I did not see him; I liked him at first, but his conversation engaged me more than anything else. One day, among others, he seemed to me more amiable than usual, and his conversation charmed me: Ah! "Madam," said he, with a very engaging air, "how happy Orontes is to have for a wife a person so amiable as you! if I only dared to hope to have you for a friend, I would prefer my condition to that of the gods. Sempronia had no sooner noticed that he loved me, and that he was not indifferent to me, than she endeavoured to bind us both together. Ah! "Tullie," said she; you do not know Cléante: if you can once be mistress of her heart, there is nothing in the world that can take her away; his constancy is known to me as well as his generosity: hating to the point that he makes all his relatives, his possessions, which are considerable, will doubtless come at your disposal. What more do you want? a woman who sees herself loved, finds it very difficult not to love. I surrendered; and Sempronia, who took care of the whole affair, made Cléante agree on the following conditions. That he would cede to Orontes by a public deed a part of his property; and that he would declare him his universal heir in case he should die without a will; that I, on my part, would make him an obligation with my hand, by which I would give him complete power over my body; but that it should not be placed in his hands, until he had previously fulfilled his promise, by the contract of which we have spoken. He thought himself only too happy to be able to possess me at any price; therefore, shortly afterwards, with the consent of those who were interested, he made the cession which had been agreed upon. I found myself that same day at Sempronia's, where he was. As soon as he saw me, he came and threw himself at my feet: Ah! "Amiable Tullie," said he, "allow me to enjoy your beauty; I have kept my word, fulfill yours: it is reasonable, said Sempronia; and if you both know your advantages, you will live happier than the gods; however, do your business. Saying this, she went out, and shut the door after her.

Octavie.

What did Cléante do then?

Tullie.

He rose, gave me a thousand kisses, handled my nipples; and defending myself as a person who wishes to be conquered, I allowed myself to be thrown on the bed: he pulled up my skirts and my shirt, and put his right hand to my part. Ah! "Leave me," said I, "withdraw, you will ruin me." However, he closed my mouth with his kisses; and throwing himself on me, he put me on; he presses, he pushes, I complain; and all at once I feel a dew flow with so much abundance, that I can say that I had never felt a similar one before. He did not stop for this, he always redoubled his jerks, and I discharged twice more during these movements. At last he did his duty, and made a sweet mixture of his seed with mine.

Octavie.

You have a Hercules there, no doubt, as you are wont to say.

Tullie.

You may judge by this; for after all these masterful blows, he was as vigorous as before: (I am not telling you anything by exaggeration) since without making a joke he discharged for the third time. Up to this moment I had endeavoured to preserve a remnant of modesty, but I could not preserve it any longer; I forgot myself of what I was; and as if completely transported, I raised my belly and thighs, and excited by a thousand movements him who gave me so much pleasure. He gave me a kiss; and putting a hand under my buttocks, "I perceive," said he, "my dear Tullie, that you are beginning to be sensitive, courage, go on." "I can't take it any longer," said I, "I am beside myself, I am dying, relieve me," said I, "I discharged. Cléante perceived this; and having redoubled his jerks, he shared in the pleasure; we both remained embraced without any movement.

Octavie.

Ah! you excite me with this speech! it seems to me that all this is happening in my own home, and I am very moved.

Tullie.

Cléante, having recovered from his ecstasy, gave me a kiss, and told me that he did not end the combat by such slight attacks, and that I should have reason to complain of him, if he did not show more vigour with so amiable a person. I wanted to get up, but I found myself so weak that I needed his help to get on my feet. Ah! "I can't take it any longer," said I, "you have wearied me so much that I cannot walk; I am even afraid that my strength will fail altogether before I am back home. "It is nothing," he said; you have only to take a little rest: for my part," he continued, "I am fresh and cheerful, and ready to do the same again." As he finished speaking, your mother came in, laughing, and singing a rather plump song. "Well," she said, "have you agreed?" Is your business done? Ah! "I can bear it no longer," said I, "I can scarcely support myself." "Bagatelle: how did you find Tullie," she said, "to Cléante, did you like her?" "No doubt," he continued, "and she would be to the taste of the most delicate of all men: I do not believe," he continued, "that any one can taste a more perfect pleasure than that which she has given me; I have found in it all that voluptuousness can have that is sweetest and most piquant. "And you, Tullie, what do you say?" she continued, coming up to me. I certainly liked him, I told him; but I am sorry for him for having broken my loins, and for having tired me so much that I can scarcely walk three steps. She only laughed at my complaints, and told Cléante to retire, that I might take a little rest. She led him to the door, after he had taken leave of me, giving me a kiss. "It is now," she whispered to him, "that you must tell me your opinion concerning Tullie; speaks without fear, our speech will not reach his ears. Alas!" he replied, "I have nothing new to tell you on this subject; it has surpassed my expectations; she is even more amiable than I could imagine: she is the most beautiful body that can be imagined; his wit is no less charming: in short, I am under a thousand obligations to you, because, by your means, I possess so accomplished a person. "Try to see to it," he continued, "that I can spend a few moments with her to-day." She told him that Orontes was to sup with you, and that I would therefore stay all day. After this she came to me: I questioned her about her interview with Cléante, she confessed everything to me; I was not sorry to hear it: she then withdrew, to let me rest.

Octavie.

Do you fall asleep easily?

Tullie.

No; and scarcely had I closed my eyes, when Sempronia returned with a very ample collation. "Get up," she said, "and try to recover your strength." I got up, and drank, and ate so well, that I was entirely recovered. An hour later we heard a knock at the door; it was Cléante, who, on entering, bowed to us very seriously, because there were some servants present: your mother found means of getting them out by giving them some occupation, and we were left alone, all three. "That," said Sempronie, as she began the interview, "is now that you must think of taking just measures, to live happily for the rest of your days; for if Orontes took the least umbrage at your amusements, all would be lost. "If Tullie," replied Cléante, "will settle by my advice, we shall have nothing to fear from her husband, even if he were the most enlightened of all men." "I am yours," said I, "and I will follow whatever you think fit to order me on this subject." "I know," he continued, "the mind of Orontes perfectly; he is neither good nor bad, but capable of all sorts of impressions: I wish to win him in a short time, in such a way that he will have no better friend than I: I will penetrate his most hidden thoughts, and I will spare him so well that I will be of his most secret confidence. In short, Tullie," he continued, "put everything into my hands, and do not be apprehensive, but take care not to do or say anything that may give the least umbrage to our amusements." "I will do my character well," said I; it is enough that I told you that I would be obedient to you. "Well," he continued, "give me a proof of it now, kiss me; I am willing to do so, said I: I ask for perfect pleasure; I say nothing: what! "Will you refuse me in this way?" said he? "Use your right," said Sempronia; do you want her to mount you herself?" fear nothing, I will act as a sentinel at the door." As soon as she had retired, he threw me back on the bed; and throwing himself on me, he knew me. Ah! my dear Tullie," said he, "show me now that you have love for me." Have I not made it appear to you enough, by abandoning myself to all your inordinate desires? "Do well," he continued, "your character. "I will not fail to do so," I told him. At the same time he pushed vigorously, and I answered him with movements of the buttocks made so opportunely, that they soon led him to pleasure: he warned me of it by a kiss: I excited him again, he discharged; and I was so tickled by this flow of semen, that I followed it very closely. Ah! I can't take it any longer, I said to him, I'm dying, ah! ah... Sempronia interrupted us: "Make a move," she cried, "I hear Orontes coming upstairs." I immediately threw my rider down with a blow of my ass: alas! the poor child had not finished; Drops of this divine rain were still falling when he messed up. A moment later, your mother said to us: "It's nothing, don't be afraid, I was mistaken, go on." No sooner said than done. Cléante climbed back on top of me; and after a few shocks, he discharged as if he had done nothing before. and I even believe that without Sempronia, he would have made the three races without unbridling. It is sufficiently played, she tells us; you will find it better another time, if you leave it with appetite. She then looked at my clothes and my dress, lest something should be noticed which would discover our entertainments. This, Octavia, is how our marriage was made at your mother's, to whom I owe all the pleasures I have since enjoyed with the one she has given me. He is a Hercules for his strength, and an Adonis for his beauty; he is honest, civil, agreeable in all that he says; and moreover, I am free from all those opinions which subject us to so many mysteries: although I love him very much, I will not be jealous of him, and I will see that you spend a few moments with him.

Octavie.

Very well, very well, when the feast comes, we will put it up: go on forever.

Tullie.

We supped at your house, Orontes, Cléante, and myself; there was no extraordinary company. I will not tell you what our conversation was; but only you will know that as soon as Orontes returned to our house, he gave me the panegyric of Cléante. He told me that he found him very honest, very civil, and very witty, and that he felt much inclined to make a close friendship with him. However, as Venus follows Bacchus very closely, he became animated at the sight of my bosom, which he perceived when I was undressing to go to bed. He took me by the hand, and led me into his study: "It is necessary," said he, "my dear Tullia, that this place should be consecrated to Venus and the Muses." After these words, without further ceremony, he shoved me up and kissed me; he presses, he pushes, he shakes; and taking my buttocks with both hands, he pulls them with all his might, and draws them back with so precipitate a movement, that I discharged the first. Ah! "Make a living," said I, "I can bear it no longer, you are making me die of pleasure." He obeyed me, and did his duty as well as I could wish. The matter being over, he made me sit down beside him, and said to me, "I wish," said he, "my dear child, that we should now agree on a thing together." I consent, said I, to whatever you wish; you know that I am entirely yours, and therefore you have only to speak, and to tell me what you desire of me. "I know," said he, "that you are very wise; and although the most learned women do not always pass for the most chaste, I do not doubt your honesty: nevertheless I fear for your virtue, if we do not both find the means of putting it to the test of all the weaknesses that could tarnish its lustre. What! "My heart," said I, "whence can you come these sudden fears?" What reason have you to be so alarmed? "Nevertheless," I continued, "I do not wish to divert you from your design. "I wish," said he, "to make you take the belt of chastity: that ought not to annoy you." If you are wise, as I believe you are, you must not oppose it; and if, on the contrary, you were not honest, you would see that I would be angry with you. I will suffer from you, said I, whatever you wish, and even with joy; since I desire nothing so much as to be yours alone, and preferably to all other men, whom I have an aversion, or at least despise: I promise you, I will not speak to Cléante any more, I will not even look at him any more. Far from that, replied he, I mean that you should act familiarly with him, with honesty, and I beg you to see that neither he nor I have cause to complain of you; him, if you treat him too harshly; and I, if you give him too much freedom. But the girdle will put us out of all these fears, and all things will be permitted to you as soon as you are clothed with it: in the meantime, I shall not be sorry if you avoid his conversations. After this, he took the measure of the belt on my body, with a silk cord; and to flatter myself a little, "I will see to it," said he, "my dear, that you will have reason to praise me, even when it seems that I am doing you an injury." The chains that will hold your honor captive will be of gold, the grill, which will be like the door of the palace of love, will be likewise, but moreover, adorned and enriched with so many jewels, that the merit of a slave may be judged by the inestimable price of her fetters. I have chosen for Goldsmith, Dominico; he is a man who works the best in the city, and who is much obliged to me. I asked him when this would be done; he told me that he hoped it would be finished in a fortnight: after which we went to bed, and he did the trick that night three times, rather vigorously.

Octavie.

How Venus loves you, to favor you nine times with her caresses, in so short a time! but had you strength enough to bear so many assaults bravely?

Tullie.

Certainly. Seeing that Orontes could scarcely discharge at the third blow, I pushed and shook him so violently, that he did his duty, not so well as on other occasions; but what do you want? from a bad payer we get what we can from it. Sempronie came to see me the next day, and I told her all that had happened, and begged her to inform Cléante of it.

Octavie.

He had no dealings with you that day, then?

Tullie.

Not only for this one; but for a whole week we had not the least private interview, and with good reason, because Orontes always had his eyes on us, as well as several servants who were at his discretion. "Kiss me, Octavia; I cannot look at you without remembering a French gentleman, who resembled you very much in face: there was nothing so amiable, and I amused myself with him, being at Rome, with much satisfaction; it was followed on the same day by three others, who also took pleasure with me.

Octavie.

O Gods! no kidding; what! "You would have tired four men in the same day?"

Tullie.

No doubt, and I will speak to you about it another time: but let us return to Cléante. He was with us the day before yesterday, when Orontes said that he intended to go and spend a few days at a country house, which we have in the March of Ancona. Cléante offered to accompany him there; he was glad of it, so that he would not stay in town with me. They spent eight days there together; and Cléante knew so well how to make himself master of Orontes' mind, that he could not be a moment without him: he opened his heart to him, and confided to him his most secret thoughts. He told her, among other things, that he thought himself fortunate that he had a wife who was very wise, very honest, and very beautiful at the same time. "Assuredly," said Cléante, "it is an advantage the greater for you, as it is rare at present, and few possess it." For my part," he continued, "I believe that a husband can assure himself of his wife's honesty as to her good faith; that he can rely on the care of the servants, but I think that the safest thing is to entrust the custody of them to a cadenat. The woman's weakness is great; servants may be corrupted: but a lock is proof against all deception. "I am of your opinion," said Orontes, "and I have already given orders to Dominico; famous goldsmith of this city, to work on a belt for my Tullie. "It is wisely done," replied Cléante; and I am the more glad of it, as I wish to form a close friendship with you, I shall have nothing more to disturb it: for I will confess to you, continued he, that as we are for the most part a little suspicious, and not being able to dispense with being often with Tullie when I see you, I should have feared that this would have given you Martel in your head; which would have kept me in extreme embarrassment. But after you have put her on the belt, there will be nothing more to fear on your side, and I will have nothing to apprehend from mine. "Besides," he continued, "allow me to go to town to-morrow, to be here the next day, because I must receive letters of importance; you know that it is post-day, and you are not ignorant that in doing my business, I am doing yours. Thus came here the tenth. Orontes charged him with two letters, one of which was for me, and the other for the goldsmith, with orders to urge him to finish the work he had in his hands. "Above all," said he, as he left, "keep secret what you know of it; for Tullie would die of displeasure if she believed that I had made my suspicions known to any one but herself. As soon as he arrived in town, he fulfilled his commission with the goldsmith; and then came to the house, where he found me alone with Sempronia. He gave me Orontes' letter, and showed us the design of the work which was being worked on for me. He mocked me on this subject: I told him that he had more reason to grieve, if he loved me, than to rejoice in the slavery in which I was about to be. Ah! my dear Tullie," he cried, full of joy, "I am the happiest of all men. "What new subject of happiness have you?" said I. "Learn it," said he, "since you have a share in it." "While I was at the goldsmith's," he continued, "I had sufficient skill to be able to divert him from his work, and to imprint on wax the shape of the key of the lock which is prepared for you, without his noticing it. Ah! what fortune! called Sempronia; it is the true means of living both happily for the rest of your days: you will possess the spirit of Orontes, and you will enjoy the body of Tullia. Cléante then informed us of the measures he had taken to advance so strongly in the good graces of my husband. I was surprised that he had come to an end of it so easily, because Orontes is quite enlightened. "Not so much talk," interrupted Sempronia, "supper awaits us, and after that I prepare to sleep with you, Tullie." "What shall become of me, then," said Cléante. Do not trouble yourself, we will put it in order.

Octavie.

He slept, no doubt, in the midst of you both, and gave you a taste of both?

Tullie.

No, you are mistaken, because your mother had taken her belt; and your father, who had left in the morning with the Mona Lisa to go to Verona, had taken the key with him. Cléante was first conducted to a private apartment; but after all the people had withdrawn, he came to us, as we had agreed. He approached the bed, on the side where I was lying, and at the same time gave me a kiss. I will not tell you, Octavia, all the follies and jests he has done with me and your mother; you will only know that we both tasted pleasure up to ten times.

Octavie.

O goodness of Venus! you surprise me: and scarcely has Pamphilus, on the first night of my wedding, gone as far as three.

Tullie.

Oronte once made up to eight races in one night. Mona Lisa also did them with your mother. But this is nothing compared with Cléante, he has an inexhaustible source of seed that never dries up, and is as vigorous at the last as the first cavalcade.

Octavie.

Did my mother sleep all that time? or did she judge blows, without taking part in them?

Tullie.

She had reason to be pleased with the previous night, when her husband had passed her six times, and Mona Lisa three in her turn, before she left with your father.

Octavie.

What did poor Julie do then?

Tullie.

I will tell you when you have told me what became of poor Octavia after she was deflowered: for I fear much for her; Father Theodore makes me tremble.

Octavie.

Ah, ah, ah! you do well to remind me of it.

Tullie.

You laugh: that is to say, you did not keep your promise, and the loss of your virginity was followed by no ceremony?

Octavie.

You are mistaken, the sacrifice was made, but the pleasant thing is that the pain it caused me served to make me taste pleasure with more sensitivity. You will know, Tullie, that three days afterwards my mother informed me of the vow I had made in the hands of Father Theodore: "Do you think," said she, "of making the funeral of your virginity?" "Yes, mother," said I, "and I will discharge these last duties when you please." She took me at my word; and without delaying any longer, we went to the good Father. He told us to come back in the evening; we returned to it; and he led us into a sort of secluded chapel, which had no communication with the outside: he closed the door on us, and told us not to be afraid, because he was master of the place. After this he gave us a discourse on the fruits of penance, and on the great advantages that were derived from it; he had his eyes downcast, his head uncovered, and spoke with so much fire, that it seemed as if he were persuaded of all that he said. This animated me so much, that I believe I would gladly have sacrificed my life, if he had commanded me to do so. As soon as he saw me thus disposed by his exhortations to suffer whatever he thought proper to make me endure, he told me that my mother would serve me as an example. I was so transported, that I feared more for her than for myself: "It is not necessary," said I; it is only I who am guilty, and my mother has no part in the loss of my virginity. "You will excuse me," said she, "since I have consented to it, besides that I will not suffer you alone to have the merit."

Tullie.

O the pleasant dispute!

Octavie.

"This is a holy emulation that pleases me," said Father Theodore; I will now see which of the two has the more courage. In the meantime I undressed my mother: I left her only her shirt, which she pulled up; and kneeling before the Father, she begged him not to spare her, and to punish above all with rigor, this infamous part, which was (as she said) more guilty than all the others. He asked him where was the pious instrument which was to punish all these crimes; she said that she had forgotten it in the pockets of her coat: she bowed to take it; and yet I considered attentively all the beauties which this posture exposed to my eyes: I admired her white, firm, polished buttocks; nothing more beautiful can be seen.

Tullie.

You don't say anything about the beautiful place?

Octavie.

I had a little difficulty in seeing him; I perceived, however, that he was perceived. Father Theodore having taken the whip in his hand, and muttering I know not what prayer between his teeth, he charged it with blows with such violence, that it would have been able to make me change my resolution, if I had not been very constant. "Bend your body," said he, "so that this part which the law of marriage subjects to a thousand pollutions, may receive the punishment it deserves." She obeyed, and this situation revealed to my eyes the way that leads to pleasure: I looked at it with extraordinary curiosity. He was clothed with small hairs, very brown and curly; the opening in the middle was red; and the mountain which surrounded it was of such an elevation that Venus would wish it for herself. This amiable part was exposed to torture as a criminal, and this executioner in disguise ill-treated them with unexampled cruelty. Ah, ah, ah! she cried at the moment when he was making her all bleeding, "ah! I can bear it no longer: my heart fails me; a little truce; you strike too hard for me to bear." "You are laughing," said he, and continued with the same rigor. She did not change her posture for this reason; she only heaved a few sighs, and shed tears. "Stand up straight now," said he: she rose, and I was much surprised to see that this holy man went to her side; I did not know for what purpose.

Tullie.

This holy man! say rather this executioner, since the blood, tears, and sighs of so amiable a person as Sempronia, were not capable of softening him.

Octavie.

In fact, it seems that he was not in the least affected by it; for he had only approached her in this way, to contemplate her more closely, and to touch her more keenly. At last this great work was finished, the storm ceased, and my mother, having kissed the earth, arose, and dressed. "It is now for you, my daughter," she said, "to take my place. "I am prepared for it," I said. She helped me to undress, and raised my shirt over my shoulders: "Be of good cheer," she continued, "and think that the more you suffer, the more pleasure you will also taste." I will gladly endure all the blows I receive from you. "It is not for me," she resumed to perform this office: "it is for Father Theodore; and you will have much more merit in taking this mortification from a holy man than from me, who am a sinner like you. "Will you," she continued, "bind your hands, in order to prevent the obstacles you might bring to this exercise?" "I consent," said I. This was done at once, but in such a way that I had no means of defending myself.

Tullie.

The bawdy man nevertheless feasted his eyes on the beauty of your body?

Octavie.

I have no doubt of it. "I wish," said he, "to try now, which of you two will have more heart: I will know by your silence; and she who can suffer without complaint, will gain the victory over the other. After this he handled my buttocks, opening them a few times and tightening them; then he pinched me in two places, with the extremities of his fingers: I had difficulty in restraining a few sighs, which I stifled within myself. This was not all: he put his hands to my game, he passed them and passed them one after the other between my legs; it was all on fire, and at last he took four or five little hairs from me, and tore them out with violence: I still stood firm.

Tullie.

You are strong, Octavia!

Octavie.

He did the same to my mother: he made her raise her skirts, she made no difficulty; and after having looked at and handled it on all sides, he pulled a few hairs from it, as he had done to me; she trembled, and withdrew her buttocks with extreme rapidity, when he imprinted his nails on them: she did not, however, say a word.

Tullie.

Finish it.

Octavie.

What more do you want? I was whipped and bled, after which we returned home. As I entered, my mother asked me how I was. "I am not well," said I; my buttocks itch strangely; it seems to me that I am all covered with ants, and I am all on fire. So much the better, she said; I am the same, and all these pains will soon be changed into pleasures. "Lie down on the bed," she continued, "and pretend to be inconvenienced by a headache; I will send you Pamphilus at this moment, who will cure you of it: but I want you to promise me to tell me the story of your entertainment; I promised her, and she withdrew. Scarcely had I gone to bed when my husband entered. What? he said to me, my dear child. I heard you were ill?" "No doubt," said I, "because I have been told that you are angry with me." "I am angry!" he replied: "far from that, I love you with all my heart; and to prevent you from doubting it, I will give you proofs of it. He did not fail to do so: he climbed on the bed, undid his stockings, and drawing his consoling instrument, he made me take it in my hand; I put myself in a state of order, he put me together; and suddenly throws himself upon me. Will you believe it, Tullie? at the first shock; I felt my seed flow, but so abundantly, that I swear to you that I had never tasted such a pleasure. In a word, I discharged three times at that moment, or rather it was only a continual discharge, accompanied by a punishment so mild that I cannot express it. This was not all: for when Pamphilus did his duty, do not think that he extinguished my fires; no, he rekindled them; and even after he had finished the affair, and knew that he had withdrawn from my party, the mere touch of his hand which he brought to it to wipe it, made me melt again, and pour out in profusion this divine liquor, the flow of which gave me all my pleasure.

Tullie.

You say things pleasantly. There is, however, nothing in this that surprises me: for the subtlest spirits of our body being attracted by the lashes of the whip, with the warmest parts of our blood, it is natural that they should retire to the places with which they have more relation and sympathy, and that they should cause an extraordinary chastisement by their ardor. The Duchess Pulcheria, so commendable for her wit and beauty, owes her pregnancy to the blows of the rod, without which she would still be sterile. Duke Alexander, her husband, loved her desperately, and was extremely displeased that she could not have children: he tried all sorts of remedies, but it was in vain, until an Arab physician told him, that the only way to make his wife fertile was to whip her as hard as possible. This was taken as an oracle; the Duchess consented, and the execution was carried out by her mother. Up to this day, in the greatest caresses of her husband, she had scarcely found any pleasure; but when, after this medicine, the Duke went to join her, she almost expired under him, so extreme was the chastle she felt; she discharged copiously, and the same ceremony having been repeated two days after, she was impregnated with extraordinary joy by the whole family. There are also men who could never get hard if this artifice were not used. Count Ardolphe, whom you know, is reduced to this extremity, without which all the touches of his wife, who is pretty enough, all the remedies of medicine, and the groceries of the Levant would not make him erect an inch.

Octavie.

So it has to be very cold. But have you ever tried it, and have you found any one who has been willing to render you this good service?

Tullie.

No, but I intend to experience it, in order to taste pleasure in all sorts of ways. I will leave tomorrow to go and find Orontes, who has written to me to go and spend a few days with him in the country; and I will find a way to do what I will. I will send you Cléante: see that he has no reason to be displeased with you.

Octavie.

I have nothing to do with him, he must preserve himself for your return." You forgot to tell me how Julie's wedding was made.

Tullie.

Alas! they were made as in the time of our first fathers, that is to say, without any ceremony. Your father was absent, and none of the relatives was summoned. Sempronia alone made our two lovers promise the faith, and conducted them herself to the place where the best of the feast was to pass. Before that she had a long interview with Julie, and maliciously advised her several things which would have made her odious to her husband, if he had not known her simplicity and your mother's artifices. Sempronie having therefore gone up to the room of our newly-wedded couple, she wished to undress Julie, who scarcely dared to raise her sight at first when she saw herself in her chemise: she afterwards retired to a room, from which it was easy to see and hear what was going on in that one. As soon as she had gone out, Julie knelt before her husband: "You will have no trouble with me," she said to him; I will obey you in all things, and you will only have to command. Mona Lisa raised her, and told her to take off her shirt, but seeing that shame prevented him, he took it from her himself: at the same time he admired the beauty of her body; he kisses her, he handles her nipples, and finally applies himself to considering the principal part; he opens it, he closes it, he puts his fingers in it. "Eh, eh," said Julie. He made her put to bed, and lay down by her side. She, in order to give effect to your mother's advice, took a cushion which she put under her buttocks, and spread her thighs as far as she could, without waiting to be asked. This was not all: she took her husband's member, who could not help laughing at it. What does all this mean, he says? And at the same time he threw himself upon her, who did not leave her hold, and wished to lead him where he wished to enter. As soon as he was there, she raised her legs as much as she could on the thighs of the Mona Lisa. "Withdraw your hand," said he, "I will finish the rest well; she withdrew it, and embraced it as closely as she could. He presses her; and at the fourth shock he entered entirely into it.

Octavie.

Did he find her a virgin? Did he know that she had his virginity?

Tullie.

He knew him, as most men are accustomed to know him: that is to say, by relying on the good faith of his wife.

Octavie.

I feared that Julie's manner of acting had led her to think that she had been defiled by another.

Tullie.

No; he easily knew that all these manners were the result of the jealousy of Sempronia, who endeavoured to make his wife contemptible to him from the beginning. When this first journey was over, Mona Lisa questioned Julie: "Who would have thought you," said he, "so learned on the first night of your wedding?" and who can have taught you these movements of the buttocks and these sighs made so opportunely? She made no reply. "Speak without fear," he continued, "and declare to me the mystery of all this." "I dare not," said she; but I have done nothing that the most chaste girls like myself do not practice on such occasions. "But who told you that it was the custom," said Mona Lisa? "Do not demand of me," said she, "that I should tell you so. "I want you to tell me," he continued, "or else I shall have a bad opinion of your honour." "Don't talk about it to anyone else," said Julie. It was Sempronia who gave me these advices, and who told me that it was the duty of a young bride to do all that I have done. However, what is pleasant about it is that Sempronie saw and understood everything.

Octavie.

What purpose did she have in abusing Julie's simplicity in this way?

Tullie.

It was to make her suspicious to her husband: she did not succeed; for she has always passed in his mind for a very wise girl and a very honest woman.

Octavie.

You have not finished telling the particulars of their entertainments.

Tullie.

As soon as the Mona Lisa's member had entered entirely, Julie cried out, "Forgive me, you hurt me, ah, ah, ah! and him; pressed all the harder: having animated her by more violent jerks, "Oh, oh," she said, "I am dying of pleasure, go on, push, press still more."

Octavie.

Ah, ah, ah!

Tullie.

Sempronie told her to act in this way, and that as soon as she felt the least chastleness, she should make it known to her husband by a thousand caresses, by her sighs, by her kisses, and by the most lascivious movements she could imagine. She did not fail to do so, for as soon as she felt the approach of pleasure, she moved her buttocks, raised her thighs, and responded to the jolts of the Mona Lisa by projections which even Venus would have had difficulty in inventing. These transports led her to the supreme good. "Ah, ah, ah!" she cried. What do I feel? I can't take it anymore! Her cavalier presses her as earnestly as he can, in order to taste with her this sweet voluptuousness; yet she kisses him, kisses him, and at last obliges him to do his duty. "Ah, ah, ah, ah!" said he, drawing to himself with both hands the buttocks of his Julie, "I am dying, my dear child, you are killing me by your jerks; Ah, ah! Here he lost his speech. The pleasant thing is, that this poor innocent woman, remembering your mother's advice, took her husband's member in her hand at the same time, and pressed it so hard that it seemed as if she wanted to draw the last drop from it.

Octavie.

Being young as she is, could she easily endure so long a struggle?

Tullie.

Alas! she had no reason to be tired, because Mona Lisa did not see her that night, nor the next, until she had satisfied your mother's lust twice. So much so that it may be said that she has not tasted pleasure in its full extent except twice in the last month.

Octavie.

How can this be done? for a jealous woman gives no quarter.

Tullie.

You will know that last month, when the Mona Lisa was amusing herself with your mother, and finding her very disposed to grant him what he wished, he asked her for a favor. And what, she says? "Will you," he continued, "allow me to be a father?" "I consent to it," she said. "And how can I," he continued, "if you do not grant me Julie's enjoyment without restriction?" the poor child has already suffered enough, and Mother Theresa has treated her badly enough to deserve a little pleasure. "I permit you," said Sempronia, "on condition that it will be only for the purpose of having children: and that you may not miss your account, I wish you to spend eight days in continence; and that after they have expired, you may do with her what you desire. This was concluded in this way, and the girdle was not taken from Julie until after the eight. Mona Lisa made such good use of this interval that his wife was impregnated. Sempronia thinks so; and it is probable, because since that time she has been very disgusted, and inconvenienced by headaches which she did not feel before.

Octavie.

I have had an aversion to Therese ever since I heard that she had thus ill-treated this poor innocent girl.

Tullie.

And I am angry with your mother, because she is the source of all her evils. She went to see Therese, and spoke to her during the whole of her visit, only of the fear she had that Julie would depart from her duty; that she acknowledged that she had a great inclination for licentiousness, and that she believed that it would be necessary to mortify her a little to make her wiser. Therese, who believed all his words, told your mother that she had only to send it to her. This was done, after Sempronia had taken off the girdle which she kept at home, As soon as Julia had entered the monastery, Teresa asked her if she did not wish to be very chaste. Yes, she says. "Well," continued Teresa, "you must spend these three days here in mortification and penance, and suffer the regular discipline that I will give you." She consented to everything, and was whipped by the hands of Therese three different times, and then sent back to her husband on the evening of the third day. Sempronie, fortunately, was not at home: Julie told Mona Lisa all that had happened; he was much displeased with it, and promised to take care another time that something similar should not happen to him. At last, to make her forget all the pains she had suffered, he laid her on the bed, and gave her so much pleasure, that she no longer remembered the pains she had endured.

Octavie.

Has this not come to my mother's knowledge?

Tullie.

No: she did not even have the slightest suspicion of it, because before she was back home Mona Lisa went out; and when he arrived, he found her with Julie, whom he saluted as if he had not seen her for three months.

Octavie.

What! did he not salute my mother?

Tullie.

He did not fail to do so; and drawing her quarters, he told Julie that he had something to communicate to her, and that she should wait for him in her room without leaving it. Then they both retired to your father's room. What more do you want? He kisses her, throws her over on the bed, and finishes the affair with her. After they had finished, they both went to Julie, whom they met lying on the bed. "I wish," said Mona Lisa to her, "that Sempronia should know how pure and chaste you are, and that she should give you your girdle herself." Your mother gave a thousand praises to Julie, and the poor child was put back in chains.

Octavie.

There was only a part of herself.

Tullie.

Be that as it may, she was taken captive; Pars ludicra in vincula missa est. I wish, Octavia, to test whether yours is as fit for the game as it seems it ought to be.

Octavie.

Cléante will tell you about it when we have spent a few moments together.

Reference error: Tags <ref> exist for a group named "ws", but no matching <references group="ws"/> tag was found

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-02

SIXTH

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-02 OCTAVIE, TULLIE

CLEANTE, MEDOR.

Octavie.

How charming your conversation is, my cousin! You have just given me, by your speech, such a naïve picture of the pleasures I am to receive to-night, that I am already thoroughly penetrated by them.

Tullie.

Ah! my dearest, all my words have been able to represent to you only shadows and figures: these pleasures are a thousand times sweeter than you can imagine; and the little caresses which precede this sovereign voluptuousness are even above all that can be expressed.

Octavie.

Will Cléante & Medor both be in the game?

Tullie.

Yes, Octavia; and it will be with you only that these two athletes will fight.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! what do you say, Tullie? such rough horsemen would soon have punctured their horses!

Tullie.

Is it possible that you yourself are opposed to your happiness? Have you any wit to reject so strongly a pleasure that the most famous heroines in love would like to buy at the price of their blood? Of course, you don't think about it.

Octavie.

It is rather you who do not reflect on it: for what will become of me if you do not share the sorrow with me? I shall be unhappy, even if I possess the goods you wish for me.

Tullie.

You may quarrel, but you must come; all these ceremonies are useless.

Octavie.

Certainly, my cousin, you are not reasonable: even if I were to accept your offer, I could not suffice for such hard fighters. What! I would spend the whole day and all night immersed in voluptuousness; I would abound (so to speak) with the food of the goddesses, and you would only judge of the blows? No, no, you must at least serve me as a second in the fight. But, Gods! which I surrender easily!

Tullie.

Do not be so delicate, you will not die of it: I have put four of them out of action, and you are afraid of two!

Octavie.

Okay, but these two are extremely vigorous. You say that Cléante is in the habit of doing it to you twelve times; and what you have told me of Medor is no less approaching to a prodigy. How can you, young and delicate as I am, expect me to suffice for them? If I do so, it will be rather to please you, than to follow my inclination.

Tullie.

It does not matter to me, it will be for one or the other. But I want to tell you news of one of those who should contribute to your satisfaction: it is from Medor; Cléante has told me things about it that surpass the imagination of the bravest who have distinguished themselves in love.

Octavie.

But still, what did you learn from it? Has he never come to fight with you?

Tullie.

Very often. You will know, then, that Medor being last in this city, Cleanus brought him to me, with Orontes' permission. (admire his complacency!) Cléante loves me madly; and with all this tenderness, he does not fail to assure Medor that he would soon make him enjoy the same fortune: in a word, he made him hope everything from me, without, however, having asked my consent.

Octavie.

And you, don't you be angry about it?

Tullie.

I was angry at this, as you may imagine, and even reproached him greatly; wherefore, as he was exceedingly afraid of displeasing me, by kissing my knees to appease me, he said to me, "Forgive me, my queen, forgive my facility, and make me hope that it will not be your duty if I do not fulfil my promise." Medor dies of love for you; I promised to relieve him of his illness, and I could not honestly dispense with it: it is an old debt that I pay him, and therefore I was indebted to him a long time ago. Perhaps you can't conceive all this, amiable Tullie? You will know, then," he continued, "to enlighten you on this subject, that when I was at Naples, I became a slave to the beauty of a young relative of Medor: I was madly in love with her; and this friend, to favor my passion, pretended to have love for her also: he was listened to; and after some protests on both sides, she gave him an appointment in her room: "Admire the generosity of Medor!" he conducted me to Marianne's (that was the name of this amiable child) and had me cleverly concealed in the place destined for her. What more do you want? I possessed the treasure which I should have sought in vain without him, and I enjoyed this night the good I had so ardently desired. What do you think, Madam? Must I be ungrateful for a service of this nature? Forgive me, then, if I become guilty with you, in wishing to discharge my duty to so obliging a friend.

Octavie.

Well, what did you say to all this?

Tullie.

Nothing; and in spite of the design I had formed to mark my resentment with warmth, I calmed down. Ah! Octavia, how much power the voice of a lover has over us! how easy it is to bend us when we love; and that our hearts become easy to the slightest submission of an object for which we have conceived tenderness? Are you not ashamed, said I, however, to wish thus to expose my honor and reputation? Do you reflect that you ought to spare her more than any other, since I am yours?" Ah! "Madame," he replied, with an engaging air; in the name of what you hold most dear; grant something to my prayers: if it is a crime to love Medor, force yourself in my consideration to commit it; this will be the last importunity you will receive from me: all that I shall henceforth require of you will be honest, and I swear to you that all the requests I make of you cannot be disagreeable to you. I love Cléante, and to give him marks of it, I consented to all that he desired of me in favor of his friend.

Octavie.

I have at present the same reasons for complaining of you, and I can say that; I have even more to do than you had to quarrel with Cléante.

Tullie.

Be silent, you are a fool: I wish to treat you as a good relative, and as a true friend; I destine you for embraces that will make you die of pleasure: but I return to my story. "How much I am obliged to you," said Cléante; and how much I owe to your kindness! "Amiable Tullia," he immediately continued, "since you have made yourself sensible of our evils, allow Medor and I, who are dying of love for you, to give you the last marks of it. What! said I, what honor shall I receive, if I become sensible to any other than to you? But what! Octavia, in vain did I be angry, he knew my weakness, and it was a long time since I had shown him the place by which I allowed myself to be taken. After a little quarrelsome, therefore, in order to preserve the forms of propriety, I consented that Medor should have satisfaction, but only for once: I wished to spare the fire of their passion, so that when they came to a private combat with you, little cousin, they might not find themselves altogether exhausted.

Octavie.

Oh, oh! that they look very good as not to come back very vigorous from your arms.

Tullie.

This fine game was played in our garden, which I had taken care to have closed on all sides, and where one could only be seen from my room. While I was having this conversation with Cléante, his friend walked softly behind us, and from time to time glanced at me so full of fire, that I clearly observed the ardour of his passion. Cléante, turning to her, said, "Give immortal graces to Madame, for the present she makes you, which is worthy of the gods; approach, and come and enjoy the sovereign good. At these words I was speechless; and as I am not too bold by nature, I blushed as soon as I saw Medor approaching: he first gave me a kiss in greeting me, and made me a very witty declaration of love. Before he had finished his discourse, we had entered a clean room to take the coolness, which was in a corner of the garden. "I have something to say to you, Tullie," said Cléante, "and to you also, Medor. What!" replied his friend. "Tullie," said he, "will soon speak to you with sighs and the shaking of his buttocks, which will be much better than all your compliments. May Venus punish you, said I, playful as you are. "Madame," he continued, with a word in his ear, "you do not know what Cavalier you will have to deal with; all the girls of Rome and Venice, who have entered the contest with him, confess that he is the roughest fool they have ever known; finally, they publish that they have never been so copiously watered as by Medor: in a word, it is a miracle, or rather a monster in nature: you will judge of it when he shows you his instrument.

Octavie.

That is good; but what was Medor doing during all these talks? Was not time lasting him? for it is said that in Vit bandé there is no stop.

Tullie.

That is true, Octavia; therefore Medor, who could not wait any longer, said, "What is the necessity of us thus wasting time?" I love Tullie, I adore her, she is sensitive to it, the place is favorable to us: and what is the use of this delay? As he said this, he begged Cléante to get on his feet on the ground; then, taking me mercilessly, he stretched me on his friend's back, in a manner that my head bent over Cléante's buttocks: he crossed my two legs, and put them round his collar, and told me to raise them as much as I could, enlarging my thighs a little; which I did very exactly. But as this posture made the entrance of the C.. The large member of Medor had great difficulty in making his way: nevertheless, having at last made himself master of the place, he pushed and pushed back so rudely, that the apprehension I had of falling, made me put my hand without design, under the belly of Cléante, who groaned with the weight of the burden. Chance made me meet the instrument of my bearer; I seized him with my right hand, and gave the left to Medor, the better to resist his shocks. But what! I felt at first penetrated within by a hot liquor, which drowsied all my senses; and to fill my felicity, Cléante gave me at the same time my full hand. No, Octavia, in my life I have never tasted such a pleasure; and the only idea that remains to me of it almost makes me swoon.

Octavie.

Really, Tullie, I am very far from being touched by your story, and I feel a certain chastisement. But what do I hear? it seems to me that someone is going upstairs: ah! Could it not be Medor and Cléante? ah! I tremble with fear, and I already feel the modesty that covers my whole face.

Tullie.

O Hymenaeus, what joy! here is Cléante, What has become of your friend?

Cléante.

The governor of the city has kept him at home to inquire about his affairs, and the health of his parents: for my part, I have adroitly slipped away from the company, and the violence of my passion has brought me here, hoping that the fair Octavia will have pity on me. But what! She says nothing: where does her silence come from?

Octavie.

I am so confused, my dear Tullie, that I would not dare to raise my eyes, or utter a word.

Cléante.

What, Madame! you refuse me a kiss!" Ah, how unhappy I am!

Tullie.

Ah! how you do ways! you will gain nothing by doing the delicate thing in this way; you must put down all this childish modesty that remains to you. I am delighted that you have only your simarre; it will soon be removed: do not make a fool of me, then.

Octavie.

Ridiculous yourself. What! you undress me, to expose me thus naked to the sight and gaze of Cléante! Are you crazy?

Tullie.

Help me, Cléante; undo her skirt while I hold it: ah! that is good; she has nothing left at this hour but her shirt.

Octavie.

Ah, Tullie! What a state you have put me in! what! Are you pulling my shirt again?"

Cléante.

Ah! divine Octavia, I will expire at your feet; the mere sight of your body delights my soul and spirit. O back more beautiful a thousand times than Diana's! O buttocks capable of burning men and gods! favor me, charming Tullie, and make this goddess allow her to be worshipped.

Octavie.

Tullie, do not at least suffer me to be violated in this way. I will cry out; Alas! Alas! see how he puts his hand to my breast, how he profane by his touches all the parts of my body: ah! if you do not withdraw...

Tullie.

Whence then comes this manner? Are you mad, and have you lost your mind? I swear to you by Venus, which is my highest oath, that if you do not receive Cléante for your friend, I already declare myself your enemy.

Octavie.

Ah! What would I not do to preserve your affection! Cléante, it is to Tullie, to whom you will be obliged.

Tullie.

I knew very well that sooner or later I must come there; What is the use of doing the fool in this way? Kiss me, you rascal, and put yourself on the damask bed to please Cléante.

Cléante.

Ah! amiable Octavia, I now hold you in my arms: ah, what a pleasure it is to be thus naked to naked! If I only satisfied my eyesight, I should be very happy. Ah! how ruddy this little slit is, and how fine and loose is the little wisp hair that surrounds it!

Octavie.

Ah! ah! you oppress me with the weight of your body! ah! Tullie, what shall become of me?

Tullie.

Courage, courage, you do not pity me; Wouldn't it be said, to hear you cry out, that they are going to skin you? Cléante, squeeze her tightly; and you, kiss Cléante in the same way: and I, in order not to be altogether useless, will put the bird in the cage. Ah! he is already there; one would say that they were made for each other: courage, Cléante, sting well, and do not spare your horse.

Octavie.

Ah! you are suffocating me, oh Gods! how you agitate me! Tullie, withdraw your hand; Why do you tickle me? Ah! I feel... Ah, ah! push on now, I willingly consent to all that you do."

Tullie.

Push higher, Cléante; repeat your jerks: & quick, quick; ah, Gods! As the... jerks him off!

Cléante.

If you feel any pleasure, my Octavia, give me a kiss.

Octavie.

Ah! with all my heart, my dearest; put your tongue between my lips: good; ah! How sweet are these kisses! truce, truce, I am dying: am I doing well, my dear Cléante? ah! How great is my pleasure! Do you want me to move my buttocks with more vigor?

Tullie.

Be joking, there is no question of talking here: ah! your buttocks are mobile; "Be of good courage," continued: "I will, however, handle Cléante's testicles, and excite them by this tickling to do their duty."

Cléante.

Ah! that you both make me happy; how well you satisfy my lust; you, Tullie, by your touches, and Octavia by her sweet agitations! Ah, ah! now lift, raise your loins, my little heart; Come, quick, ah! My love!

Tullie.

What is the matter with you, my darling? you don't say a word. Ah! how you roll your eyes in your head! you languish, you languish; You can't take it anymore, you scoundrel.

Octavie.

Ah! I feel, I smell... ah! that this urine is hot, and that it is pushed with impetuosity; ah! Bai... kiss me, my heart: I am already flowing on all sides, the veins of Venus distil me, I have the same pleasure that Juno takes with Jupiter; one tastes no like it on earth: ah! it comes to me from Heaven; I can bear it no longer, I swoe, I die: ah, ah! Up... to the bottom, ah...

Tullie.

What are you saying there between your teeth? Has Cléante reached the bottom of your canal?

Octavie.

That I felt it to the deepest depths. But what! My dear fellow, you have already surrendered?" will you weigh anchor at once?" Suffer at least before I kiss you a thousand times, allow me to kiss you, to devour you with my kisses, before you come out of my arms.

Tullie.

Ah! How lascivious you are, little cousin! Wish, perhaps, before he screws up, to excite his nerve to a new fight: do you not see that he has not a drop of blood, and that he lacks his strength? No, no, it will not be so. Cléante, see your country, and you go quickly to Medor, lest your long visit make him suspect something dishonest to us.

Cléante.

I will obey you, madame: I am going to find him; and I will tell him, as a pretext for my delay, that I have had a little business to communicate to Alphonse, the Governor's cousin.

Tullie.

That will be good; but tell me, Cléante, how do you find Octavia?" Are you satisfied with it?

Cléante.

I have found nothing in her that does not approach you, my Tullie; it is saying a great deal in a few words: I swear to you that I thought I was in the arms of Venus; but we will speak of that another time. Farewell.

Octavie.

How many graces do I owe you, my cousin, since by your means I have tasted today a pleasure that cannot be expressed! This one time almost satisfied me, by the tickling I received from the length of Cléante's member: for it is not so large as my husband's, although it far surpasses it in length.

Tullie.

I am delighted that you have found true all that I told you about Cléante, and that you were wrong in opposing my designs.

Octavie.

Have you noticed how he rose joyfully from me, how he kissed me tenderly, and gave me little blows on the buttocks? Ah! that you are happy to enjoy his embraces at the pleasure of your heart, and to have no other rule of your pleasures than that of your will. But tell me, my dearest, how many times have you taken up the same pastime with Medor?" You will infinitely oblige me to teach me this; for I take a great part in everything that concerns you.

Tullie.

How curious you are. I see that you wish me to finish the story that Cléante has interrupted: I want it with all my heart, since the memory of it can only be very pleasant to me. You will know, then, that as among animals man abounds the most in seed, so among men Medor is the one who has the most. "I warn you," said Cléante, "to put yourself in such an advantageous position that you do not lose a drop; for it is the only way you have of feeling pleasure in all its extent. After this he withdrew.

Octavie.

Please go on.

Tullie.

Medor having therefore made me put in the garden closet in that posture which I have already told you, and which is the most lustful and lustful that can be imagined, especially when one is naked, he gave himself (as they say) to his heart's content; but as the fury of her love was not altogether extinguished, we went into the room, to be there more comfortably. I had no sooner entered it, than he threw me on the bed, in spite of all my efforts: he put one hand in my bosom, and with the other he raised my skirts to the waist, and revealed to me the beautiful spot, immediately putting off his clothes, which might embarrass him.

Octavie.

When it was ready, I imagine that you saw a bandaged limb, fat, stiff, rubicond, &c., in a word, worthy of a heroine.

Tullie.

It is almost like that of Cléante; and there is so little difference between the one and the other, that I have scarcely noticed it. It is about eleven or twelve inches in length, and its size is fairly proportionate. He then laid me down, and threw himself upon me with impetuosity, lightly caressing the extremities of the part; then he curled my hair around him. "Withdraw," said I, "you are setting me on fire." "Ah!" said he, "receive the marks of my love," and saying this, he thrust his Bolt into me to the guards. I had no sooner felt it within, than I cried out, "You are killing me, Medor." Cléante, who was not very far off, ran at the noise: "Take care," said he, "that you are not heard from the neighbourhood; hold your voice, and not your buttocks.

Octavie.

Did he surprise you in the heat of the fight? could he help laughing, and feeling some emotion at the sight of your nakedness?

Tullie.

He saw us; and perceiving that my left foot, which was out of bed, touched the ground, "I will give you back," said he; a good office; and at the same time he put a chair under my leg, which he raised, which made the instrument enter farther forward. Then he gave a few blows on Medor's buttocks, which were exposed; and he withdrew in this way.

Octavie.

O pleasant spectacle, to see you in this posture!

Tullie.

Medor stopped for some time motionless, and his member became furious. "Kiss me," said he, "my queen, and prepare to bear the first shock: it is three months since I have approached a woman to relieve my loins; for which reason you will admit that my vigour must prevail over that of your husband.

Octavie.

Could you resist his fury?

Tullie.

Be careful: he immediately pushed with more violence than before; and at the sixth stroke, I felt myself watered with a hot rain inside, which caused me such a great itch, that, to lessen it, I stirred all the parts of my body with a sort of fury, and at the same time I made an abundant ejaculation of semen. As soon as my cavalier knew him, he wished to help me by repeated jerks, and more vigorous than the others; which caused him to discharge almost as soon as I did; and then there was such a pleasant mixture of our seeds; that we remained a long time in rapture. As soon as we had recovered from this sweet lethargy, Medor gave me a thousand caresses; and complaining lovingly that I had preceded him in the sentiment of voluptuousness, he recited to me the following verses:

Medor was ready to die

In the arms of his Tullie,

That, far from helping him,

Also wanted to lose his life:

Wait, she said to him, a moment,

Let such a death come to me;

We will die more gently,

If my death is mixed with yours.

Then she lost her voice;

Medor has long been at bay,

Soon completed his follow;

And this end pleased them so much,

Until they began to live,

Than to die in this sweet death.

I assure you, Octavia, that I tasted a perfect pleasure that time, and that never did a man quench the fire of my concupiscence so well as Medor. It is a hero, it is a Hercules, to be so vigorous in his tender youth.

Octavie.

But what, Tullie, were you so satisfied, that if a new fighter had presented himself, you would have refused him?

Tullie.

Yes, certainly, a new attack would have caused me more disgust than pleasure; and I even believe that in the embraces of Jupiter I could not have found any pleasure.

Octavie.

It is said that every animal, after the action of love, is sad: is it true, my cousin?

Tullie.

Certainly: I will tell you the reason another time; but I can assure you now that it was not the same with Medor. He had the gayest face in the world; the very sight of him inspired me with love: he had not yet taken his foot from the stirrup, when he recited to me the verses you have heard, and testified to me by a thousand caresses, that he was transported with joy at having enjoyed with so much pleasure the goods he had so ardently desired. He called Cléante, to tell him of his happiness; but I drew myself adroitly from his arms, and got rid of them both. What worried me a little, however, was that of this great quantity of semen, with which Medor had watered me, I did not feel a drop flowing out: I do not know what that means; if I were to become fat, I should be in despair, for I am very fond of Orontes.

Octavie.

And what are you afraid of? What can happen, marriage will hide everything.

Tullie.

You are right, that is what consoles me; for without this the evil would be without remedy.

Octavie.

Don't worry you, my dear Tullie; think only of telling me what happened to you at Rome, and tell me what your amusements were.

Tullie.

I want it, my darling. You will know, then, that when Orontes went to Rome to finish a lawsuit which he had with Ortobon, our kinsman, he fell so dangerously ill, that the physicians deserted him, and despaired of his life. I received the news with great sorrow, and set out with all haste to find him. My journey was a happy one for him, for I rescued him from the peril in which he was, and he owes the recovery of his health to my care; so he does not deny it. As soon as he was out of danger, therefore, I thought of diverting my mind, in order to rouse him, by pleasures, from the melancholy in which he had been plunged for three months. There usually came to the house where I was, a venerable matron, whose name was Ursine; she was between two ages, and of a very noble family. As I was a stranger, and had no habit in the city, necessity obliged me to make acquaintance with her: I found her very witty, and her conversation pleased me so much, that I often begged her to sleep with me, that I might enjoy her as I pleased. One night among the others, when we were talking while waiting for sleep, love put me in such a state that all at once I became all on fire. My companion, to whom age had given experience, perceived this change, and saw by my continual movements that my thoughts were on the side of the flesh. She questioned me, and I concealed nothing from her of what I felt: Ah! my dear," said I, in a languid tone, "I can bear it no longer: I feel a fire burning in my veins again; and if it is of as long a duration as it is violent, I do not know what the event will be. The good lady, a friend by nature, and sensitive, if ever there was, to the evils of youth, did her best to relieve me. "I have conceived too much affection for you," said she, "to refuse you any marks of it on this occasion: I know that there is only one remedy that can cure you, and if you wish, I will make you taste the pleasures of love to-morrow with the most amiable gentlemen whose embraces you can wish for." "Accept this offer," she continued, "if you are wise; this will in no way detract from your honor or your reputation: only place yourself in my hands, and abandon yourself to my conduct.

Octavie.

What did you say to this officious Matron?

Tullie.

I thanked her for the part she took in my grief, and told her, that since she was my surety, I should have no difficulty in following her everywhere, and doing what she pleased. She had a little dinner prepared in the morning, consisting of very good things, but which were not in great quantity: she did not allow me to eat much; and as soon as I was out of the table, she washed my breast, stomach, loins, and buttocks with water of a very good smell. For the part that was to be most attacked, she rubbed it with myrrh oil; she then clothed me in a cloak of white silk; it was so fine and transparent, that I thought it was rather surrounded by a brilliant cloud, than covered with a coat. This done, we got into a carriage, and went both to a pleasure house a few miles from Rome. It is a place embellished with very beautiful gardens; the whole year is a continual spring, and there are labyrinths, the exits of which are so difficult, that Flora and Venus can laugh and take their pleasures in complete freedom. As soon as I arrived at the house, I was conducted into a secret room, where the light had difficulty in entering. Besides, this place was admirable for favoring the modesty of a girl, and the boldness of a boy.

Octavie.

This is precisely the right place of pleasure; but continues.

Tullie.

I first saw a Matronne with a modest and composed face, who said, addressing Ursine, "I will see to it, madame, that your young girl will have reason to be satisfied, and that she will think herself obliged to show you her gratitude for the good treatment she has received." Saying this, she took me by the hand, and made a sign to Ursine to withdraw; she led me into a richly adorned room; and after closing the door on us, "I must tell you," said she, "my daughter, what you must expect and prepare for." You are no longer mistress of yourself, and you are destined for four vigorous athletes, who are to enter into combat with you. There is a Frenchman, a German, and two Florentines; they are very well known to Madame, (speaking of Ursine), and all four are very good friends. Ah, Gods! "My good mother," said I, "I cannot resist so many men: only one is needed; send the others away: make it a duel, and not a fight that I have to sustain. Helene, that was the name of this old woman, smiled at my simplicity, and I immediately saw the four personages in question enter. Their presence disturbed me exceedingly, and the colour rose to my face. Choose, said she, the one you wish to favor first, and prescribe to the others the order and rank you wish them to hold. I was therefore obliged to obey, and I gave my handkerchief to the Frenchman, called Acaste, as a sign of preference, and then I ordered that the Frenchman should succeed Marius; to Marius, Conrad; and to Conrad, Fabrizio. This was the order they received from me. After this declaration, Helene sounded the charge. "O you," said she, "brave and generous horsemen, put all your wit to use to-day; teach this amiable girl in how many ways one can taste the pleasure of Venus.

Octavie.

Poor Tullie, how I pity you! did you not fear to succumb in this combat; and did not the sight of four pikes set up against you, and ready to pierce you through and through, cause you fear?

Tullie.

So you're going to hear everything. Acaste began first. Taking me by the hand, after kissing me very tenderly, he led me into a corner of the room covered with a large silk curtain. There was no other convenience than a little bed of blue damask, near which was a lamp, the feeble and trembling light of which seemed to be an accomplice in the action I was about to do.

I had scarcely arrived at this place, when Fabrizio made himself heard at Acaste: "My friend," said he, "make haste, make haste, I can bear it no longer." "A little patience," replied Acaste, "it will soon be finished."

Octavie.

What did you say to all this?

Tullie.

Alas! nothing; and as I am naturally ashamed, I was so forbidden from this dialogue, that I did not know to which saint to devote myself. Acaste begged me to lie down on the bed; but as I was deaf, with one hand he threw me down, and with the other he lifted my skirt. Oh Gods! what will you say of me, who have always led so pure and honest a life? "Will you not have reason," said I, "to despise me, if I give you so much liberty?" Ah! How importunate is this modesty! Get rid of it," said he, "and think that you are not the first with whom we have had this amusement." The ladies of the highest quality have passed through our hands; their honor and reputation have lost none of their brilliance on this account, and they have not been able to receive reproaches for an action which was known only to themselves. At the same time he took off his breeches, and showed me a large Vit, whose head was extremely red and animated, and threatened me with a furious fight. Having therefore thrown himself upon me, he put me on, and then pushed as vigorously as he could. He moved with marvellous agility and address: for my part, I was motionless. Ah! "Charming Tullie," said he, "you are more learned than you wish to appear; favor me at least, now that I am ready to finish this attack." I obeyed him; but no sooner had I moved my buttocks, than I felt myself at the same time watered with a sweet liquor, which delighted me to heaven. It was then that I divested myself of all my modesty; I had no regard for honor or honesty; I even lost the memory of what I was; and in the midst of this confusion of pleasures, I discharged with extraordinary transports.

Acaste had no sooner done his business than another took his place; it was Conrad: he was a good German, but very rude. "With your permission, madam," said he, accosting me, "I will abstain from words, and will speak to you only by deeds." He told me about it without much ceremony; and at the fourth or fifth shock, the tickling of the discharge of his semen, caused a second ejaculation of mine. "Why, Conrad," said I, "did you not follow the order I gave?" you know very well that Marius was to come second. "That is true," he replied, "but we have so agreed; the Florentines will come together: I even believe," he continued, "that they will seek voluptuousness in a different way from ours; for this nation treats the French and the Germans as insensitive, because they abhor to take their pleasure elsewhere than in ordinary life.

Conrad had no sooner retired, than the two Florentines came. After a few little banter on both sides. "Raise your legs, amiable Goddess," said Fabrizio to me; I raised them, and then he lay down on me, and thrust his member into my guards. Marius, however, still held my thighs high; and putting his hands on my hips, he moved my loins with incredible speed. I confess to you, Octavia, that this kind of movement is very luxurious, that it causes extreme pleasure. Ah! "I am burning gently," I cried to them, and at the same time I felt Fabrizio's discharge, which caused me no little pleasure. No sooner had he weighed anchor than Marius took his place. His instrument was so swollen, that it resembled rather a firebrand than a limb of flesh. "I beg you, Madame," said he, "to turn round."

Octavie.

Ah! I can already see what will happen.

Tullie.

I turned as he wished. As soon as he had seen my behind, whose whiteness and stoutness have something amiable about it, he said: Ah! "Let this part reveal to me beauties," said he; Sit yourself, my Goddess, on your knees, and bend all the rest of your body. So I lowered my head, and raised my buttocks; then we saw the two paths that lead to pleasure, one of which is chaste and honest, and the other forbidden. "Where will you go?" said Fabrizio. "Where you have already gone," replied Marius, "and at the same time he pierced me so vigorously, that I believe he touched the bottom of my womb." In the meantime he handled my nipples, and pressed me with so much warmth, that I felt in a moment that divine balm which gives us life flowing. The quantity of seed with which he filled me caused me so great a tickling, that I made such a copious discharge, that it exhausted all my strength, and weakened me more than the three others that had preceded. This, Octavia, is the fourth scene of the first act of this comedy.

Octavie.

I had conceived a bad opinion of the position in which Marius had caused you to place; but I was mistaken. I know that the Florentines are very apt to enter by the back door: they say that it is there that the most delicious love takes its frolics; and they are passionately fond of girls, who, to please them, are willing to metamorphose into boys.

Tullie.

I have experienced it, and I will tell you how they do it. So Acaste and Conrad came again; they put the bird in the cage, and the same ramage ensued. A little after, Helene entered, and told Marius and Fabrizio to take care that I had no cause to complain of having been soiled by the back; that they were well allowed to make their entrance; but that they were strictly forbidden to sow the seed there; that if they were so rash as to go against this order, they would have Ursine for an enemy. The good old woman then urged me to prepare myself for new attacks; but before they could begin, all four of them came again, and entered the square by the widest breach, and this was the eighth act of the Quartumvirate. As I was very fond of Acaste, I thought of giving him primacy in those unknown attacks of which Helene had spoken to me, and in which she wished me to be deflowered.

Octavie.

The Florentines say that the virginity of a girl is found in more than one place, and that it is lost in more than one way.

Tullie.

I therefore spoke to Acaste; but he quarrelled with me sharply, and told me that I was doing him a sensible affront by offering him a present of this nature. "The only grace," said he, "that I ask of you is that you may put yourself in a condition that I may contemplate your divine beauty at my ease." To satisfy him, I took off my clothes. This was soon done, because I had only a simple taffeta jacket and my shirt, which he pulled from me himself. He then threw himself at my collar, he looked at me for a long time naked, and handled me everywhere; and the kisses he gave to all the parts of my body were so tender and inflamed, that it seemed as if he wished to devour me. After these caresses, which were only the intervals of the play, he finished his character very gallantly, and like a true hero. Acaste was succeeded by Conrad, who soon played his part: he was followed by the two Florentines, who, having seen me naked, showed by their cries of joy how agreeable this surprise was to them. Marius, after having looked at me on all sides, said, "Lie down on your stomach, and let us see your beautiful buttocks." I, who well suspected their design, begged them both to have pity on me, and to consider my sex; they were insensible to my prayers. "What is the use of so many ways?" said Fabrizio. you who have so much wit, and who have cultivated it by the study of belles-lettres, why do you make it difficult to grant us what the noblest and most gallant ladies of Rome have not refused us? "Ah, Fabrizio," said I, "the mere thought of it horrifies me; besides the fact that I am not accustomed to this kind of combat, it is certain that I shall succumb to it. Ah, how you are precious! Marius interrupted; there are an infinite number of girls younger and weaker than you, who have resisted it well, and who have made themselves commendable among men by this use of their bodies. Should the virginity of the buttocks be more expensive to you than the virginity of the front? for my part, I believe that the one is as good as the other. In short, Octavia, all that I could say to these furious men to restrain them, was of no avail. Marius pointed his cannon near the fortress; and in spite of all my resistance, and the two half-moons which cover the entrance, he broke down the back door, and by this means made himself master of it. I had never lodged such a bad guest, and he set me on fire. After a few very hurried runs, he left whence he had entered, with roughness; and this sortie was made with so much violence, that I could not restrain my cries. To appease me, he quickly retired to the place of his usual retreat, and filled me there with a heavenly manna, a thousand times sweeter than the nectar of the gods. Marius having thus put an end to the attacks, Fabrizio advanced with a pike in his hand; one would have said to see him, that he would only consider the avenues: but I was deceived; for all his errands were not in vain. He attacked me like a true captain, and he wanted to seize the outside, the better to make himself master of the interior; which he succeeded very well, for he soon after entered the place. He did not stay there long, and only amused himself by making a few outings from time to time; until these continual movements having extraordinarily heated him, he was obliged to take his rest in the same place with Marius, and thus ended his campaign.

Octavie.

The description you have just given of these last attacks pleased me infinitely; and the turn you have given to history, to hide its deformity, seemed to me very witty: but did you find satisfaction in it?

Tullie.

The greatest pleasure I took in it was given me by Fabrizio; for the play he made with his member around my buttocks, together with the frequent entries and exits he made of my buttocks, caused me an itch which pleased me very much. Which makes me believe that I would not have much difficulty in accustoming myself to this banter. But God forbid! and I should be very sorry if Orontes were ever affected by this madness.

Octavie.

Confess to me ingenuously if he has never used the same rights on your backside as these gentlemen.

Tullie.

I will confess everything to you.

Octavie.

I will tell you in the same way what happened to me on this subject.

Tullie.

You will know, then, that a month after I was married to Orontes, love warmed her one day afternoon more than usual; that he got naked in the room, and wanted me to do the same. I hear someone; lend an ear.

Octavie.

Ah! it is Cléante & Medor; I hear them talking...

Tullie.

Yes, it is they: courage, my darling, you are going to play a pretty game; I'm delighted that we're still in bed.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! I dare not think of it.

Tullie.

Be welcome, Medor: here is a young lady, infinitely amiable and witty, if ever there was one; you could not find one more worthy of your love.

Rover.

Alas! I know perfectly well my happiness, and the mere presence of Madame causes me such sweet movements, that I am almost beside myself. Ah! How amiable you are, beautiful Octavia! Give me a kiss.

Octavie.

Ah, how inconvenient you are! You are not satisfied with a kiss: you come to the touching. If you do not withdraw, I will rise and shut myself up in the closet.

Rover.

Ah, Gods! how much beauty I perceive under this fluttering shirt! Ah, Octavia! if you were less cruel, you would be more amiable, and I more happy. Eh, please, why do you retire so quickly?

Tullie.

Where are you going, fool; Where do you run like this, naked in your shirt? Stop her, Medor; Do you stand idly by?

Cléante.

What! Octavia, do you not know that anger is the enemy of the beauty of ladies? What do you have to do with Medor in this way? all his violence must be sweet to you, since it has only your pleasure for its end. Okay, that's good, get back to bed.

Octavie.

Here it is already with me; Ah, how it grows! Ah, ah! I am willing to do so now; I consent to all that you do. Please, a little truce, so that I may put myself in a more comfortable position; undress, however.

Rover.

That's it: what! Are you still hiding between the sheets? I shall be able to find you there." Ah! I have you now; kiss me well, as I do.

Cléante.

You do not take heed, Octavia, that one of your feet touches the ground; I will take it up: don't let it trouble you, Medor.

Octavie.

Cléante, leave me in peace; Ah, how playful you are! Why scratch my feet like this? Eh, eh! And you, Medor, how rudely you shake me! Ah! I am dying, I can take it no longer.

Tullie.

That, Medor, hurry up, quick, quick; Don't you see how the poor child faints? I will, however, tickle these two globes of flesh for you, so that, by a speedy discharge, they may restore life to this dying beauty.

Octavie.

Courage, my dear Medor, do not spare me: ah! How I liked this first shock, this second, and this third, and this one, and that one! Ah, how pleasantly you tickle me! how sweet this liquor is! Ah! you pour out life for me all over my body.

Tullie.

What, Octavia, are you as dry as a stone? Are your spermatic ducts blocked? Why, then, do they not flow?

Octavie.

Ah, be silent, Tullie, I can't take it any longer, I'll unload: ah, ah!

Tullie.

Excite her again; Médor; push back, go forward: very well, very well.

Octavie.

Ah! you thought you would suffocate me by this shock, and by this one again: ah! I feel a little relieved by the ardour of this fire which you had kindled in my loins. But what! you are still distilling! Ah, how lustful your nerve is! Will not this pleasure end? Ah! I believe that from a young girl's con, you want to make a torrent of seed.

Cléante.

Make a move, Medor, I can no longer resist it: I am dying; and the height of happiness in which I see thee makes me unhappy.

Octavie.

Ah! I swoon, my dear Medor; and the languor in which I see you, completes my death. Do you want to leave the game so soon?

Tullie.

Here is our disgust! what do you call so soon? I believe that even Jupiter could not satisfy you, when he were changed into rain. If you are so hot, look at Cléante's member, how hard he is; it is all on fire.

Cléante.

Be in my favour, amiable Octavia; and so do you, Tullie.

Tullie.

Well, what do you want us both to do?

Cléante.

I desire that while I am handling Octavia's nipples, she will move her buttocks forward and backward with a swift and even movement; and you, Tullie, let you gently scrape the skin of the purse that contains your treasure with your beautiful hand. I ask this of you only in order that this beautiful child may be watered with abundance, and may taste in long draughts the sweetness of this ecstatic pleasure.

Tullie.

Do your duty, you jester; we will do ours.

Octavie.

Ah! Cléante, how inhuman you are! you are killing me. I will avenge myself, my shocks will answer all yours, and will be still more vigorous. Hem, hem, am I doing well? Do you like it?

Tullie.

Ah! you are doing wonders, Cléante; and you, Octavia, it seems that you are going to give up the ghost.

Octavie.

How importunate you are, Tullie, with your babble! What is the use of thus distracting my mind from the contemplation of so sweet an object? Ah! kiss me, my dear Cléante; Ah, how you have a tongue that is lustful! Certainly, it is as lascivious as the other parts of your body. Well, redouble; ah! I think you are unloading? ah! I feel, I feel... and I, and I, too.

Tullie.

And you, and you too: ah, how lascivious you are, little cousin! But you, Medor, what are you dreaming of? What are you thinking about?

Medor.

"Patience," he continued; (pointing to his Vit) he will tell you.

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! how it is believed in a moment! he is more furious than ever. It must be confessed that you are indefatigable: but will you not

not give Octavia a little rest? Médor.

We taste the same repose, and endure the same fatigues.

Cléante.

Come, Medor, occupy this field of Venus, where even Mars would think himself happy to descend to fight.

Medor.

What! are you fleeing, Octavia?"

Octavie.

No, I am not fleeing; but I wish to refresh myself, and catch my breath a little.

Tullie.

This is not necessary; you have only to awaken your lost appetite by some new posture: your languor is only a disgust, it does not come from plenitude: we must season the pleasure of Venus in so many ways, that the last one we take always makes us taste new ones.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! like Medor band! does he want to attack me again, although I am defeated? What glory will he be able to draw from his victory? And you, Tullie, I do not know what you call seasoning pleasure in various ways: for my part, I have never seen it done in more than one way.

Tullie.

I'm going to tell you. Notice how I raise my buttocks, bending the rest of my body; now turn yourself backwards on me, so that our backs are against each other, and our buttocks are also joined together: moreover, open your thighs a little, and lean your feet on the bed, that you may relieve me of the weight of the burden.

Octavie.

Certainly, Tullie, you will not have strength enough to support so heavy a weight, especially when Medor throws himself upon me; yet I am willing to obey you.

Medor.

I will relieve you, Tullie, as long as my strength permits. O lustful posture! Ah, I can no longer resist it; and the sight of so many beauties already sets me on fire.

Octavie.

Ah! Medor, my dear Medor, why don't you come in? the door is open, you will pay your compliments within. Well, that's good; you have already relieved me of a strange itch which I felt in my loins!

Tullie.

Shake your buttocks, Octavia, like me; Give them the same cadence: very well. Ah! How hot your bottom is! you excite me to the discharge.

Medor.

Courage, go on, my Goddesses; ah! you fill me with pleasure: I can bear it no longer, I am going to give up the ghost.

Tullie.

Push your buttocks upwards, Octavia, and respond by this movement to my agitations and to Medor's jerks.

Octavie.

Tullie, ah, Tullie, ah, Medor! you make me furious, I cannot help crying out. The way to restrain me! I feel... ah! I feel a rain flowing, ah, ah.

Tullie.

A rain?

Octavie.

Yes, a rain that Danaë would prefer to the golden rain of her Jupiter: go on, Tullie.

Tullie.

I am fulfilling my duty.

Octavie.

What! Twice already, Médor? and I also two. No, ah, ah, I discharge again; there are three: ah! That's enough.

Medor.

I do not believe, adorable Octavia and charming Tullie, that two ladies can be found more learned and luxurious than you; it is impossible to taste pleasure more perfectly, even if one were to enjoy the Graces quite naked: I would die, if Venus herself, who is the inventor of all that is most piquant in voluptuousness, could ever have imagined a posture so ingenious as that which you have invented.

Cléante.

Will you, Octavia, experiment with me; hold firm; Tullie? and you, the beauty, stay there.

Tullie.

I am willing to do so, but I feel such a great weariness spread through the whole body, that I fear I shall succumb before you have finished.

Octavie.

Ah, you me too violently! I should have received more pleasure if you had entered more gently. But I forgive you, provided you discharge the rest well: that is all right; go on, my heart, you delight me.

Tullie.

Stop, Cléante, you are shaking too roughly; consider that I am weary: make a move, I can no longer support you! Ah! I fall, I fall, my strength fails.

Octavie.

May Venus punish you, Tullie! you have just broken the best blow in the world: ah! how much regret I have there. Come in, my dear Cléante, there is the garden of delights open.

Cléante.

I want to consider the avenues a little, before entering: allow me this sensuality.

Octavie.

I allow you: ah! how playful you are! Will this continue for a long time?

Cléante.

No; here, I retire within, and prefer your prison to the sweetest liberty.

Octavie.

Hurry up, my dear fellow, I am already raptured in heaven; Push, ah, push even harder.

Cléante.

You will soon feel this divine liquor, with which I am going to fill you: ah, I am ready to pour into your cup this divine nectar of the Gods; and following the example of a high priest of Priapus, I will present to you a victim whom I will sprinkle with... ah! there it is. Ah, ah, ah...

Tullie.

And you, you scoundrel, have you also discharged?

Octavie.

Yes, Tullie. Give me a kiss, my dear Cléante, but a kiss that is accompanied by all the pleasures that love can inspire.

Tullie.

Ah, how bawdy you are, little cousin! how lascivious you are!

Octavie.

There has spread through all my limbs such a great weariness that I become almost insensible.

Medor.

It is impossible ever to sit down with Octavia, and this beautiful ass inspires me with new furies.

Tullie.

Do not be so rash as to do anything elsewhere than in the beautiful place.

Medor.

Are not all the parts of so amiable a person as Octavia beautiful? but let us leave these trifles, and come to more serious matters. Come, my Venus, get ready

Tullie.

What posture do you want her to put herself in? But one comes to my mind: I will rise, and raise Octavia's right leg as much as I can, so that it touches the canopy of the bed; and you, who are serious, will stretch out the other as much as you can, so that the entrance will be all the more agreeable to Medor, as it will be difficult. Courage, raise your thigh: and you, Medor, mount your horse, and show how you have been instructed in the academic exercises. Come, spur hard, and spare your horse.

Octavie.

Ah! Tullie, whom Medor shows by his furious assaults, how much deference he has to thy orders, and how obedient he is! But you hurt me; ah! you raise my leg, and lower it with too much violence: I fear you will hurt me by these frequent movements.

Medor.

Truly, Tullie, you are playing an admirable game. It is not necessary, Octavia, that you should be in any way agitated; there is enough of the stir that Tullie gives you.

Octavie.

I contribute nothing to all this banter except by patience; you owe all the rest to Tullia: but, Gods, I already feel myself quite penetrated; eh, eh.

Tullie.

Ah, you scoundrel, you discharge, I see it in your eyes; it is to me to whom you are indebted for this pleasure: kiss me, my little one, my amorous beak.

Octavie.

Ah, ah! I melt: stop, Medor, a little truce, I am dying, ah, ah! my heart...

Medor.

I defy that any young person more lascivious than you can be found in the empire of Venus; you have devoured me all my poor Vit: see how flaccid he is; look at the poor figure he makes: this is strange; it is a sin against the rights of hospitality to suck one's guests in this way. He came to you with a marvellous stoutness, large and fat, and of a color that marked his health: it is for you to put him in his first form; for he is no longer recognizable.

Tullie.

Médor is right; you must avenge him, Cléante: you can; for I have seen you drink a glass of wine mixed with certain drugs, which will have restored your strength."

Cléante.

It is true, Tullie; and I have drawn from this liquor new fires, the ardor of which Octavia will soon feel.

Octavie.

I believe that you intend to kill me, and to overwhelm me by your games and your jests.

Tullie.

What are you afraid of, fool? How can you expect that which gives life to everyone to cause you death? You are dreaming, no doubt; Medor, put this victorious heroine on your shoulders.

Octavie.

I can bear it no longer, my loins are breaking me, I could not resist it any longer.

Tullie.

You're doing the delicate thing! only obey. Medor, correct this obstinate woman, give her the whip; well, strong, that's good.

Octavie.

I think, Medor, that this is not a joke! ah, Gods! how you strike! You set my buttocks on fire. Ah! how rough a tutor you are! wait a little, I will throw myself on your shoulders."

Tullie.

Come, Medor, hold firm, and intertwine your arms with those of Octavia; and you, open your thighs. Approach, Cléante; This whole machine is being prepared for you: come and sit on your throne, but let it be with a sceptre in your hand.

Cléante.

Open then, my Venus, my Goddess, my heart, my Love, open your thighs, and show me the way that leads to glory.

Tullie.

You are now very much hindered, open them yourself.

Cléante.

Well, I have the key in my hand: but here are two roads and two doors; which one should give me entry?

Octavie.

Ah! I pray you, Cléante, do not look for anything there; Your key is not made for a small lock.

Cléante.

Do not complain, Octavia, I only want this place; it is my favorite and favorite part, for which I wish to employ all my love. Hold your firm, Octavia, I will give you strong proofs of it.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! Cléante, you are already all perspiring, and you have made no progress; I think that the entrance is too difficult in this way, and it will tire us both.

Cléante.

So much the better, my Heart, we shall taste the pleasure of it better: I shall not go straight to the seat of Venus; the road will be a little steep, and the resistance I find will only tickle us more.

Tullie.

I will move Octavia's thighs slightly, and help poor Cléante to do his duty. But, Gods, how violent are your shocks! you will doubtless throw to the ground both the horse and the rider: gently, moderate yourself.

Octavie.

May Heaven punish you, Tullie! What are you meddling with? Why prevent him from going fast?

Tullie.

Ah! you scoundrel, you begin to feel pleasure; ah! how Venus cherishes you! And you, Cléante, I think they have tied the needle for you.

Octavie.

No, no, you are mistaken; ah! he weeps, I feel it, I can't take it anymore.

Cléante.

Receive, my heart, these little drops of... ah, ah... of balm that will heal you.

Tullie.

Cleante, shake and squeeze well, so that not a drop of it is lost, and all this precious liquor may fill the vessels of Venus. You suck with the lips of your little connaut, this divine honey and this celestial ambrosia. Ah! one would say, to see you, that you were about to expire; courage, finished.

Octavie.

Ah, my dear Cléante, how sweet are your embraces, how pleasant they are to me! but what, you say nothing, do you discharge again? the excess of pleasure prevents me from perceiving it...

Cléante.

It is done, thanks to Venus. Do not think, however, that I am out of action; for if I were to consider the beauties of Octavia's body, I should soon be in a mood to return to it.

Tullie.

Medor, leave this precious burden, and allow this poor child, tired of so many struggles, to restore her strength by rest. See, she can hardly support herself on her legs.

Octavie.

Please, Medor, throw me on the bed; I could not go up there alone.

Tullie.

Do not be deceived, Octavia: this is only a truce; you will not be free of it so cheaply: Medor and Cléante have resolved to you each ten times.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods! they have too much friendship for me to treat me so rudely; it would be to put me at bay, and on the brink of death.

Tullie.

You may say it all; it is their design to do it to you twenty times.

Octavie.

Twenty times, ah, Gods! what a monster! You tell me of a prodigy: twenty times!

Tullie.

I can see that you are not so weary as you would like to seem. Look, they did it to you one after the other seven times; three more for each, and the count will be round. Do you want? You still have frippy eyes. I will then take you to another room to rest, and I will take care that you have soon recovered your strength.

Octavie.

No, I cannot, Cousin, it is impossible for me.

Tullie.

Yet you still seem to me to do it well two or three times.

Octavie.

Tullie, come closer, I pray you, that I may say a word in your ear.

Tullie.

What do you want? Speak loudly.

Octavie.

I would not dare. Come closer, then, my dear child; I feel such a great itch in the part, that I can no longer resist it: I feel myself all on fire; what is to be done about it, my cousin?

Tullie.

Ah, ah, ah, the pleasant disease! It was you, Cléante and Medor, who caused it to her: do you know what she complains of?

Rover.

Tell us, Tullie; What is she complaining about?

Octavie.

Don't say it, Tullie, please.

Tullie.

Ah, ah, she says she's burning.

Octavie.

You have as much difficulty in holding your tongue as Medor in governing his Vit: to confide a secret to you is to put water in a sieve. What a strange loveseat you are! I am very far from being angry with you.

Rover.

Let's talk about something else, since Octavie is in a bad mood. Do you remember, Cléante, the beautiful Marianne?

Cléante.

No doubt I remember it; I must have forgotten the service you rendered me to her, for I had lost my memory of it.

Tullie.

Is it this same Marianne that you gave to Cléante? Ah, how maliciously you abused the credulity of this poor girl, although she loved you so much!

Octavie.

Ah, how happy I should be to hear this story, Cléante! Medor, tell me about it, if you will please me.

Rover.

Let Cléante play the historian; it was he who profited by the ruse.

Cléante.

I want it. You will know that being in Rome at Medor's, towards the end of autumn, I fell madly in love with Marianne; and the violence of the passion I felt for her was so great, that I believe I should have died of displeasure, if I had not received relief. It was Medor who roused me from the languor in which I was, by the most illustrious mark of friendship that I could have expected from him. He had conceived a friendship for this beautiful woman, and was happy enough to be loved by her; and sacrificing all his interests to my love, he won over the governess, and persuaded her to introduce him at night into her room. The latter, who had perceived the inclination which the young girl had for Medor, thought the enterprise easy, and assured her of a happy success; she then spoke of it to Marianne, who gave her consent. Medor learned the hour of the rendezvous, and the place: he informed me of everything, and put me in his place. The governess did not fail to come and open the door at the appointed hour; she took me by the hand, thinking I was Medor, and led me to Marianne, who was lying in bed. I was not recognized, because there was no light. You will observe that the room of Medor's mother was near that of Marianne, who was the daughter of her sister.

Silence was recommended to us by the Matron, lest the aunt should hear us. She added, speaking in my ear, that the fight must be quiet, and my jerks very sweet, because I had to do with a virgin; besides that, if they were too rough and too violent, the noise of the bed would uncover all our amusements.

Tullie.

How happy Marianne was that night! for there is nothing sweeter than to possess what one has long desired, and to enjoy it as one pleases.

Cléante.

I therefore entered the room, where I found the young maid in great impatience: I quickly undressed; and going to bed, I stretched myself at full length on her without saying a word to her. "You know, Marianne," said the governess, "what I warned you of: it will not be without suffering some pain that you will be deflowered; but we must be very constant; and whatever harm Medor does you with his instrument, endure it patiently: do not say a single word, if you do not wish to lose yourselves both. The good lady then took my instrument in her hand, and she put her head at the entrance of the slit of this innocent woman. She told me to push, and I did so, but so loudly, that in two or three knocks I broke open the door, and entered with three fingers. This officious woman then withdrew her hand to scratch lightly the top of my member, in order to excite him, and to infuriate him by this tickling.

Octavie.

Well, what was Marianne doing then?

Cléante.

Her governess raised her buttocks with one hand, and I then entered entirely inside. Ah, ah, ah! said the poor child, sighing, push, push, Medor, you have not yet entered enough. However, I shook it in a strange manner, which caused me to make such an abundant ejaculation of semen, that the vessel was overflowing with it. Marianne clasped me lovingly in her arms, while the rain fell in great boils; she kissed me tenderly, and uttered little moans, like those of a turtledove being caressed by her companion.

Tullie.

And Mariane, did she not unload?

Cléante.

We were both fully satisfied. But the sweetness of the pleasure she felt at the discharge, and the tickling caused by the release of her seed, made her forget the warning she had received. These continual movements, accompanied by a few sighs and a few words, which she uttered from time to time with a burst, awoke her aunt, who immediately entered our room, to know the cause of the noise she had heard.

Octavie.

Ah, how I fear for you! I believe that fear seizes you at this moment.

Cléante.

You will learn it. "What do I hear?" cried Medor's mother. Are you alone? "Yes, we are both alone," replied the governess. "I was dreaming," added Mariane, "and I thought I saw a hideous phantom pursuing me with great strides; and as the fear I had of it made me flee, I almost fell out of bed exclaiming. "It is just," replied her aunt, "what I expected: go back to sleep; all dreams are pure folly. "I got up," said the governess, "at the noise she made in her fright. "You have done well," she continued, "stay a little longer by his bed; and in order to remove this panic terror from her mind, tell her something that amuses her: as for me, I am going to bed.

Tullie.

But while she was present, what were you doing, who was your character?

Cléante.

My poor Marianne clasped me lovingly in her bosom, with passionate embraces. "I am lost, my dear Medor," she said to me in a low voice, "and perhaps you too; hide yourself well to the bottom of the bed, for fear of surprise, which I did: so much so, that her buttocks served me as a pillow and cushion. I was exceedingly touched by her fears: but as soon as her aunt was gone, and had left us at liberty, to take away her remembrance of it, I again stretched myself over her; and in order that she might not feel so much pain, I rubbed my instrument from one end to the other with the jasmine ointment which the governess gave me. Marianne also used it to grease the outside and inside of her part. Would you believe it, Octavia? this anointing was admirable; for in four or five shocks that I gave; which were accompanied by the movement of my goddess's buttocks, she and I made such an abundant discharge of semen, that we lost our speech at the same time, and remained one on top of the other with my mouth glued to hers, without giving any sign of life, except by light sighs. As soon as we had recovered from this ecstasy, the good Matron obliged me to retire, and to take leave of Marianne. Words had no part in this farewell; it was only made by the most tender kisses that love is capable of giving and receiving. This, in short, is how the marriage of this Beauty took place: it was a happy one, as you see; for this interruption, which the mother of Medor brought to it, only served to rekindle our fires.

Octavie.

Is Marianne's beauty as perfect, as she is portrayed? Because I remember seeing his portrait.

Cléante.

Marianne is as tall as a girl can be, without being ridiculous; her figure is admirable, although she neglects it; she is very stout; his eyes are black and well slit; they have nothing too languid, and their sweetness is animated by a certain fire, which she spares as she pleases. Her mouth is very small, and all her movements are so full of charms, that she takes away hearts, however indifferent she says. His complexion is of a lively and animated whiteness; in short, Octavia, she has a great deal of your air. His throat is well filled, and of such elevation as is necessary to please; its nipples are firm, white, and of such a size as can be desired. They kiss each other incessantly, because they are very close to each other. If I had a poetic soul, I could compare them to two citadels, where Love, Graces, Laughs, and Games take their amusements, and from which they wound and pierce with their arrows those who are so daring as to form the design of their conquest. Her buttocks are firm, white, polished, and her whole buttocks are of an admirable shape and turn; her thighs are the same: but what is most charming is that in the centre of all these beauties one sees a marvellous slit which may pass for a masterpiece of nature. She was extremely small during her virginity, but now she is a little larger. This opening is surrounded by a small will-o'-the-wisp hair, which is only just springing up, and which is finer than silk. This part of Marianne seemed to me higher than that of the common; for as his stoutness makes his belly a little forward, this place appears like an hors d'oeuvre: it is the most advantageous situation that can be desired, to taste pleasure in all its extent.

Tullie.

All that you have just said seems to me divine; it is rather the painting of a Goddess than of a mortal; and it seems to me from the portrait of Marianne, to see Venus quite naked. I have only noticed one thing among so many beauties, which passes in my mind for an imperfection; it is because her nipples touch: it seems to me that they would be much more agreeable, if they were separated by a fair distance.

Cléante.

Ah! Tullie, if the distance of these two parties is of some pleasure, you should know that their proximity also has its advantages: it is extremely voluptuous to the one who does the action; it warms his imagination much more than if they were far apart, and the pleasure we receive from this situation must be preferable to the other.

Octavie.

Is it true, Tullie, that the proximity of these two parts is so voluptuous a thing to those who enjoy our embrace?

Tullie.

You will learn it another time; only think of putting yourself in a condition to dance three more sarabandes: you are not ignorant that you still need three strokes to go to the height of pleasure, and to the calculation we have made.

Medor.

Tullie is right, enough is said about Marianne. Prepare yourself, Octavia, to show us that you have even more beauty than she: see how I have the weapons in my hand; but I intend to enter the battle by a new way.

Octavie.

By a new path, you say? No, I swear to you, the door is shut, both for you and for everyone else; No doubt you are dreaming.

Medor.

My tongue has turned, I meant by a new posture.

Tullie.

Good for that; What is this posture? I will tell you one that will have a bearing on your inclination; it is called Hector's horse. Lie down at full length, Medor, and hold your pike as straight as you can. Octavia, turn your back on her, as if you wanted to show her your buttocks; and sitting on his belly, bring this ingot of love into the cabinet of your riches: take it in your hand; Well, that's good.

Octavie.

Help me, my dear Mador; Hen, hen, hen, help, I'm already starting to feel an incredible pleasure all over my body.

Medor.

I help you with all my might; and you, help me to relieve myself, by the movement of your buttocks.

Octavie.

I do as much as I can, hen, hen hen; as long as I can.

Tullie.

O charming sighs; O sweet groans! What, you've both already done? it is too soon. Octavie, why allow Medor to mess around so quickly? It was necessary to make it remain longer, in order to suck it to the last drop: remember it another time.

Octavie.

I will not fail to do so.

Cléante.

Where are you fleeing, Octavia? What, you have granted it to Medor, and you refuse it to me! you are laughing at me.

Octavie.

In good faith, Cléante, I can take it no longer; This struggle has so weakened me, that I cannot support myself on my legs: please, let me lie in rest on this bed."

Cléante.

What, you're already picking up your shirt? leave it, I pray you, and allow me at least to contemplate all the beauties of your body, if you do not wish me to enjoy them: let my eyes be content, if you do not wish my other senses to be satisfied.

Octavie.

Well, I took off my shirt, do you see me? contemplate me well, and leave me afterwards in repose.

Cléante.

O body a thousand times more beautiful than that of Venus! can you, Tullie, look at those beautiful buttocks without admiring them? Ah, suffer me to kiss them, and to handle them. Ah, ah, how firm and white they are! they look like two mountains covered with snow, and separated by the same valley. Yes, I am very far from giving preference to this beautiful ass, above all other parts of the body; ah! Let these touches please and excite me: ah! I can't take it any longer, I'm all on fire.

Octavie.

And so do I; This is the effect of your jests, you have put me in a state where I can refuse you nothing. But make haste, for I am melting: what posture do you want?

Cléante.

Do not change it, and remain as you are: I will tell you from behind; because the sight of your buttocks charms me? Lower your head a little; well, that's good; Stand firm.

Octavie.

Ah, how rudely you entered! you burn me, your limb is on fire: quick, quick, I can take it no longer, I am already discharging; ah, ah, Cléante, ah...

Tullie.

Hold her tightly with both hands under her hips, and bring her buttocks as close to your belly as you can: push firmly, and pull: well, that's already done. That, Medor, is up to you to succeed Cléante; I see that you are not in a bad condition to defend yourself.

Octavie.

A little truce, Tullie, I beg you; I am weary, weakened, and exhausted; a moment's rest, I beseech you.

Tullie.

Trifles! you have been vigorous for a while, and now you pretend to have no more strength; to others, you laugh at us.

Octavie.

I think there is a knock at the door; listen, Medor.

Medor.

No doubt I hear someone.

Octavie.

Retire, then, one and the other: farewell, Medor, farewell, Cléante, my heart, my love, and my delights: farewell!

Tullie.

Why should we be alarmed? our husbands are absent, and I have given the servants so good order, that they have no reason to suspect anything of us; all is safe. I hear that they are spoken to in low tones; we will know who it is before they leave."

Octavie.

It may be on the part of the Governor.

Tullie.

Probably; for he is a man who loves his amusement, and who delights in passing the whole night in laughter and drinking, with the young nobility of the city. For my part, I highly approve of his conduct; for a life free from the pleasures of Venus and Bacchus is not a true life: and this manner of acting has won him the friendship of all honest people.

Octavie.

There are, however, some who do not approve of it, and who pass it off as being too free.

Tullie.

I know whom you mean: they are persons obstinate in their own wisdom, who praise nothing but themselves, and who can only approve of insipid and insipid manners: Reliquis iniqui judices, æqui sibi. Let us flee from their eyes, let us flee from these false sages; they are harpies who have the human face, and are enemies of everything that has the form of man; they are misanthropes, who, under the appearance of a just censorship, spoil and defile all that is most beautiful, and make even the most innocent actions criminal. Although their criticism is odious to us, we must nevertheless guard against it with great care; and even in the midst of our amusements and conversations, when they are public, we ought to have a great regard for honesty.

Octavie.

But, Tullie, tell me a little bit what way of life do you call honest? for there is no agreement on this; there is nothing so equivocal.

Tullie.

Honesty, Octavia, consists only in appearance: Honestum est honestum videri. Men never go into things; and as their minds are limited, they can only examine what comes under the senses. Let us clothe ourselves with the appearance of virtue in our actions, even the most criminal (to speak according to our morals), we shall pass for honest in the minds of the most severe critics, and of the most austere censors of the pleasures of life. To this, Octavia, we ought to apply ourselves, without imitating certain women who live unsparingly, who cannot love without making their passion known, and who would, so to speak, find no pleasure in voluptuousness, if they did not make it known to everyone. This conduct is very dangerous; for, besides the fact that our condition subjects us to keep more measures than men, I find pleasure still sweeter when it is known only to him with whom I take it, than if several others had the knowledge of it: and it is infinitely more agreeable to amuse oneself by persuading the world that it is not so. than to make his passion public. This is my feeling, and I find it the most piquant end and charm of voluptuousness.

Octavie.

It is a strange thing that we should be obliged to hinder ourselves in actions which ought to be entirely free.

Tullie.

What do you want, my poor child; These are unjust and rigorous laws that these false sages have imposed on us, and from which we cannot depart without giving occasion to these ridiculous reformers, to cry out against us, to overwhelm us with insults, and to blacken our reputation by the most atrocious backbiting. For them, they hide themselves from our eyes; they go about masked, and do all they can to evade our penetration. Let us do the same, Octavia; this world is only a comedy: we praise or blame in the spectacles what others do and say on the stage; but of what happens behind it, we do not speak of it. It is the same in civil life: the actions that men see are exposed to their censure; and those which are done in secret are exempt from it. But if we could see within these wise men what is going on there, if we could penetrate even into their hearts, to study their passions, ah! What should we not discover in the interior of these false devotees, who, under the veil of a deceitful humility, and an affected severity of morals, preach virtue to us! Ah, how much disorder, debauchery, and disorder we should see! Oh, if we saw them! but let us finish, here is Cléante.

Cléante.

I have come to tell you some news. The Governor has sent to beg Medor and I to go and spend a few hours with him. What are we to do, my Tullie? what advice do you give us, Octavia?

Octavie.

What honesty requires of you.

Medor.

What? To separate us as soon as possible?

Octavie.

I am sorry about that.

Tullie.

We must obey; the prayers of the great must pass for commandments; go away: kiss me, Cléante."

Octavie.

Alas! my delights are going with you: kiss me, Medor. O dearest half of my soul!

Medor.

Ah, how sweet this kiss is to me! but, Octavia, give me complete joy.

Octavie.

No, it is done, I will not give it.

Cléante.

Or to me too?

Tullie.

Neither to the one nor to the other; you are importunate: yield to time, not to Love.

Octavie.

Ah, how hard you can get out! "Hurry, we shall meet again; farewell, Cléante, farewell, Medor.

Tullie.

Finally, here they go. Well, Octavia, you are very much deceived; you thought you would receive at least twenty floods of seed, and you were scarcely watered with the eighth. Trust another time to the things of this world.

Octavie.

My strength was not proportioned to so great a work: I might well have gone as far as the tenth; but that is all: for do not call pleasure that which wearises pleasure. Would you even believe, Tullie, that this banter keeps my heart and mind so alert, that I should have great difficulty in sleeping when I wished? Let's talk a little.

Tullie.

I am willing to do so, to pass the time more joyfully: but what do I see on land? It is a note; It will probably have fallen from the pocket of Cléante, or Medor. Here, read it.

Octavie.

The characters, traced without art or order, show at first that they are by the hand of a girl.

* * *

MARIANNE IN MEDOR,

Hello, &c.

Wretched woman that I am! Must I warn you, and give you the greeting you should have wished me first? What cruel fate prevented you from coming at the hour you promised me, to satisfy my love? In what state do you think your failure to keep my word has reduced me? I cannot live or die; Ah, how painful this impotence is to me! On the one hand, I find that death is the only relief from the evils with which my soul is overwhelmed; and on the other, the only hope I have of seeing you again, makes me wish to live. Imagine, then, what a struggle I suffer, since I am between life and death: if you come, I will live; if you do not come, death is inevitable to me: doubt not it, since it is only you who are capable of giving me pleasures." Objects that would be agreeable to others displease me; and I am absent from myself, since I no longer see you. If you do not come, I will not be able to resist so many evils at once; my sorrows and anxieties will consume me, and you will have the pleasure of having caused the death of a person who loves you so passionately. Let yourself be moved, my dear Medor, by my prayers and my sighs; come and restore life to a dying woman, and do not despise a love as tender as mine: I look forward to you. Farewell.

Octavie.

I assure you that Marianne writes very well, Medor is happy to be loved by a girl so tender and so witty. I thought that it was only Cléante who had a share in his favours.

Tullie.

You were mistaken; and the love she had for Medor could not have been more violent, One night when she was in bed, she found herself in extreme anxiety; she desired her lover and did not possess him. Her governess asked her what was the matter, and why she did not sleep? Ah! my dear Terence, (so she was called), am I in a condition to rest? I would pity you, if you knew what I suffer. Ah, Medor, my dear Medor, it is only you who can extinguish the fire that consumes me! As she said this, she only turned round; sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other? In short, it seemed as if her bed were of thorns, and that she could not find a comfortable place to sleep there. Poor Terence was rather embarrassed; she did all she could to console her: "It is nothing," said she, "I will cure you of your illness; have good hopes, and do not grieve yourself with so many anxieties that would be harmful to your health: I will see to it that you will have satisfaction tomorrow. These words somewhat revived Marianne, and she fell asleep at once. As soon as the day came, Terence arose, and went to Medor in his room; she told him what was going on, and begged him to come with her, to relieve a poor child who was dying of love for him. Marianne's aunt had fortunately gone the day before to a pleasure house two miles distant from Rome. Medor followed the good old woman, and found her who was impatiently waiting for him, carelessly stretched out on the bed. She wanted to get up when she saw him, but he prevented her; she wept with joy, and told him all that love, which has made itself master of a woman's heart, can inspire in tenderness and passion. She told him in what anxieties she had passed the night, and quarrelled with him lovingly because he was the cause of all her sorrows, Medor endeavoured to justify himself, but at last peace was made between them by the consent of both. This is the manner in which it was concluded. Medor took Marianne's left thigh, and placed it on the knuckle of the right arm; he then placed pillows under the buttocks of this Beauty, and raised his right thigh on his left shoulder. After they were thus prepared, Terence took Medor's member in his hand, and plunged it into a jar of scented oil, which she did with prudence; for the Vit of Medor is very large and very hard when he bandages. The Con of Marianne was extremely small and narrow. This done, Medor begged Marianne to conduct her instrument herself to the place of combat; which she did; but it required more than six severe shocks to make him half enter: he did so much, however, that at last he hid him entirely. Ah! Medor, what are you doing to me," said she, transported with joy? how great is the pleasure you give me! Ah, I can't take it anymore! I am dying, my dear fellow, and I feel, ah, ah, neck—" flow; I feel... with all my veins, ah! I swoon ... "And so do I," said Medor; ah, my love, I melt, ah, divine Marianne! Ah, ah! What? Terence said, "both at the same time?" how Venus loves you! They lost their speech for some time, and only recovered from their ecstasy to give each other a thousand kisses. Medor, who thought he was in heaven, would not make a fool; Marianne was delighted; and considering each other thus, their imaginations were so heated that they were happy a second time.

Octavie.

Ah! I feel a horrible itch; you relate things with so much naivety, that it seems as if they were touched, and seen. I wish Medor were here, and that he would do it to Marianne. I think this attitude is very voluptuous! Have you never experienced it?

Tullie.

Ah, Gods! repeatedly; it is my favorite posture: it causes incredible pleasure, especially when the one who is in the party has a large and succulent member, and the girl knows how to second him well.

Octavie.

I imagine that Marianne did wonders on her side, and that this honest Whore responded lovingly to the shocks of her lover.

Tullie.

You maliciously divert the meaning of an ugly word: learn that the application you make of it is outside the rules; and that only the women of the dregs of the people are called whores, who abandon themselves only for money, and not for pleasure. Wherever these villains go, they always carry with them the filth of the brothel; they are a reproach to themselves. It is not the same with persons of quality: whatever intercourse they may have with those of their rank, they are never given this infamous name; and you must know that She-Wolf, Whore, and Brothel are terms invented to mark the ignominy of fortune, and not the conduct of manners.

Octavie.

Let us leave this fine moral there. If I remember, you had already run the ring twelve times, when Medor interrupted your discourse; Tell me the rest of the story.

Tullie.

I want it.

Octavie.

May Venus lose Fabrizio and Marius, for having violated the laws of Nature in your regard!

Tullie.

Those who are prickly with wit, say that there is nothing to condemn in this pleasure; that a woman's ass is not of a different nature from the other parts of her body; that there is no more harm in putting the Vit in his buttocks, than in making him in his hands. Be that as it may, the thing seems ridiculous to me, if it is not ugly in itself.

Octavie.

It seems to me ridiculous and infamous: for I do not know how to understand what pleasure can be found in such extravagant furies; nor can we conceive how this disorder has entered into the minds of most people, in order to corrupt their innocence.

Tullie.

Astrologers say that this vice entered the world by a certain constellation, the malignity of which has spread in the hearts of men: that nevertheless those who are beyond the Alps are less subject to it than the others, and that the Italians and Spaniards are the most given to it. The latter try to persuade us that it is a game that has nothing dishonest about it, and that the use has been received by all well-policed nations. They have no difficulty in proving it to us; for we know that the Greeks, who have infinite wit, excelled in it, and carried this jesting to excess. They paid to Callipiga, on account of the beauty of her buttocks, the same homage as to Venus: she had, however, nothing in her countenance that could have attracted such adoration for her; and if the Syracusans dedicated a temple to him, it may be said that it was only in consideration of his backside. I believe, Octavia, that if you had been of that time, you would have been venerated for the same subject, and that altars would have been erected for you.

Octavie.

These are tales. But I want my buttocks to be beautiful as you say, to be pleasant to see, to handle, even to kiss: if you like, I don't object to it; but to say that I allow someone to make other use of it, no, I would die rather than abandon myself thus to infamous pleasures.

Tullie.

O the fine words! I do not see that you have any reason to call a man infamous, for having put the Vit in your back, provided that after a few comings and goings, he dragged him out to make his retreat to the usual place. You would have much more pleasure in it; and the discharge he would make of his seed would be much warmer and more impetuous.

Octavie.

Since we are on this subject, oblige me, Tullie, to teach me how this vice originated, how it was received from men, and authorized by custom, in short; why are some people infected with it, and others not? For my part, I believe that this fire came from hell, to defile the innocent flames of love.

Tullie.

I will satisfy you on what you ask of me. All men, Octavia, are subject to the same passions, and are composed in the same manner and of the same members. They call love that cupidity, or rather that piquant desire which impels them to unite themselves with the object they cherish; but they consider their pleasure in this union more than that of the person beloved. They love to the point of anger all the parts of our body which most irritate their furies, and which excite them most to the ejaculation of that humour which we call semen. This liquor serves the generation of man, when it is poured out in the part which nature has destined for this purpose, and it is in its outpouring that men find true bliss. But it is a strange thing, Octavia, that this evacuation is not sooner effected, that they generally despise our caresses, our kisses, and our embraces; and what formerly delighted them to excess, has not the least charm for them.

As for the seed that is cooked in the loins of man and woman, the wisest hold that it should not be entirely used for generation; and it is the same, they say, with the seed of trees and other plants. Is not part of the wheat intended for the use of animals, and the other for the ploughman, so that one part is changed into our substance, and the other is lost? As for other plants, the seed of which is not for the use of man, and which no pleasure induces to gather, nature gives a part of them to the earth, and does not care that the other should be lost. It is the same, say Socrates and Plato, of the seed of man; it is folly to believe that the intention of nature is that it should be used entirely for generation. For Octavia, when we are pregnant, and our pregnancy is already far advanced, it is not denied that our husbands have a right to our bodies (as is also true). Now it is ridiculous to maintain that their seed is then employed in the formation of man, since it is already formed, and that it is impossible, even if they were to fill our womb with it, that a new one should be formed; and one would have to be mad to hope for one. Another reason which confirms what I say is that there are many girls who fall into dangerous diseases, from which they can only be cured by remedies which provoke them to the expulsion of the seed which rots in their loins. All these reasons have some appearance of truth, because they are derived from the intention of nature; and it is this that has led men to seek in their sex and in ours, something to satisfy their lust: so much so that what was at first only the intemperance of a few delicate people, at last became in some provinces the vice of a whole people. If they took wives in marriage, it was not for love, but only to have children by them; and as soon as they were pregnant, he looked upon them as slaves, shut them up in the most secret places of the house, and had no longer any intercourse with them.

Our sex was not more sought after in many other places: it was a reproach to all the kings of Asia; and all the people, regulating their manners by the conduct of their princes, burned there like them with an infamous love. Philip of Macedon loved Pausanias, whose assassination he was for not having avenged him for the violence which Attulas his favorite did to him, by exposing him at a banquet to the sensuality of his servants. King Nicodemus took this pleasure with Julius Caesar; Augustus was not exempt from this fantasy; Nero married Tigillinus, and Sporus Nero. While Trajan was subduing all the East, he had with him a serrail of young boys, the most beautiful that could be found, with whom he passed the whole night. The rival of Plautin served as a wife to Hadrian, and was more fortunate than this empress; for the love which the emperor bore him was so violent, that he mourned him greatly after his death, and even consecrated temples to him, placing him in the rank of the gods. You see that male weddings were in custom, like the others. Heliogabalus took pleasure in all parts of the body; the behind, the mouth, the ears were to him delicious idiots; and this prodigious disorder made him pass for a monster among men. Do not think that this inclination was peculiar to kings: the philosophers, whose gravity of manners ought to serve as an example to the rest of men, have succumbed to this folly. Alcibiades and Phoedon were favorites of Socrates; and when these two disciples wished to learn anything from their master, they were obliged to sleep with him: it was in bed that he taught them the finest of his morals and politics, and never did they profit more than when he lectured them between sheets: whence came the proverb, TO LOVE BY THE FAITH OF SOCRATES, Socraticâ fide diligere. Plato, that divine man, could not be for a moment without his Alexis, his Pledius, or his Agathon. Xenophon spent his time with Callias and Antolicus. Aristotle had his Herminas; Pindar, Amaricon; Epicurus, Pirocles; Aristippus, Entichides; and so of the others.

Lycurgus, that great legislator, who lived a few centuries before Socrates, said that a citizen could not be good or useful to the republic, unless he had a friend with whom he slept. He ordained that the virgins should appear naked on the stage on the days of the spectacle, in order that the sight of their nakedness might blunt (so to speak) the point of the love which the young men conceived for them, and that it might make more ardent the love they bore to each other: for we are not touched by the objects we often see. What shall I say of the Poets? Anacreon burned for Batthile. All the jokes of Plautus are only on this subject; and all the expressions with which his works are full, show us that he was very much given to it. Virgil, that master of poetry, who was called the Artexius, that is to say, Virgin, on account of the purity of his writings, loved Alexander, whom Pollio made him a present, and gave him much praise in his verses under the name of Alexis. Ovid felt the same passion; he nevertheless preferred the love of sex to that of boys, because he wished that voluptuousness should be common to both, and that the pleasure of discharge should be equally enjoyed by both.

Asia was first the seat of this evil, then Africa, whence this plague spread throughout Greece, and from Greece to the neighboring provinces of Europe. Orpheus was the first to put this pleasure into use in Thrace, after the death of Eurydice his wife. His crime did not go unpunished; for the ladies tore him to pieces during the mysteries of Bacchus, and scattered all the parts of his body through the fields. It is said that formerly the Celts laughed at those who would not taste this pleasure; they had no esteem for them; and they were for the most part so given to it, that purity of morals was an obstacle to possessing the offices. So true is it, Octavia, that the Sage ought not to cling slavishly to his maxims alone; so good is it, even necessary, that he sometimes allows himself to be carried away by the torrent of the people.

Octavie.

Ah, Gods, what a spirit! Go on; I am charmed with your knowledge and your eloquence.

Tullie.

By the name of Celts, I do not understand only the French, who are beyond the Alps, but all the nations of the west, such as the Italians and Spaniards; the latter two are the most devoted to it. Most of the French have an aversion to it, and even burn those who are convinced that they have abandoned themselves to it. They believe that iron is not capable of avenging the outrage done to chastity. The Italians are not so rigorous, and say that the French have no good taste for voluptuousness, since they despise it in its most piquant aspects; However, they are now starting to be a little more sensitive to it. For my part, Octavia, I do not see that men are all the wrong in this respect that one imagines; and I confess that although the beauty which is the origin of love is our portion, we nevertheless give them reason to seek elsewhere a more perfect pleasure than that which they take with us.

Octavie.

I don't understand what you mean.

Tullie.

You will conceive it now. Who is there to deny, Octavia, that we Italians and Spaniards have a wider con than all the other Europeans? Supposing this to be true, will you not confess that a man who wishes to be pressed and sucked into combat to the last drop, has no pleasure when he enters so easily, and walks out into the deep? But it does not happen in the same way in our backside: the entrance is very small; and when the member is once there, it not only fills up this part, but even breaks it, and adapts it to its capacity, its size, or its smallness; which cannot be done in our womb: for when it is once opened, there is no art, there is no posture or movement, which can diminish the size of the mouthpiece by an inch, nor prevent it from swallowing up a wretched Vit all at once; and it is from this that it happens that men ride us by the back, the better to satisfy their lascivious appetites. On the contrary, the women of the North are not exposed to these villains, because they are much narrower than we are; it seems that the cold makes the game so small for them, so small is it for the rule: which means that their husbands, finding pleasure in it in perfection, do not amuse themselves by going elsewhere to seek it. This, Octavia, is what you wanted to know about me.

Octavie.

You forgot to tell me whether you approved of this conjunction, or whether you abhorred it as I did.

Tullie.

I would do wrong to approve of it; when the earth would say nothing, the fulminating voice of heaven condemns it. I will tell you this again of the ancients, before I finish. Lucian ingeniously disputes about these two Venuses; he does not condemn one of them, and it is even difficult to say to which of the two he gives preference. Achilles Tatius speaks of it with no less obscurity in his Clitophon. The Latin writers seem to be of the same opinion: but what is more surprising is, that no legislator has forbidden them. They approved of all the ways of taking pleasure, except to be sucked; they rightly wished that the mouth should be a sacred place for the Vit, where he could never enter. This dissolution, however, is still in use in many parts of Italy.

I will therefore act in good faith, not with the faith of Socrates, and I will tell you that this vice should be severely punished; for the thoughts which men have of uniting themselves with us are natural to them, that it is a manifest theft that they make of us when they abandon themselves to their fellow-men. As soon as the blood begins to heat in the veins of a young man, without consulting any other than himself, he naturally knows that he can only extinguish his fire in the embraces of a woman. This same nature makes the same impression on the heart of a girl; and however coarse she may be, she will be agitated with as violent a desire for the man's member, though she has never seen it, as the latter will be for the woman's part, though she is unknown to him. As they are made for each other, all their thoughts tend only to unite. Such is the progress of honest love. It is not the same in the conjunction of the other; it is not nature that inspires him, but rather the corruption of morals. If the buttocks had been intended for this purpose, it would have been more conveniently formed; the member of man could have entered and left it without so much labor or danger: which we do not see; since young girls who are easily deflowered, cannot bear attacks from the bottom without feeling stinging pains, which are often followed by diseases that all the industry of Aesculapius cannot cure.

The reasons which these debauched men give for authorizing their dissolution do not convince me, although they draw them from the nature of things, from the examples of the ancients, and from the manners even of the wisest ones: for can any one imagine, however little light he has, that the voluntary loss of the seed is effected without some crime? Is it not true, Octavia, that he who abandons himself to this infamous pleasure kills a man since he could have formed one? He is an adulterer, he is a murderer, and he strangles (so to speak) by this filthy voluptuousness, a child who is not yet born. Is it not taking away life, to refuse it when one can give it? When nature works to form the seed in our loins, her end is generation, and not the accomplishment alone of our sensuality, which is only her second motive, by which she endeavours to draw us to the deduction, from which men and women would be repulsed by the pangs of childbirth, if pleasure were not as a reward. But, some will say, what should a man do when a woman is fat? Isn't the sperm that he pushes into his womb by riding it lost? No; it is a mistake to imagine it: we can know it as before; it is only necessary to take care that she does not put herself in a position that may inconvenience the child. Physicians maintain that a new fruit may be formed; that the first will come out at its end, and the second a few days after; and this is what they call Overlay. Why not entrust to the power and skill of nature this matter of which she forms her masterpiece? I now reply to those who, in order to defend their disorder, make use of the comparison of wheat and other plants, part of which is eaten by animals, and the other of which grows grain; I answer, I say, that the wheat is not properly a seed, but a perfect fruit, which contains in itself the seed by means of which it is reborn. Beef and sheep are perfect animals of their kind. Who can prevent us from eating them, because they contain in them a vital seed, which perpetuates their kind? In this we do no harm to nature, we do not act against her intention, and the most critical philosophers have never condemned the use that was made of wheat and other fruits.

Octavie.

Truly, Tullie, you speak like an oracle; But allow me to tell you that the reasons you use to destroy the arguments you have put forward do not seem to me to be strong enough yet. For it is certain that if love is born of resemblance, it is more perfect between two boys than between a man and a girl. If it be true, as all confess, that what is agreeable is preferable to what will be useful, we ought not to be surprised, if men despise our embraces, to seek a pleasure which they find more perfect in their fellow-men: besides those manners approved by long usage, and confirmed by the example of the greatest men, seem to authorize the practice of this pleasure.

Tullie.

You must know, Octavia, that there is no custom that can permit the corruption of morals, because of its antiquity. Larceny, murder, and poisoning, are crimes that are as old as the world; yet who will praise them, and who will bear them? Whole families have been seen extinct by disease, and great provinces ravaged by the plague; and who will dare deny that it is not a great evil, because its origin will be as old as the world? Wherefore, as the antiquity of a crime does not deprive it of its ugliness or deformity, so the praises of great men cannot render it legitimate. Besides, you must not believe that this evil is so universal that no one can guarantee it: no, there are an infinite number of people who are not given to it; and the number of those who are exempt from this task is much greater than that of the others. Finally, Octavia, in order not to be mistaken in the judgments you make, you must judge of things by themselves, never by application.

Octavie.

I am no longer surprised at the particular friendship you had for Acaste, and the aversion you had conceived for Marius and Fabrizio, who had so ill-treated you against your inclination.

Tullie.

You remind me to continue the story, which the warmth with which I spoke of these villains has interrupted. Acaste therefore came as soon as Fabrizio and Marius had retired. "What is your goodness, my goddess," said he, "to have suffered these Florentines to have thus defiled so beautiful a body? Do you want me to avenge the injury they have done you, and with this hand to sacrifice them both to your just resentment? "No, my dear fellow," said I, "you know under what conditions I came here; they have made use of their right: but I praise your generosity and your honest way of acting. He closed my mouth with the tenderest kiss I have ever received; he sat down on a stool, and made me lie on his stomach to his belly: I shrugged my thighs as much as I could, and kissed the collar of Acaste with my right arm, and passed the other under my left thigh to support it. He put me on in this way, and we remained in each other for some time, without stirring. I bit him by dint of kissing him, and said to him the most tender and passionate words that love can inspire. I found so much pleasure in this posture, that I believe I should still be there, had it not been for some noise which I heard at the door of the room. I thought it was the Florentines. Ah, Acaste, I say, mess around quickly; I do not want these rascals to enter: he obeyed me, and I went to close the door to be more secure. He followed me, saw him bandaged; he had not the patience that I threw myself on the bed, we ran after the ring, to the great satisfaction of both of us. Never have I seen a more clever boy; he scarcely missed a shot; he always gave to the goal: I was quite naked, as you may imagine, and so was he. You will observe that as this exercise set him on fire, and he felt that his seed was looking for an outlet to exhale, he stopped me in the middle of the sixth race; and after begging me to remain erect, he put both hands on my nipples, and slid his inflamed Bolt between my thighs, which I pressed as closely as I could, in order to make the entrance to the Con narrower. Ah! What pleasure, said he, shall I receive, to make you lose speech, to leave to your divine mouth only the strength to sigh, and to see those beautiful eyes for which I die languish? Yes, it will be the height of my happiness. "Be, then," he added, with half-stifled sighs, "be the conductor of this furious Priapus; lead him where it is necessary, lest he stray into so dark a path: for I will not snatch from my hands the happiness they enjoy. What do you want? I did as he pleased; I placed his instrument on the edge of my part, the outside of which he gently tickled with his head: at last, after having thus jested, he pushed with so much stiffness, that I believe I should have fallen backwards, if he had not nailed me at the first blow. At the second or third shock, I discharged so abundantly, that the tickling I felt in all parts of my body, made me bend my legs so that I could hardly support myself. Stop, I said, my dear Acaste, I can bear it no longer, my strength fails me, my soul is ready to go out. "Do not be afraid," said he, laughing, "all the exits are closed; where do you want it to come out? As he said this, he looked at me fixedly, and did not take his hands from my nipples, and I felt inwardly that this contemplation made his Vits swell, and set him on fire. "I will now," said he, "drive this fugitive soul back into your body; he then pressed me tightly, and made me feel the head of his member, precisely in the place which is the seat of the soul. He became furious; and as he could not by his great efforts incorporate himself with me, he brought in with his life all his most lascivious desires, his most lustful thoughts, and even his mind. When the seed was about to flow, he took both hands from my nipples, and put them under my buttocks, which he lifted as much as he could until he had made me lose the ground; I kissed him closely, however, and gave him blows on the backside, in order to excite the heat the more. At last I was suspended in the air, as if I had been tied to a nail.

Octavie.

In truth, I pity you, and you would have shown me compassion in this state.

Tullie.

How mocking you are! Listen to the story. This ardent member of Priapus set fire to my bowels, and tickled me so pleasantly, that I discharged a second time while I was thus suspended. The pleasure I felt was so great that I could not help crying, "Ah! I can bear it no longer, my dear Acaste: no, Juno has never been screwed by Jupiter so deliciously as I am; support me, I am dying; ah! do not move, lest I fall; ah, Gods! how you shower me with goods! I am raptured in heaven. "No," cried Acaste, "wait a little longer, and do not leave the abode of mortals until you have told me of your favors and your immortality." At this moment Acaste, who had been made perspiring by the most violent furies of love, sprinkled my inner with a stream of seed so hot that I thought it burned my soul. The pleasure he felt on his side was so sweet, that he could not have sustained himself if he had not gathered all his strength at that moment; he embraced and kissed me so lovingly, that one would have said that he wished to restore his spirit to my lips. No, Octavia, ivy is not more strongly attached to walnut than I was to Acaste by my embraces; and as you see, this conjunction was accompanied by all that can be imagined that is most lustful and tickling. But because the pleasure of Venus is not eternal, it was necessary to put an end to our caresses. Conrad presented himself at once: "What!" said he, "madam, as he accosted me, do you wish me to be the only one who is deprived of your favours?" For you will know that the two Florentines had retired into the garden to take the air: I know not what good angel took them from my presence.

Octavie.

I wish they were lost, these wretches who have treated you so badly.

Tullie.

Conrad therefore attacked me; I was sitting on the bed. "I am in despair," said he, "at the insolence of the Florentines, and I would avenge the wrong they have done you: I love you no less than Acaste, what do you wish me to do?" But what! You don't answer anything? In fact, I did not speak, and the Frenchman had retired. For my part," added the German, "I am in good faith, without ceremony; I am going to show you everything: as he says this, he opens my thighs, draws his instrument, and does with it what you may think.

Octavie.

You had no rest like that, my poor Tullie? and to complete this fourteenth work with Conrad, you must be animated by the strength of a new Hercules.

Tullie.

Conrad did not displease me, nor did I like it very much; he was almost indifferent to me, and I may say that I neither refused nor gave him anything. He took what he wanted from a woman who was as if asleep; for whatever caress he gave me, I never answered him a single word: it was not from contempt; but you will know, Octavia, that I was exhausted and drowsy by the loss of the natural heat I had made in so many battles. This good German, who noticed that I was disgusted, invented, to make me regain my appetite, a posture which was not impertinent; he threw me on the bed, took my right thigh, which he put on his left shoulder, and made me cross the other over it. In this situation, he knew me, and entered in the second round entirely; he presses, he pushes, he torments himself: and what, again? guess it, Octavia.

Octavie.

I know what happened. But tell me, Tullia, when Fabricius and Marius came to the charge, were you pleased with them?

Tullie.

I would never finish if I wanted to tell you everything in detail. Conrad did it to me seven times, Marius five, Fabrizio seven, and Acaste eight; so that, all things considered, I sustained twenty-seven assaults, and still remained mistress of the field of battle. They all congratulated me, and unanimously confessed that Venus ought to crown me with myrtle and laurel, as the bitterest fool in all her empire. I will confess to you, however, that so much work, so much blood lost, had weakened me exceedingly; and scarcely, at the twentieth struggle, could I support myself on my feet.

Octavie.

You were perhaps weary, but you were not satisfied?

Tullie.

Well, I was both. Acaste, the bravest of all, began and finished the fight; I made him give him the diamond, as a mark of his valor. He asked me my name and the street where I lived, and begged me to allow him to come and see me; I granted it to him, and he paid me several visits: but I had so great a disgust for the deduced him, that whatever prayer he made to me, I would never suffer him to ride me more than three or four times in three months. The first time I saw him, I was on a couch engaged in ironing a Venetian stitch; he made me put in a posture which I would have liked exceedingly at another time: but I was still so disgusted, that I was almost insensible to his discharge, which was so copious, and to his movements, which were the most lascivious that a woman could have wished.

Octavie.

What a miracle! Whence then came such an extraordinary disgust?

Tullie.

It came from that great flow of seed with which I had been watered during my Quartum virat. He had so loosened the ligaments of my womb, that he had at the same time extinguished all the flames of my lust; so that for three months I did not have a single thought of taking the entertainment with which I had been satisfied.

Octavie.

Indeed; when I think of it, you have tasted enough of it, not to desire more; and it is as I would have the ladies who are so hot by nature do: they ought to take at least once a year, two or three young men of the most vigorous kind, and have them given usque ad vitulos, until they are overflowing. It would be wise for them to act in this way, when they can; for there will come a time when they will be left with nothing but regret at not having enjoyed the advantages of their youth: but it will be too late; and no one will want them when they are on their return.

Tullie.

You think, then, Octavia, that all women are like you, or like me: it is with this pleasure, as with that of eating and drinking; some more, others less. There are some who would like it to be done to them ten times a week, and others would be content with only once a month, and still others do not wish it at all. The insensibility of the latter may surprise you: but it is certain that there are some who naturally have an aversion to it; they flee from men, and even avoid being alone with them. For my part, I regard them as phoenixes, or rather as monsters of nature, whose most sacred laws they violate, by rejecting the love which it inspires in one sex for the other.

Octavie.

I do not know, Tullie, whether the extraordinary disgust of these women, who are so hostile to Venus, arises from their temperament, from the reflections they make on the ridiculous movements which are made during this pleasure, and which make us like other animals; or whether it is, as I believe, because the chimerical honor of the world, which subjects them to abstinence, obliges them to appear as cold, although inwardly they feel the same stings as we do; and this for fear of being considered lustful, which is now a name of reproach, although it is a perfection of nature.

Tullie.

What does it matter to us where their disgusts come from? They are always foolish virgins, who do not deserve to have oil put in their lamps to illuminate them; let us leave them in their blindness. I believe that I am, if I am not mistaken, at the second visit that my poor Acaste paid me. Orontes having gone one day into the country, Acaste heard of it, and wrote me a note, in which he marked the extreme desire he had to see me; I gave him an answer that he might come, and that I was impatiently waiting for him. He did not fail to do so; he went up quietly to my room at the appointed hour, and surprised me at a window that looked out into the garden. I seemed very thoughtful, and with good reason, because, having misplaced a letter from Cléante, I feared that it had fallen into the hands of my husband, which would have ruined me. I had only just become aware of it, so much so that I waited rather for Acaste to tell him of my sorrow, than to come to terms with him. While I was making various reflections on it, I felt myself gently raise my skirt from behind: I wanted to turn abruptly, to know what it was; and at the same time I perceived Acaste, who burst out laughing. In the name of God, I said to him, leave me, I am not in a condition to satisfy you; I have many other things in mind than pleasure. But what do you want? I cried out in vain; This importunate man thought that what I cried out, and what I did with it, was only to put him in a more temper. He told me to lean against the window, which was very low, and to raise my back as much as I could: I did so; and having made me put my left thigh on my right knee, he applied his instrument to my part so happily, that at the second shock he went all the way in, and at the sixteenth, he discharged. I followed him very closely, and forgot for the moment the whole cause of my sadness. What an admirable thing, Octavia! Acaste, in a fool's sham, saw the note fall under my skirts, of which I was in trouble: he gave it to me, and I told him that it was what afflicted me. To reward him for the pleasure he had given me by shaking vigorously, I allowed him a second attack in a quite different posture.

Octavie.

What became of him at last? did he always see you while you were in Rome?

Tullie.

Alas! do not ask me; I cannot tell you without shedding tears. Ah, my dear Acaste! he was taken from me in the flower of his age, by Fabrizio's treachery. Ah! I cannot think of it! This monster had him murdered. Ah! why did he not cause me to die at the same time? Ah, the treacherous one!

Octavie.

Let us say no more about it, since this memory afflicts you so much; let us think of something agreeable to dispel this pain. Tell me, Tullie, are there any other ways of riding than the ones you've tried? Ah, the goodness of Venus! in how many postures have you metamorphosed yourself, to taste what is most sensitive and piquant in voluptuousness?

Tullie.

All the inflections and contortions of the body are so many different postures: it is not possible to say precisely how many of them they are, or which is the most luxurious; each one takes advice from his taste for the place, and the time. Not everyone has the same way of loving. As for me, I want a young man to torment me; all his fury is pleasing to me, provided he does not turn them against my behind. The bawdy conversations, the kisses in which the tongue is apart, the running of the ring, the kissing, the messaging, the touching, and the various situations of the body, are for me foretastes which charm me, and which make me find the pleasure of the discharge a thousand times sweeter, than if it were without this seasoning. A beautiful Greek, called Elephantides, painted all the postures that she knew to be in use in her time among the debauched. Another had invented twelve extremely luxurious for men and women. In our time, Peter Aretin, that divine spirit, has expounded thirty-five of them in his Colloquiums, which Titian and Carracci, those famous painters, have afterwards drawn and depicted from life. The last of those who have left us anything in writing, is Alexius, surnamed Cunnilogus by some, on account of the treatises he has written on the subject, and called by others Cunnicola, on account of an infinity of postures which he did not expound until he had put them into use himself. This is what an author of the time said of him in a work he wrote in his praise.

Plato, Aristotle, Heraclitus,

Zeno, Socrates, Democritus,

All great Doctors without finding,

By means of their study,

Have not yet been able to find,

In which lies bliss.

Alexius ſans comparaiſon,

More learned in this science,

Laughs at them with reason,

Based on experience:

And says that the sovereign good,

Consists only of fucking well.

It is not, Octavia, I must confess to you, that there are not many postures among those which have been left to us, which we cannot use; a lecherous man can invent more than a thousand times he can execute; and although they are only tried, they always give much pleasure, and do not fail to warm the imagination of those who experience them.

Octavie.

What is the use of so much refinement? either there are several Venuses, or there is only one: if there are several, why does not everyone agree with them? If there is only one, why so many ways to get there?

Tullie.

Some say that the most natural posture is when the woman is ridden after the manner of other animals, that is to say, when she stands on all fours, especially as in this situation the limb enters much further, and the seed flows more easily into the womb. Some others are for the common posture, when the man lies on top of the woman belly to belly, chest to chest, mouth to mouth. The physicians say that the first posture is less suitable for the generation, because it is less suitable with the generative parts. Be that as it may, my dear Octavie, I very much like it to be done to me in the common way.

Octavie.

Why shouldn't you love him? What is sweeter, I pray you, than to be naked under your lover? To be as if suffocated under the weight of her body? What is more sensible than to feast one's eyes on so tender an object? What could be more voluptuous than to handle him everywhere, to put your tongue in his mouth, and to expire lovingly in his arms? For my part, I believe that this is the height of happiness; for I can see nothing that can flatter the passion of one or the other more than the lascivious movements of both. How sweet it is, Tullie, to look at each other die, and to rise again a moment later! He who amuses himself in the buttocks has only one pleasure; but he who loves the front, tastes all pleasures together.

Tullie.

One often loses one's appetite at a well-stocked table; they leave delicious dishes to satisfy themselves with common meats: which makes them seek pleasure in change, and a man who has a beautiful wife will often despise her and abandon himself to a villain. Too many goods usually cause us disgust; we delight in diversity, and we have an inclination for things that are forbidden to us. But while we are talking thus, we pass the night without sleep: let us rest a little, Octavia; kiss me, my heart, and fall asleep: may Venus always favor you!

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-01

* * *

EPIGRAMMA.

Dicite, Grammatici, cur maſcula nomina Cunnus,

Et cur fœmineum Mentula nomen habet ?

* * *

EPIGRAM.

Tell me, Doctor of Grammar,

Why the Vit chez vous, is a feminine name,

And that the Con appears to be of the masculine gender?

We do not know what we should believe from it:

But if you do not know how to explain this mystery,

And that with your beautiful mind

You simply remained, without being able to pass over.

You deserve, without question,

That any Woman who knows how to fuck,

You cut off the Vit.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Vignette-05

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Bandeau-02

SEVENTH

MAINTENANCE

ACADEMIC.

Chorier - The Ladies' Academy, 1770, Separator-01

OCTAVIA, TULLIE.

Tullie.

Let us sit in the shade of this tree: will you, Octavia?

Octavie.

With all my heart; ah! how pleasant the country air is! how I like it! and how I take pleasure in talking of love, at the sight of meadows and groves! "And you, Tullie?"

Tullie.

For my part, I have no doubt that you will take great pleasure in it; but I think Alphonse took it even more, looking at you naked the day before yesterday.

Octavie.

Me, naked?

Tullie.

Yes, Octavia, quite naked; and to give you certain proofs of this, it is that he speaks nothing but the beauty of your body, and the advantageous situation of your party.

Octavie.

You are laughing at me, Tullie; no one has ever seen me like this, except Pamphile.

Tullie.

Do you not then place Father Theodore among men? Or do you count it for nothing?

Octavie.

Ah! I can only remember it with shame! ah, Gods! how he blinded me by his speeches!

Tullie.

I have no doubt of what you wish to conceal from me; What is the use? I know as much as you do on this subject, and all your jests are known to me.

Octavie.