Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of ReproductionDavenport, John
Philosophy
Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction
Davenport, John
Phallicism; Sex; Sex customs -- France -- History -- 17th century
"On the other part, in opposition and repugnancy hereto, the
philosophers say, that idleness is the mother of luxury.
When it was asked Ovid, why Ægisthus became an adulterer? he
made no other answer than this, Because he was idle.[223]
Who were able to rid the world of loitering and idleness
might easily disappoint Cupid[224] of all his designes,
aims, engines and devices and so disable and appal him, that
his bow, quiver, and darts should from thenceforth be a mere
needless load and burthen to him; for that it could not then
lie in his power to strike or wound any of either sex with
all the arms he had. He is not, I believe so expert an
archer as that he can hit the cranes flying in the air, or
yet the young stags skipping through the thicket, as the
Parthians knew well how to do; that is to say, people
moiling, stirring, and hurrying up and down, restless and
without repose. He must have those hushed, still, quiet,
lying at a stay, lither and full of ease, whom he is able to
pierce with all his arrows. In conformation thereof,
Theophrastus being asked on a time, What kind of beast or
thing he judged a toyish, wanton love to be? he made answer,
That it was a passion of idle and sluggish spirits.[224]
From which pretty description of tickling-tricks, that of
Diogenes, the Cynic, was not very discrepant when he defined
lechery--The occupation of folk destitute of all other
occupation. For this cause the Sicyonian sculptor
Canachus,[225] being desirous to give us to understand that
slowth drowsiness, negligence, and laziness, were the prime
guardians and governesses of ribaldry, made the statue of
Venus, not standing, as other stone-cutters had used to do,
but sitting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account