Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet ToysDiderot, Denis
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Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet Toys
Diderot, Denis
Erotic fiction; Louis XV, King of France, 1710-1774 -- Fiction
By the time that Mangogul had finished the academical discourse of
Girgiro the entangled, night came on, and the company went to bed.
That night the favorite might well flatter herself with sleeping
soundly: but the evening's conversation ran in her head while asleep:
and its ideas mixing with others, produced an odd dream, which she did
not fail relating to the Sultan, in these words.
"I was in my first sleep, when I imagined that I was transported into
an immense gallery quite full of books. I shall say nothing of their
contents: they were to me at that time, what they are to many others,
who are not asleep. I did not so much as look at one title-page: a more
striking sight attracted my whole attention.
"From space to space between the presses, that contain'd the books,
there were pedestals, on which were placed most beautiful busto's of
marble and Bronze. The injury of time had spared them; and some little
defects excepted, they were entire and perfect. That nobleness and
elegance which characterized the works of the ancients, were stamped
on them. Most of them had long beards, large foreheads like yours, and
engaging countenances.
"I was anxious to learn their names, and know their merit, when a
woman came thro' the casement of a window, and accosted me. Her shape
was genteel, her gait majestic, and her carriage noble, sweetness
and loftiness were blended in her looks, and her voice had some
inexpressible charm that delighted. A helmet, a coat of mail, and a
flowing petticoat, made up all her attire. 'I know your anxiety,' said
she to me, 'and am going to satisfy your curiosity: the men whose
busto's have struck you, were my favorites. They consecrated their
studies to the perfection of the elegant arts, whereof the invention is
due to me. They lived in the most polite countries of the world, and
their writings, which were the delight of their contemporaries, are
the admiration of the present age. Draw near, and you will see carved
on the several pedestals in _Basso relievo_, some remarkable subjects,
which will at least point out to you the character of their writings.'
"The first busto which I examined, was that of a majestic old man, who
seem'd to have been blind. In all probability he had sung of battles:
for such were the subjects on the sides of his pedestal. The front was
all taken up with a single figure, which was that of a young hero. His
hand grasped the handle of his cymeter, and a woman's arm appear'd
holding him back by the hair of the head, who seem'd to moderate his
wrath.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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