Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet ToysDiderot, Denis
General
Les Bijoux Indiscrets, or, The Indiscreet Toys
Diderot, Denis
Erotic fiction; Louis XV, King of France, 1710-1774 -- Fiction
Mangogul had scarcely quitted the recluses, among whom I left him, when
a report was spread thro' Banza, that the virgins of the congregation
of Brama's Coccyx, spoke by their Toys. This report, to which Husseim's
violent proceedings had given credit, rouzed the curiosity of the
learned. The phænomenon was thoroughly examined and allowed: and the
freethinkers began to seek in the properties of matter, the reasons
of a fact, which they had at first deemed impossible. The tattle of
the Toys gave birth to a great number of excellent works; and this
important subject swell'd the collections of the academies with
several memoirs, which may be esteemed the utmost efforts of human
understanding.
In order to model and perpetuate that of Banza, invitations with
suitable encouragement had been, and still continued to be, given to
all persons of the brightest parts in Congo, Monoémugi, Beleguanza,
and the circumjacent kingdoms. It took in, under different titles,
all those who had distinguished themselves in natural history, natural
philosophy, mathematicks, and the greatest part of those, who promised
to make a figure in them one time or other. This swarm of indefatigable
bees labour'd incessantly in the research of truth, and every year
the public reaped the fruits of their labours in a volume full of
discoveries.
It was at that time divided into two factions, the one composed
of Vorticists, and the other of Attractionists. Olibrio, an able
geometrician and great natural philosopher, founded the sect of
the Vorticists. Circino, an able natural philosopher and great
geometrician, was the first Attractionist. Both Olibrio and Circino
proposed to explain nature. Olibrio's principles have at first sight a
certain air of simplicity, which seduces: in the gross they account
for the principal phænomena, but they contradict themselves in the
detail. As for Circino, he seems to set out upon an absurdity; but 'tis
the first step alone that is expensive. The minute details, which ruin
Olibrio's system, establish his. He follows a road, dark at entrance,
but which grows more lightsome according as a person advances. On
the contrary, that of Olibrio, lightsome at entrance, grows darker
and darker. The philosophy of the latter requires less study than
understanding. One cannot be a disciple of the former, without a large
share of understanding and study. One enters without preparation into
Olibrio's school; every body has the key of it. That of Circino is
open to none but geometricians of the first class. Olibrio's Vortices
are within the reach of all capacities. Circino's central powers are
made for first rate Algebraists only. Wherefore there will always be
an hundred Vorticists for one Attractionist; and one Attractionist
will always be worth an hundred Vorticists. Such was the state of
the academy of sciences at Banza, when it handled the subject of the
indiscreet Toys.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account