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
"Sindor, piqued at this discourse, jump'd out of bed, swearing that
he would never set his foot in it again, till the pack was banish'd
thence. He employ'd friends, in order to obtain the exile of the dogs:
but they all failed in that important negotiation. Haria's answer to
them was, that Sindor was a knight of the post, whom she had drawn
out of a cock-loft, which he shared with rats and mice; that it ill
became him to be so nice; that he slept the whole night long; that
she loved her dogs; that they amused her; that from her infancy she
had taken a liking to their caresses; and that she was resolved never
to deprive herself of them till death. 'Tell him besides,' continued
she, addressing the mediators, 'that if he does not humbly submit to
my will, he will repent it while he lives; that I will retract the
donation I have made him, and will add it to the sums which I have
bequeathed by my will, for the support of my dear children.'
"Between you and me," added the Toy, "Sindor must have been a great
fool, to hope that she would do for him, what could not be obtained
by twenty lovers, a director, a confessor, with a legion of Bramins,
who had all lost their Latin on that head. Mean while, as often as
Sindor met our animals, he was seized with such fits of passion, as he
could hardly conquer. One day the unfortunate Zinzolina fell in his
way. He took her by the neck, and threw her out of the window. The poor
creature was kill'd by the fall. Then it was, that a fine noise was
made. Haria, with inflamed countenance, and eyes bathed in tears----"
The Toy was going to repeat what it had already told; for Toys
willingly fall into repetitions: but Mangogul cut its words short.
Its silence was not of long duration: when the prince thought he had
put this doting Toy out of its road, he restored it the freedom of
speech; and the Tatler, bursting out into a loud laugh, resumed by
way of recollection: "But _à propos_, I forgot to tell you what pass'd
on Haria's wedding-night. I have seen a power of ridiculous things in
my life, but never one that came up to this. After a splendid supper,
the bride and bridegroom were conduced to their appartment. Every body
retired except madam's women who undress her: she is undress'd, put to
bed, and Sindor alone remains with her. Observing that the shag-dog,
the two pugs, and the grey-hound, more alert than himself, were taking
possession of his bride; 'permit me, madam,' he said, 'to remove these
rivals a little.' 'My dear, do what you can,' answered Haria: 'for my
part, I have not the courage to drive them away; these little animals
are so attached to me; and I have been so long without any other
company.' 'Perhaps,' replied Sindor, 'they will have the politeness
this night to surrender the fort to me, which I must take possession
of.' 'Try, sir,' said Haria.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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