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
The Sultan departed immediately: and indeed there was no time to
lose: for it was the night of the twelfth of the moon Rebeg, and the
senate was to pronounce sentence on the thirteenth. Fatme was just
got into bed, the curtains were not quite closed. A night taper threw
a dull light on her countenance. The Sultan thought her beautiful,
notwithstanding the violent commotions which disfigured her. Compassion
and hatred, grief and revenge, audaciousness and shame were painted
in her eyes, according as they succeeded each other in her heart.
She uttered deep sighs, shed tears, wiped them off, shed fresh ones,
remained some moments with her head drooping and eyes dejected, then
suddenly raised them, and darted furious looks towards the heavens.
What was Mangogul doing all this time? He was talking to himself, and
saying. "These are the symptoms of despair. Her former tenderness
for Kerfael has revived in all its violence. She has lost sight of
the offence he committed, and has nothing in view but the punishment
reserved for her lover." As soon as he had finished these words, he
turned the fatal ring on Fatme, and her Toy cried out with vehemence.
"Twelve hours more, and we shall be revenged. The treacherous
ingrateful man shall perish, and his blood shall be shed." Fatme
affrighted at the extraordinary motion which she felt within her,
and shock'd at the buzzing voice of her Toy, clapt both hands on
it, and put herself upon duty to stop its mouth. But the powerful
ring continued to act, and the ungovernable Toy breaking thro' every
obstacle, added: "Yes, we shall be revenged. O! thou who hast betray'd
me, wretched Kerfael, dye, and thou, whom he has preferred to me, O
Bimbreloqua, despair!----Twelve hours more! Alas! how tedious will
this time appear to me. Hasten, sweet moments, when I shall see the
treacherous, the ingrateful Kerfael under the executioner's knife, his
blood trickling down----Ah! Wretch, what have I said? Can I without
horror see the dearest object of my love perish? Can I see the fatal
weapon lifted up?----Ah! far from me this cruel thought.--He hates me,
'tis true; he has quitted me for Bimbreloqua, but perhaps some time or
other----why do I say, perhaps? Love will certainly recall him under
my yoke. That little Bimbreloqua is a fancy that will fly off; he must
sooner or later be sensible of the injustice of his preference, and
the ridiculousness of his new choice. Comfort thyself, Fatme, thou
shalt see thy Kerfael again. Yes, thou shalt see him again. Arise
quickly, run, fly to remove the dreadful danger which threatens him.
Dost thou not tremble to come too late?--But whither shall I run, mean
wretch that I am. Does not Kerfael's disdain foretel me, that he has
abandoned me for ever. Bimbreloqua enjoys him, and 'tis for her that I
was going to save him: ah! let him rather dye a thousand deaths. If he
lives no more for me, why should I be concerned for his death?--Yes,
I am now convinced that my wrath is just.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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