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
There he espied Egle alone and overwhelm'd with sorrow: her head was
leaning on her hand, she was tenderly repeating her husband's name,
and with her tears she was watering the green turf, on which she sate.
Mangogul drawing near turn'd his ring on her, and Egle's Toy said in
a mournful strain: "I love Celebi." The Sultan waited for the sequel;
but as it came not, he had recourse to his ring, which he rubb'd two
or three times against his hat, before he levell'd it on Egle: but his
labour was vain. The Toy repeated: "I love Celebi," and stop'd short.
"There is a very discreet Toy," said the Sultan. "Let us try once more,
and ply it closer." Whereupon he gave to his ring all the energy, which
it was capable of receiving, and turn'd it nimbly on Egle: but her Toy
continued mute. It either constantly kept silence, or broke it only by
repeating these plaintive words: "I love Celebi, and have never loved
any other man."
Mangogul, being thoroughly satisfied, returned to Mirzoza in fifteen
minutes. "What, Prince," said she, "return'd already. Well, what have
you learnt? Do you bring fresh matter for our conversations?" "I bring
nothing," answered the Sultan. "What! nothing?"--"Nothing at all. I
never knew a Toy so silent: I could get nothing from it but these
words. 'I love Celebi, I love Celebi, and have never loved any other
man.'" "Ah! Prince," replied Mirzoza with vivacity, "what do you tell
me? What happy news! There is one virtuous woman found at last. Will
you suffer her to remain longer miserable?" "No," answered Mangogul:
"her banishment shall be at an end, but have you no apprehensions that
it may be at the expence of her virtue? Egle is chaste, but consider,
my heart's delight, what you require of me; to re-call her to my court,
in order that she may continue so: however you shall be satisfied."
The Sultan sent for Celebi immediately, and told him; that having made
a strict inquiry into the reports spread abroad concerning Egle, he had
found them false and calumnious, and commanded him to bring her back to
court. Celebi obey'd, and presented his wife to Mangogul: she was going
to throw herself at his highness's feet, but the Sultan stopping her
said: "Madam, thank Mirzoza. Her friendship for you determined me to
clear up the truth of the facts imputed to you. Continue to embellish
my court; but remember that a pretty woman sometimes does herself as
much mischief by acts of imprudence, as by adventures."
The very next day Egle waited on the Manimonbanda, who received her
with a smile. The _Petits-Maitres_ redoubled their insipidities towards
her, and the women all ran to embrace and give her joy, and began again
to tear her in pieces.
End of the First Volume.
CHAP. XXXI.
Was Mangogul in the right?
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