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 audience listened, and look'd towards the place whence the voice
proceeded: and the word ran thro' the pit, that it was a Toy that
made the speech. "Which Toy," says one, "and what has it said?" And
without waiting for an answer, there was a general clap and cry:
_Encore, encore_. The author, who was behind the scenes, fearing that
this unlucky accident might interrupt the representation of his piece,
foamed with rage, and gave the whole race of Toys to Belzebub. The
noise was great and lasting; and had it not been for the respect due
to the Sultan, the play would have stop'd short at this incident: but
Mangogul made a sign for silence; the actors resumed their parts, and
went thro' the play.
The Sultan, curious to know the consequences of so public a
declaration, caused the Toy that made it, to be observed. Word was soon
brought him, that the player was to go from the stage to Eriphila's
house. He prevented him, thanks to the power of his ring, and was in
this lady's appartment when Orgogli sent in his name.
Eriphila was under arms, that is, in an amorous _deshabillé_, and
wantonly stretch'd on a couch. The comedian entered with a solemn,
haughty, insipid air of a conqueror. With the left hand he waved a
plain hat with a white feather in it, and caressed his nostrils and
upper lip with the tops of the fingers of his right hand, a very
theatrical gesture, which was admired by Connoisseurs. His bow was
cavalier, and his compliment familiar. "Oh! my queen," cried he, in an
affected tone, stooping to Eriphila, "what a trim you are in! But do
you know that in that careless garb you are adorable.----"
The tone of this scoundrel shock'd Mangogul. The prince was young,
and might possibly be ignorant of certain customs----"Then you like
me, my dear," answered Eriphila. "To ravishment, I tell you."--"That
gives me great joy. I wish you would repeat that passage which raised
such emotions in me a while ago. That passage----there----yes----it is
that same----How seducing a rogue he is?----But go on; that moves me
strangely."
In pronouncing these words, Eriphila darted such glances on her hero,
as bespoke every thing, and stretch'd out her hand to him, which the
impertinent Orgogli kissed by way of acquittance. Prouder of his talent
than of his conquest, he declaimed with emphasis, and the lady was so
enraptur'd, that one minute she conjur'd him to continue, and the next
to stop. Mangogul judging by her looks, that her Toy would willingly
play its part in this rehearsal, chose rather to guess at the rest of
the scene, than to be present at it. He disappear'd, and return'd to
the favorite, who expected him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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