Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 1Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
History
Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 1
Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
Erotic literature
Further, ’tis not to be supposed but that fair dames, maids and widows
alike, whenas they do behold in their walks abroad in their forests and
woods, their warrens, parks, meadows, gardens, shrubberies and other
pleasaunces, beasts and birds all a-making love together and sporting
in wanton wise, should feel strange prickings in their flesh, which do
make them fain to apply instant remedy for the smart. And this is just
one of the persuasive and moving things that a many lovers are wont
to say one to the other, when they see their mates lacking heat and
flame and zest; for then do they upbraid them, pointing to the example
of beasts and birds, the which whether wild or tame, as sparrows and
house-pigeons, are ever at some wanton sport, ever engendering and
conceiving, all nature at the work of reproduction, down to the very
trees and plants. Now this is what a fair Spanish lady found one day
to say to a cavalier who was over cold or over respectful: _Sa, gentil
cavallero, mira como los amores de todas suertes se tratan y triumfan
en este verano, y V. S. quada flaco y abatido_, that is to say, “See,
Sir cavalier, how every sort of love doth prevail and triumph in this
Spring-time; yet all the while you are slack and crest-fallen.”
Spring-time ended doth give place to Summer, which cometh after,
bringing its hot days with it. And seeing one heat doth provoke
another, fair dames do thereby double theirs; and truly no refreshment
can so well assuage the same as a _bain chaud et trouble de sperme
venerig_. ’Tis in no wise contrary to sense for an ill to be medicined
by its contrary, as like is medicined by like. For albeit a woman
should bathe her every day, and every day plunge in the clearest
fountain of a whole countryside, yet do this naught avail, nor yet
the lightest garments ever she can don, for to give her refreshing
coolness, though she tuck them up as short as she please, without
ever a petticoat, as many do in hot weather.[109*] And this is just
the worst of it; for in such costume are they drawn to look at
themselves, and take delight in their own beauty, and pore over their
own charms in the fair sunlight, and thus beholding their bodies so
fair, white, smooth, plump and in good case, do of a sudden feel the
heat of concupiscence and sore temptation. But indeed of such martyrs
of continence mighty few have ever been known; and silly fools would
they have been, had it been otherwise. And so they lie there in their
fine beds, unable to endure coverlet or sheet, but tucking up their
very shifts to display themselves half naked; then at daybreak, as the
rising sun doth shine in on them and they come to contemplate their
bodies more closely still and at their ease on all sides and in every
part, they grow exceeding fain after their lovers and fondly wait
their coming. And so, should these by any hap arrive at this moment,
lo! they are right welcome, and very soon clipped in their arms and
close embraced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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