are introduced into the world； forasmuch as the men make them without
their help。 There is naturally contention and brawling betwixt them and
us； and the strictest friendship we have with them is yet mixed with
tumult and tempest。 In the opinion of our author； we deal
inconsiderately with them in this： after we have discovered that they
are； without comparison； more able and ardent in the practice of love
than we； and that the old priest testified as much； who had been one
while a man； and then a woman：
〃Venus huic erat utraque nota：〃
＇〃Both aspects of love were known to him；〃
Tiresias。 Ovid。 Metam。； iii。 323。＇
and moreover； that we have learned from their own mouths the proof that；
in several ages； was made by an Emperor and Empress of Rome；＇Proclus。＇
both famous for ability in that affair！ for he in one night deflowered
ten Sarmatian virgins who were his captives： but she had five…and…twenty
bouts in one night； changing her man according to her need and liking；
〃Adhuc ardens rigidae tentigine vulvae
Et lassata viris； nondum satiata； recessit：〃
＇〃Ardent still； she retired； fatigued； but not satisfied。〃
Juvenal； vi。 128。＇
and that upon the dispute which happened in Cataluna； wherein a wife
complaining of her husband's too frequent addresses to her； not so much；
as I conceive； that she was incommodated by it （for I believe no miracles
out of religion） as under this pretence； to curtail and curb in this；
which is the fundamental act of marriage； the authority of husbands over
their wives； and to shew that their frowardness and malignity go beyond
the nuptial bed； and spurn under foot even the graces and sweets of
Venus； the husband； a man truly brutish and unnatural； replied； that even
on fasting days he could not subsist with less than ten courses：
whereupon came out that notable sentence of the Queen of Arragon； by
which； after mature deliberation of her council； this good queen； to give
a rule and example to all succeeding ages of the moderation required in
a just marriage； set down six times a day as a legitimate and necessary
stint； surrendering and quitting a great deal of the needs and desires of
her sex； that she might； she said； establish an easy； and consequently； a
permanent and immutable rule。 Hereupon the doctors cry out： what must
the female appetite and concupiscence be； when their reason； their
reformation and virtue； are taxed at such a rate； considering the divers
judgments of our appetites？ for Solon； master of the law school； taxes
us but at three a month；that men may not fail in point of conjugal
frequentation： after having； I say； believed and preached all this； we go
and enjoin them continency for their particular share； and upon the last
and extreme penalties。
There is no passion so hard to contend with as this； which we would have
them only resist； not simply as an ordinary vice； but as an execrable
abomination； worse than irreligion and parricide； whilst we； at the same
time； go to't without offence or reproach。 Even those amongst us who
have tried the experiment have sufficiently confessed what difficulty； or
rather impossibility； they have found by material remedies to subdue；
weaken； and cool the body。 We； on the contrary； would have them at once
sound； vigorous plump； high…fed； and chaste； that is to say； both hot and
cold； for the marriage； which we tell them is to keep them from burning；
is but small refreshment to them； as we order the matter。 If they take
one whose vigorous age is yet boiling； he will be proud to make it known
elsewhere；
〃Sit tandem pudor； aut eamus in jus；
Multis mentula millibus redempta；
Non est haec tua； Basse； vendidisti；〃
＇〃Let there be some shame； or we shall go to law： your vigour；
bought by your wife with many thousands； is no longer yours： thou
hast sold it。〃Martial； xii。 90。＇
Polemon the philosopher was justly by his wife brought before the judge
for sowing in a barren field the seed that was due to one that was
fruitful： if； on the other hand； they take a decayed fellow； they are in
a worse condition in marriage than either maids or widows。 We think them
well provided for； because they have a man to lie with； as the Romans
concluded Clodia Laeta； a vestal nun； violated； because Caligula had
approached her； though it was declared he did no more but approach her：
but； on the contrary； we by that increase their necessity； forasmuch as
the touch and company of any man whatever rouses their desires； that in
solitude would be more quiet。 And to the end； 'tis likely； that they
might render their chastity more meritorious by this circumstance and
consideration； Boleslas and Kinge his wife； kings of Poland； vowed it by
mutual consent； being in bed together； on their very wedding day； and
kept their vow in spite of all matrimonial conveniences。
We train them up from their infancy to the traffic of love； their grace；
dressing； knowledge； language； and whole instruction tend that way： their
governesses imprint nothing in them but the idea of love； if for nothing
else but by continually representing it to them； to give them a distaste
for it。 My daughter； the only child I have； is now of an age that
forward young women are allowed to be married at； she is of a slow； thin；
and tender complexion； and has accordingly been brought up by her mother
after a retired and particular manner； so that she but now begins to be
weaned from her childish simplicity。 She was reading before me in a
French book where the word 'fouteau'； the name of a tree very well known；
occurred； ＇The beech…tree； the name resembles in sound an obscene
French word。＇ the woman； to whose conduct she is committed； stopped her
short a little roughly； and made her skip over that dangerous step。 I
let her alone； not to trouble their rules； for I never concern myself in
that sort of government； feminine polity has a mysterious procedure； we
must leave it to them； but if I am not mistaken the commerce of twenty
lacquies could not； in six months' time； have so imprinted in her memory
the meaning； usage； and all the consequence of the sound of these wicked
syllables； as this good old woman did by reprimand and interdiction。
〃Motus doceri gaudet Ionicos
Matura virgo； et frangitur artibus；
Jam nunc et incestos amores
De tenero； meditatur ungui。〃
＇〃The maid ripe for marriage delights to learn Ionic dances； and to
imitate those lascivious movements。 Nay； already from her infancy
she meditates criminal amours。〃Horace； Od。； iii。 6； 21。； the text
has 'fingitur'。＇
Let them but give themselves the rein a little； let them but enter into
liberty of discourse； we are but children to them in this science。 Hear
them but describe our pursuits and conversation； they will very well make
you understand that we bring them nothing they have not known before； and
digested without our help。
＇This sentence refers to a conversation between some young women in
his immediate neighbourhood； which the Essayist just below informs
us that he overheard； and which was too shocking for him to repeat。
It must have been tolerably bad。Remark by the editor of a later
edition。＇
Is it； perhaps； as Plato says； that they have formerly been debauched
young fellows？ I happened one day to be in a place where I could hear
some of their talk without suspicion； I am sorry I cannot repeat it。
By'rlady； said I； we had need go study the phrases of Amadis； and the
tales of Boccaccio and Aretin； to be able to discourse with them： we
employ our time to much purpose indeed。 There is neither word； example；
nor step they are not more perfect in than our books； 'tis a discipline
that springs with their blood；
〃Et mentem ipsa Venus dedit；〃
＇〃 Venus herself made them what they are；〃
Virg。； Georg。； iii。 267。＇
which these good instructors； nature； youth； and health； are continually
inspiring them with； they need not learn； they breed it：
〃Nec tantum niveo gavisa est ulla columbo；
Compar； vel si quid dicitur improbius；
Oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro；
Quantum praecipue multivola est mulier。〃
＇〃No milk…white dove； or if there be a thing more lascivious；
takes so much delight in kissing as woman； wishful for every man
she sees。〃Catullus； lxvi。 125。＇
So that if the natural violence of their desire were not a little
restrained by fear and honour； which were wisely contrived for them； we
should be all shamed。 All the motions in the world resolve into and tend
to this conjunction； 'tis a matter infused throughout： 'tis a centre to
which all things are directed。 We yet see the edicts of the old and wise
Rome made for the service of love； and the precepts of Socrates for the
instruction of courtezans：
〃Noncon libelli Stoici inter sericos