instruction of courtezans：
〃Noncon libelli Stoici inter sericos
Jacere pulvillos amant：〃
＇〃There are writings of the Stoics which we find lying upon
silken cushions。〃Horace； Epod。； viii。 15。＇
Zeno； amongst his laws； also regulated the motions to be observed in
getting a maidenhead。 What was the philosopher Strato's book Of Carnal
Conjunction？＇ Diogenes Laertius； v。 59。＇ And what did Theophrastus
treat of in those he intituled； the one 'The Lover'； and the other 'Of
Love？' Of what Aristippus in his 'Of Former Delights'？ What do the so
long and lively descriptions in Plato of the loves of his time pretend
to？ and the book called 'The Lover'； of Demetrius Phalereus？ and
'Clinias'； or the 'Ravished Lover'； of Heraclides； and that of
Antisthenes； 'Of Getting Children'； or； 'Of Weddings'； and the other；
'Of the Master or the Lover'？ And that of Aristo： 'Of Amorous Exercises'
What those of Cleanthes： one； 'Of Love'； the other； 'Of the Art of
Loving'？ The amorous dialogues of Sphaereus？ and the fable of Jupiter
and Juno； of Chrysippus； impudent beyond all toleration？ And his fifty
so lascivious epistles？ I will let alone the writings of the
philosophers of the Epicurean sect； protectress of voluptuousness。 Fifty
deities were； in time past； assigned to this office； and there have been
nations where； to assuage the lust of those who came to their devotion；
they kept men and women in their temples for the worshippers to lie with；
and it was an act of ceremony to do this before they went to prayers：
〃Nimirum propter continentiam incontinentia necessaria est；
incendium ignibus extinguitur。〃
＇〃Forsooth incontinency is necessary for continency's sake； a
conflagration is extinguished by fire。〃＇
In the greatest part of the world； that member of our body was deified；
in the same province； some flayed off the skin to offer and consecrate a
piece； others offered and consecrated their seed。 In another； the young
men publicly cut through betwixt the skin and the flesh of that part in
several places； and thrust pieces of wood into the openings as long and
thick as they would receive； and of these pieces of wood afterwards made
a fire as an offering to their gods； and were reputed neither vigorous
nor chaste； if by the force of that cruel pain they seemed to be at all
dismayed。 Elsewhere the most sacred magistrate was reverenced and
acknowledged by that member and in several ceremonies the effigy of it
was carried in pomp to the honour of various divinities。 The Egyptian
ladies； in their Bacchanalia； each carried one finely…carved of wood
about their necks； as large and heavy as she could so carry it； besides
which； the statue of their god presented one； which in greatness
surpassed all the rest of his body。 ＇Herodotus； ii。 48； says 〃nearly
as large as the body itself。〃＇ The married women； near the place where
I live； make of their kerchiefs the figure of one upon their foreheads；
to glorify themselves in the enjoyment they have of it； and coming to be
widows； they throw it behind； and cover it with their headcloths。 The
most modest matrons of Rome thought it an honour to offer flowers and
garlands to the god Priapus； and they made the virgins； at the time of
their espousals； sit upon his shameful parts。 And I know not whether I
have not in my time seen some air of like devotion。 What was the meaning
of that ridiculous piece of the chaussuye of our forefathers； and that is
still worn by our Swiss？ ＇〃Cod…pieces worn〃Cotton｝ To what end do we
make a show of our implements in figure under our breeches； and often；
which is worse； above their natural size； by falsehood and imposture？
I have half a mind to believe that this sort of vestment was invented in
the better and more conscientious ages； that the world might not be
deceived； and that every one should give a public account of his
proportions： the simple nations wear them yet； and near about the real
size。 In those days； the tailor took measure of it； as the shoemaker
does now of a man's foot。 That good man； who； when I was young； gelded
so many noble and ancient statues in his great city； that they might not
corrupt the sight of the ladies； according to the advice of this other
ancient worthy：
〃Flagitii principium est； nudare inter gives corpora；〃
＇〃'Tis the beginning of wickedness to expose their persons among the
citizens〃Ennius； ap。 Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； iv。 33。＇
should have called to mind； that； as in the mysteries of the Bona Dea；
all masculine appearance was excluded； he did nothing； if he did not geld
horses and asses； in short； all nature：
〃Omne adeo genus in terris； hominumque； ferarumque；
Et genus aequoreum； pecudes； pictaeque volucres；
In furias ignemque ruunt。〃
＇〃So that all living things； men and animals； wild or tame；
and fish and gaudy fowl； rush to this flame of love。〃
Virgil； Georg。； iii。 244。＇
The gods； says Plato； have given us one disobedient and unruly member
that； like a furious animal； attempts； by the violence of its appetite；
to subject all things to it； and so they have given to women one like a
greedy and ravenous animal； which； if it be refused food in season； grows
wild； impatient of delay； and infusing its rage into their bodies； stops
the passages； and hinders respiration； causing a thousand ills； till；
having imbibed the fruit of the common thirst； it has plentifully bedewed
the bottom of their matrix。 Now my legislator ＇The Pope who； as
Montaigne has told us； took it into his head to geld the statues。＇
should also have considered that； peradventure； it were a chaster and
more fruitful usage to let them know the fact as it is betimes； than
permit them to guess according to the liberty and heat of their own
fancy； instead of the real parts they substitute； through hope and
desire； others that are three times more extravagant； and a certain
friend of mine lost himself by producing his in place and time when the
opportunity was not present to put them to their more serious use。 What
mischief do not those pictures of prodigious dimension do that the boys
make upon the staircases and galleries of the royal houses？ they give the
ladies a cruel contempt of our natural furniture。 And what do we know
but that Plato； after other well…instituted republics； ordered that the
men and women； old and young； should expose themselves naked to the view
of one another； in his gymnastic exercises； upon that very account？ The
Indian women who see the men in their natural state； have at least cooled
the sense of seeing。 And let the women of the kingdom of Pegu say what
they will； who below the waist have nothing to cover them but a cloth
slit before； and so strait； that what decency and modesty soever they
pretend by it； at every step all is to be seen； that it is an invention
to allure the men to them； and to divert them from boys； to whom that
nation is generally inclined； yet； peradventure they lose more by it than
they get； and one may venture to say； that an entire appetite is more
sharp than one already half…glutted by the eyes。 Livia was wont to say；
that to a virtuous woman a naked man was but a statue。 The Lacedaemonian
women； more virgins when wives than our daughters are； saw every day the
young men of their city stripped naked in their exercises； themselves
little heeding to cover their thighs in walking； believing themselves；
says Plato； sufficiently covered by their virtue without any other robe。
But those； of whom St。 Augustin speaks； have given nudity a wonderful
power of temptation； who have made it a doubt； whether women at the day
of judgment shall rise again in their own sex； and not rather in ours；
for fear of tempting us again in that holy state。 In brief； we allure
and flesh them by all sorts of ways： we incessantly heat and stir up
their imagination； and then we find fault。 Let us confess the truth；
there is scarce one of us who does not more apprehend the shame that
accrues to him by the vices of his wife than by his own； and that is not
more solicitous （a wonderful charity） of the conscience of his virtuous
wife than of his own； who had not rather commit theft and sacrilege； and
that his wife was a murderess and a heretic； than that she should not be
more chaste than her husband： an unjust estimate of vices。 Both we and
they are capable of a thousand corruptions more prejudicial and unnatural
than lust： but we weigh vices； not according to nature； but according to
our interest； by which means they take so many unequal forms。
The austerity of our decrees renders the application of women to this
vice more violent and vicious than its own condition needs； and engages
it in consequences worse than their cause： they will readily offer to go
to the law courts to seek for gain； and to the wars to get reputation；
rather than in the midst of ease and delights； to have to keep so
difficult a guard。 Do not they very well see that there is neither
merchant nor soldier who will not leave his business to run after this
sport； or the porter or cobble