Anthologica Rarissima: The Way of a Virgin / Being excerpts from rare, curious and diverting books

CONTENTS.

		Page.
FOREWORD.		v.
VIRGINITY AND ITS TRADITIONS.		xix.
THE ENCHANTED RING:
	Of a Young Husband who Sought to Redeem his Yard from Pawn, and of the Divers Adventures that Befell him in his Quest.	1
VARIANT:
	Of a Tailor who Consented to Sin with a certain Woman who Admired his Proportions; and how they Fared.	10
THE INSTRUMENT:
	Of a Young Girl who Desired her Lover to Buy a Better Instrument, which she Enjoyed, Lost and Found again.	13
EXCURSUS to THE INSTRUMENT.		16
THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE:
	Of a Maid who would Wed None save Ivan the No-Yard; and how they were Wed, after which she first Hired, then Bought, a Good Yard from Ivan’s Uncle.	17
EXCURSUS to THE ENCHANTED RING, THE INSTRUMENT, and THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE.		22
ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE AT GENEVA:
	Of an Adventure with two Charming Cousins, one of whom Desired to know why a Deity could not Impregnate a Woman; and how the Hero of our Story gave Demonstration of Theological and other Matters.	24
EXCURSUS to ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE.		37
THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE:
	Of a Young Lady, who, being Enamoured of a Prince, Sendeth for one of his Chaplains, and with him Entereth into a Plot which Bringeth the Affair to the Desired Issue.	42
EXCURSUS to THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE.		49
THE PENITENT NUN:
	Of a Nun, who Strove to Flee the Shafts of Love; how she Succeeded; and how certain Young Nuns Received her Counsel.	52
BEYOND THE MARK:
	Of a Shepherd who Made an Agreement with a Shepherdess that he should Mount upon her; and how he Kept that Agreement.	53
THE DEVIL IN HELL:
	Of a Young Maid, who, Turning Hermit, was Taught by a Monk to Put the Devil in Hell; and how she found Much Pleasure therein.	56
EXCURSUS to THE DEVIL IN HELL.		63
THE WEDDING NIGHT OF JEAN THE FOOL:
	Of a Young Husband who thought his Wife would Give him a Chicken on their Wedding Night; and how he Learned in what Fashion he must Comport himself to have that Chicken.	65
THE MAIDEN WELL GUARDED:
	Of a Maid who had been most Strictly Enjoined to Guard her Maidenhead; and how a Youth Restored it to her when she Lost it.	69
VARIANT:
	Of one Coypeau, who Securely Sewed up a Damsel’s Maidenhead with his own Thread.	72
TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN:
	Of a Prince and a Princess who became Acquainted in Strange Circumstances; of their Loves, Separation, Re-union, and divers Remarkable Happenings.	74
EXCURSUS to the TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN.		92
THE FOOL:
	Of a Young Man who would fain have Wed, yet Contrived to Satisfy his Wish without Marriage.	101
“OH MOTHER, ROGER WITH HIS KISSES”:
	Of the Emotions of an Innocent Virgin when Wooed Boisterously by her Swain.	103
FOOLISH FEAR:
	Of a Virgin Wife who did not Understand the Business of Marriage; and how the Parties went to Law, and what Ensued therefrom.	104
THE PRINCESS WHO PISSETH OVER THE HAYCOCKS:
	Of a King’s Daughter, the Like of whom was not Seen Elsewhere on Earth; and how she was Cured of her Ways by a Young Peasant, divers Physicians and Charlatans having Failed in the Task.	111
THE COMB:
	Of a Pope’s Daughter who was “Combed” by a Peasant; and how the Comb was Lost and Found again, together with other Strange and Delightsome Happenings.	VIRGINITY AND ITS TRADITIONS. Chloe! Like a fawn she flees, Trembling, timid mother-seeking, Far among the trackless hills; Starting back from bush and breeze, When the new-born spring is speaking To green leaves in little trills. Oh, how shake her heart, her knees! Run! A lizard sets a-creaking That big bush! I bring no ills; I don’t follow you to seize, Like some cruel tigress, reeking Rage; no lion I that kills In GÆtulia, hot to tease Out your life! So quit your meeking By your mother! Trust your thrills! Come and learn my mysteries! HORACE, I., xxiii. Clyx.com