Desire

Passages

Every passage tagged with this emotion in the Vela corpus. Search the body text, narrow by source or register, click through to a book’s profile to see how the passage sits with the rest of the work.

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• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  7. In the Book of Proverbs (vi. 3) we find the words: “Run about, make haste, stir up your friend” (i.e. “from the sleep of sin,” Gloss). Now sinners are awakened by preaching. Therefore, journeys undertaken by preachers for the salvation of souls are praiseworthy. 8. “This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures” (Ezek. i. 13). St. Gregory writes (homil. V, I part super Ezech.): “Pastors of souls, who have undertaken the duty of feeding their flock, ought but rarely to change their place of abode. But, they who journey abroad to preach are as wheels of fire, which move from place to place by the force of the flame of that holy desire which both consumes the preacher and inflames his hearers.” This passage teaches us two lessons, viz. that it is permissible for others, besides prelates, to preach; and that preachers ought to move from place to place, instead of remaining always in one spot. 9. St. Gregory, in the same homily, commenting on the words of Ezek. i., “When they walked, it was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army,” says, “The camps of preachers move from one place to another, labouring for the salvation of souls.” We see, therefore, from all the passages that have been cited that the journeys undertaken by preachers in their zeal for souls are highly to be commended. But, we must note that the Holy Scripture blames three classes of men who wander about. The first class consists of those whose restless and changeable class disposition causes them to roam hither and thither, and whose journeys produce no fruit. The second class is composed of those who travel about in hopes of material profit. The third class is formed of those whose journeys are undertaken from some evil motive, and to accomplish some sinful end. Of all these three orders of men, St. Jude writes: “Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and after the error of Balaam, they have for reward poured out themselves. These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful” (Epist. i. 11). By these words is typified the unfruitfulness of journeys which are undertaken through frivolous motives. The Apostle blames the men of whom we have been speaking for the levity, or inordinate desires, which cause them to travel abroad. The Gloss says that the words of St. Jude refer to those who seek food by unworthy means or inquisitive disquiet. 2. St. Augustine, when he speaks of monks, who, although they bear no commission, are never settled, never quiet, means that their journeys are undertaken from frivolous or avaricious motives. This is clear by the context, wherein he blames them for running about,in quest of lucre.

• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  DOES HAPPINESS CONSIST IN AN ACT OF THE WILL?SINCE the intellectual substance attains to God by its operation, not only by an act of understanding but also by an act of the will, through desiring and loving Him, and through delighting in Him, someone might think that man’s last end and ultimate happiness consists, not in knowing but in loving God or in some other act of the will towards Him: especially seeing that the object of the will is the good, which has the aspect of an end, whereas the true, which is the object of the intellect, has not the aspect of an end except forasmuch as it also is a good. Wherefore seemingly man does not attain to his last end by an act of his intellect, but rather by an act of his will. Further. The ultimate perfection of operation is delight, which perfects operation as beauty perfects youth, as the Philosopher says (10 Ethic. iv.). Hence if the last end be a perfect operation, it would seem that it must consist in an act of the will rather than of the intellect. Again. Delight apparently is desired for its own sake so that it is never desired for the sake of something else: for it is silly to ask of anyone why he seeks to be delighted. Now this is a condition of the ultimate end, namely that it be sought for its own sake. Therefore seemingly the last end consists in an act of the will rather than of the intellect. Moreover. All agree in their desire for the last end, for it is a natural desire. Now more people seek delight than knowledge. Therefore delight would seem to be the last end rather than knowledge. Furthermore. The will is seemingly a higher power than the intellect: for the will moves the intellect to its act; since when a person wills, his intellect considers by an act what he holds by a habit. Wherefore seemingly the act of the will is higher than the act of the intellect. Therefore it would seem that the last end, which is beatitude, consists in an act of the will rather than of the intellect.

• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  Objection 3: Further, concupiscence may be taken in two ways. First as denoting an act of the will, as in Wis. 6:21, “The desire [concupiscentia] of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom”: secondly, as denoting an act of the sensuality, as in James 4:1, “From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not . . . from your concupiscences which war in your members?” Now the concupiscence of the sensuality is not forbidden by a precept of the decalogue, otherwise first movements would be mortal sins, as they would be against a precept of the decalogue. Nor is the concupiscence of the will forbidden, since it is included in every sin. Therefore it is unfitting for the precepts of the decalogue to include some that forbid concupiscence. Objection 4: Further, murder is a more grievous sin than adultery or theft. But there is no precept forbidding the desire of murder. Therefore neither was it fitting to have precepts forbidding the desire of theft and of adultery. On the contrary, stands the authority of Scripture. I answer that, Just as by the parts of justice a man pays that which is due to certain definite persons, to whom he is bound for some special reason, so too by justice properly so called he pays that which is due to all in general. Hence, after the three precepts pertaining to religion, whereby man pays what is due God, and after the fourth precept pertaining to piety, whereby he pays what is due to his parents—which duty includes the paying of all that is due for any special reason—it was necessary in due sequence to give certain precepts pertaining to justice properly so called, which pays to all indifferently what is due to them. Reply to Objection 1: Man is bound towards all persons in general to inflict injury on no one: hence the negative precepts, which forbid the doing of those injuries that can be inflicted on one’s neighbor, had to be given a place, as general precepts, among the precepts of the decalogue. On the other hand, the duties we owe to our neighbor are paid in different ways to different people: hence it did not behoove to include affirmative precepts about those duties among the precepts of the decalogue.

• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  THE Apostle in this Epistle designs to show that all His creatures desired the Advent of the Glory of the Saints. There are four creatures which desire especially the glory of the saints. First, angelic creatures; second, heavenly creatures; third, earthly creatures; fourth, human creatures; and, therefore, perhaps, he names four creatures in this Epistle. I. On the first head, it is noted, that the angels desire it for three reasons. (1) On account of the full completion of the victory over their enemies. Rev. 12:9, “And the great serpent was cast out; that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him;” and afterwards “Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” (2) On account of the completion of their ministry. 1 Cor. 15:24, “When He shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power, for He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet.” (3) On account of the perfect reparation of His city. Psalm 105:6, “He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies.” Ephes. 1:10, Vulg., “To re-establish all things in Christ that are in heaven and on earth.” II. On the second head, it is to be noted that the heavenly creature was desiring this for three reasons. (1) On account of the taking away the unworthiness of its servitude. S. Isid., “The sun and the moon will not descend to setting after the judgment, nor to the wicked placed under the earth, will light serve them.” (2) On account of the recovery of lost beauty. Isai. 30:26, “Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold.” (3) On account of his rest from motion, Habak. 3:11, “The sun and moon stood still in their habitation.” The sun in rising, the moon in setting, as they were ordained at the creation for these three good things, the heavenly bodies obtain.

• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  But one may say: It is true that the last end of a subsistent intelligence consists in understanding the best intelligible object, still the best intelligible object, absolutely speaking, is not the best object for this or that subsistent intelligence; but the higher any subsistent intelligence is, the higher is its best intelligible object; and therefore the highest subsistent intelligence created has for its best intelligible object that which is best absolutely; hence its happiness will be in understanding God; but the happiness of a lower subsistent intelligence will be to understand some lower intelligible object, which is at the same time the highest of the objects that can be understood by it. And particularly it seems to be the lot of the human understanding, on account of its weakness, not to understand the absolutely best intelligible object: for in respect of the knowledge of that truth of which there is most to be known the human intellect is as the bat’s eye to the sun. Nevertheless it may be manifestly shown that the end of every subsistent intelligence, even the lowest, is to understand God. For (a) the final end of all beings, to which they tend, is God (Chap.XVIII. But the human understanding, however it be lowest in the order of subsistent intelligences, is nevertheless superior to all beings devoid of understanding. Since then the nobler substance has not the ignobler end, God Himself will be the end also of the human understanding. But every intelligent being gains its last end by understanding it. Therefore it is by understanding that the human intellect attains God as its end. (c). Everything most of all desires its own last end. But the human mind is moved to more desire and love and delight over the knowledge of divine things, little as it can discern about them, than over the perfect knowledge that it has of the lowest things.

• From Saint Thomas Aquinas Collection (22 Books) (2016)

  (g). There is a natural desire in all men of knowing the causes of the things that they see. It was through wonder at seeing things, the causes of which were unseen, that men first began to philosophise. Nor does enquiry cease until we arrive at the first cause: then we consider our knowledge perfect, when we know the first cause. Man then naturally desires so to know the first cause as his last end. But the first cause is God; and the last end of man and of every subsistent intelligence, is called blessedness or happiness. To know God then is the blessedness and happiness of every subsistent intelligence. Hence it is said: This is eternal life, that they know thee, the only true God (John xvii, 3). CHAPTER XXVI THAT HAPPINESS DOES NOT CONSIST IN ANY ACT OF THE WILLSINCE a subsistent intelligence in its activity arrives at God, not by understanding alone, but also by an act of the will desiring and loving Him and taking delight in Him, some one may think that the last end and final felicity of man is not in knowing God, but rather in loving Him, or exercising some other act of the will upon Him; especially seeing that the object of the will is good, which bears the character of an end, whereas truth, which is the object of the intellect, does not bear the character of an end except in so far as it (ipsum) too is good. Hence it seems that man does not attain his last end by an act of intellect, but rather by an act of will. But this position is manifestly proved to be untenable. 1. Happiness, being the peculiar good of an intelligent nature, must attach to the intelligent nature on the side of something that is peculiar to it. But appetite is not peculiar to intelligent nature, but is found in all things, though diversely in diverse beings: which diversity however arises from the different ways in which they stand to consciousness. Things wholly devoid of consciousness have only natural appetite, or physical tendency. Things that have sensitive consciousness have sensible appetite, under which the irascible and concupiscible are included. Things that have intellectual consciousness have an appetite proportionate to that consciousness, namely, the will. The will therefore, as being an appetite, is not a peculiar appurtenance of an intelligent nature, except so far as it is dependent on the intelligence: but intelligence in itself is peculiar to an intelligent nature. Happiness therefore consists in an act of the intellect substantially and principally rather than in an act of the will.

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  Time passed in this way, and you may think that Mrs. Fox’s curiosity had diminished somewhat by frustration, but, no! It grew stronger. Poor Mrs. Fox could think of little else besides Mr. Wolfe and what it would be like to be Mrs. Wolfe. So preoccupied with these thoughts was Mrs. Fox that she could hardly enjoy the considerable physical talents of Mr. Fox without having her mind wander off into the Wolfes’ boudoir. This is, in fact, what fueled her excitement as poor Mr. Fox spent his efforts pleasuring her. There was simply something so much more intriguing in the unknown and forbidden notion of Mr. Wolfe than in the familiar and real pleasures her husband had to offer. For Mrs. Fox, the grass was always greener somewhere else. One day, as Mrs. Fox was guiltily prattling on about her husband’s many capabilities to Mrs. Wolfe, the latter all of a sudden sighed miserably. “What a pity I cannot sample Mr. Fox’s talents firsthand,” she remarked absently. No sooner were the words out of Mrs. Wolfe’s mouth than the impact of what she had said hit her. She turned her eyes in horror to meet the shocked gaze of Mrs. Fox. Blushing a deep red, she was immediately contrite. “Oh, my dear! I never meant…really…what I intended to say…” she stammered on, searching frantically for a way to recant the scandalous statement. Mrs. Fox had at first been too dumbfounded to reply, such was her astonishment to hear those words uttered from the proper Mrs. Wolfe, but her composure quickly returned and she slyly took up the opportunity she had secretly wished for. “It is, in truth, what I myself have wondered on occasion,” she admitted. She did not dare to confess the extent of these wonderings, or that she had been thinking about little else since the wedding eve of the Wolfes’ marriage. “You…?” Sweet Mrs. Wolfe was still too flustered to contribute much to the conversation. “It is only normal, after all,” continued Mrs. Fox, determined to use her friend’s unexpected slip to further her own wishes or, as it now stood, the wishes of them both. “Our husbands, although each very talented I am sure, are in almost every respect opposites. How could we not wonder how it would feel to be with a man so different from our own?” Mrs. Wolfe absorbed this and seemed to relax a bit. “Perhaps,” she consented. “But we could never…I mean,” she stopped herself again. “There is a way,” suggested Mrs. Fox cunningly, with her heart pounding at her own boldness. Mrs. Wolfe remained speechless, but there was a spark of interest in her eyes as they met Mrs. Fox’s. Mrs. Fox pretended to be contemplating the situation. In fact, she had played this scenario out in her mind at least a hundred times before. “In a dark bedchamber,” she mused, “our husbands would not be able to distinguish between us so easily.”

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  Meanwhile the stranger’s strong hands held her firmly as he continued to rouse her with his tongue. She nearly fainted from the pleasure he was giving her, and just when she felt that something within her very core would certainly burst, he raised himself over her and positioned her limbs to accommodate his larger form. But she struggled against him in sudden panic as it once again occurred to her that she had no knowledge of who this man was. He paused and held back, unwilling to take her by force. With her whole being tremulous with desire, she desperately reached out her hands in another attempt to touch his face but, even in the dark, he easily intercepted her wrists and held them firmly over her head to prevent any further efforts to discover his identity. Being thus laid open and pinned, her fears seemed pointless, especially while her body was overcome with such an intense craving for the man, whoever he was. He kissed her lips very tenderly, as if to make amends for the unrelenting hold he maintained on her hands, and she wrapped her legs around his torso, at last giving him the consent he had been waiting for. His kiss suddenly became rougher as he abruptly thrust himself into her willing body. Her head turned away from him in a reflexive movement as she stared mutely into the blackness that surrounded them, momentarily overcome by the many sensations that were flooding through her. But in the next heartbeat, she turned back toward him and received his lips anxiously, breathing his warm breath and tasting his tongue with her own. Giving herself completely now to her unknown lover, she began to respond, moving her body to enhance the extreme pleasure he was giving her. Longing to hold him, but unable to use her arms, which were still detained by his grasp, she clung to him with her legs. They continued in this way long into the night, until at last, they both lay quiet and sedate. On the following morning she woke up alone, and try as she might, she could not find a single man within the walls of the castle that day. Instead she discovered many different rooms—rooms that were filled with rich fabrics of every material and style; rooms containing shelves upon shelves of thread and yarn of every single thickness and shade; rooms containing baskets of varying shapes and sizes; rooms for growing flowers; one room was filled with every kind of button that had ever been made. In short, for every occupation the lady could ever wish to engage in, there was a room filled with a wide variety of materials for that craft.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  [Footnote 417: "It was the custom in those days to attach to the bedposts sundry small instruments in the form of birds, which, by means of certain mechanical devices, gave forth sounds modulated like the song of actual birds."--_Fanfani._] On this wise consorting with her at one time and another, without its costing him aught in the world, and growing every hour more entangled, it befell that he sold his stuffs for ready money and made a good profit thereby; of which the lady incontinent heard, not from him, but from others, and Salabaetto being come one night to visit her, she fell to prattling and wantoning with him, kissing and clipping him and feigning herself so enamoured of him that it seemed she must die of love in his arms. Moreover, she would fain have given him two very fine hanaps of silver that she had; but he would not take them, for that he had had of her, at one time and another, what was worth a good thirty gold florins, without availing to have her take of him so much as a groat's worth. At last, whenas she had well enkindled him by showing herself so enamoured and freehanded, one of her slave-girls called her, as she had ordained beforehand; whereupon she left the chamber and coming back, after awhile, in tears cast herself face downward on the bed and fell to making the woefullest lamentation ever woman made. Salabaetto, marvelling at this, caught her in his arms and fell a-weeping with her and saying, 'Alack, heart of my body, what aileth thee thus suddenly? What is the cause of this grief? For God's sake, tell it me, my soul.' The lady, after letting herself be long entreated, answered, 'Woe's me, sweet my lord, I know not what to say or to do; I have but now received letters from Messina and my brother writeth me that, should I sell or pawn all that is here,[418] I must without fail send him a thousand gold florins within eight days from this time, else will his head be cut off; and I know not how I shall do to get this sum so suddenly. Had I but fifteen days' grace, I would find a means of procuring it from a certain quarter whence I am to have much more, or I would sell one of our farms; but, as this may not be, I had liefer be dead than that this ill news should have come to me.' [Footnote 418: Syn. that which belongeth to us (_ciò che ci è_,) _ci_, as I have before noted, signifying both "here" and "us," dative and accusative.]

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  “What I mean,” he explained calmly, “is that I want to see if I was able to inspire ‘anything but your utter disgust’ for me with my kiss.” “Oh…well I can assure you that disgust pretty much sums up my feelings,” she lied, trying to appear calm and unaffected. But it was difficult with his strong hands holding her the way they were. “I don’t believe you,” he replied. “And I like to verify things whenever possible.” “Well, it’s not possible,” she snapped back. “So you’re just going to have to take my word for it.” “But it is possible,” he argued. “It’s not only possible, but it’s also simple and painless.” So saying, he removed his hands from beneath her and pried open her legs. At last she realized what he meant to do. A persistent tingling had been building up between her legs since before the kiss and now her desire was all but throbbing within her. “No,” she protested. “No.” She shook her head back and forth as she struggled desperately to close her legs. “If it’s as you say,” he said in an annoyingly reasonable tone, loosening his hold on her legs for the moment, “after one brief inspection I will leave here and never bother you again. But if you’re lying, as I suspect, you are rightfully my slave for the evening.” She gasped in horror. When did the tables turn and he become the victor? “You can admit your desire for me directly if you’d rather,” he said patiently. “Never!” she nearly shrieked. “Well then, you have nothing to hide, have you?” he asked. His eyes locked with hers, and it was as if she were hypnotized as she allowed him to open her legs wide. His fingers gently touched her, probing her. She cursed her treacherous body even as she shuddered with pleasure when his finger slid easily into the telltale wetness. He let out a hoarse groan and drew her into his arms. “I win,” he said, just before his lips claimed hers. Her pride was crushed but she could no longer deny that he had won the battle. Still, she conceded grudgingly. Her eyes flashed with anger and she bit his tongue when he pushed it into her mouth. This did not disappoint him in the least; it was again what he had expected from her. He willingly permitted her to vent all her rage on him. After all, he understood how annoying it could be to lose.

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  “Well then,” he said with a smile. “Just so you know, if you’re going to have a fighting chance of getting any kind of declaration from me, you’re going to have to do it from over there.” He flicked his thumb in the direction of the oversize bed that stood in the middle of the room. Mouse bit her lip as she looked toward the bed. She had been thinking the very same thing. And why not? She would not mind sampling pleasures from the cat who had managed to get the best of her up to this point. Cat almost groaned out loud as he read her thoughts from the expression on her face. Perhaps he should have taken what he could have from her as his slave. But no, that would never satisfy him. He wanted this mouse forever as his playmate and rival. He stepped nearer to her and lifted her chin. His eyes locked with hers. Determined to win her heart he lowered his lips to hers. Determined to win the game she met his lips with fervor. Now she could at last give in to the desire that had been growing within her throughout their little game. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her body up against his. As long as she didn’t speak, everything would be all right. In one easy sweep, Cat lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He wanted to remove his clothes and feel her softness against his skin, but needed the advantage of remaining clothed for as long as possible. He also wanted her to be completely relaxed and at ease, so he prudently dimmed the light. He leaned over her on the bed and very adeptly removed the little ragged cloth she wore. Then he resumed kissing her, while his hands aggressively explored her naked flesh. Although his hands and lips were sending thrills throughout her body, somewhere in a far back corner of her consciousness Mouse could hear a repeated warning, but it was too distant to make out at first. As she struggled to regain control of her mind, it slowly occurred to her that she should not be passively allowing him to seduce her like this. She should be seducing him. After all, she didn’t just want to avoid losing the bet; she wanted to win. She wanted to see him on his hands and knees, groveling before her, just as she had been forced to do before him. She raised herself up and pushed her hands against his chest in an effort to force him onto his back on the bed. When he complied, she slowly began to remove his clothes. His body was so beautiful in its masculinity that she could not help but wonder if by undressing him she was not harming her own cause more than his.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  The latter, having renewed his covenant with the gentleman, seated himself with the lady in a part of the saloon at a great distance from every one and began to say thus, 'Noble lady, meseemeth certain that you have too much wit not to have long since perceived how great a love I have been brought to bear you by your beauty, which far transcendeth that of any woman whom methinketh I ever beheld, to say nothing of the engaging manners and the peerless virtues which be in you and which might well avail to take the loftiest spirits of mankind; wherefore it were needless to declare to you in words that this [my love] is the greatest and most fervent that ever man bore woman; and thus, without fail, will I do[170] so long as my wretched life shall sustain these limbs, nay, longer; for that, if in the other world folk love as they do here below, I shall love you to all eternity. Wherefore you may rest assured that you have nothing, be it much or little worth, that you may hold so wholly yours and whereon you may in every wise so surely reckon as myself, such as I am, and that likewise which is mine. And that of this you may take assurance by very certain argument, I tell you that I should count myself more graced, did you command me somewhat that I might do and that would pleasure you, than if, I commanding, all the world should promptliest obey me. Since, then, I am yours, even as you have heard, it is not without reason that I dare to offer up my prayers to your nobility, wherefrom alone can all peace, all health and all well-being derive for me, and no otherwhence; yea, as the humblest of your servants, I beseech you, dear my good and only hope of my soul, which, midmost the fire of love, feedeth upon its hope in you,--that your benignity may be so great and your past rigour shown unto me, who am yours, on such wise be mollified that I, recomforted by your kindness, may say that, like as by your beauty I was stricken with love, even so by your pity have I life, which latter, an your haughty soul incline not to my prayers, will without fail come to nought and I shall perish and you may be said to be my murderer. Letting be that my death will do you no honour, I doubt not eke but that, conscience bytimes pricking you therefor, you will regret having wrought it[171] and whiles, better disposed, will say in yourself, "Alack, how ill I did not to have compassion upon my poor Zima!" and this repentance, being of no avail, will cause you the great annoy.

• From Fragments (7)

  I shall tell you what I think. Oft with Loves my path was teeming. Often was I on love's brink. 'Twixt the others I slipped through. Only this one victory knew. 135 Lyric Songs of the Greeks A LOVE SONG (29) Violently did Eros smite me With his hyacinthine rod. To a run did he invite me; So o'er swollen streams I trod, And through glens and thickets ran, Till I to perspire began. To my throat my heart was aching. Almost, almost did I choke; But, his forehead at me shaking, And his pinions, Eros spoke: "Wonder not thou canst not run: Ne'er hast thou to love begun." A LOVE SONG (30) On tender myrtle branches I Desire my limbs to stretch. As on a clover lawn I lie, I wish to drink a pledge. May Eros pour my wine for me, While, o'er his shoulders wound, A tunic, fastened carefully, Be with papyrus bound. For life like chariot wheels rolls by; Not long will death delay. 136 Anacreontea Naught but a little dust we lie, When once our bones decay. Why anoint a stone? Why offerings give To those who long are dead? Anoint me rather while I live ; With roses crown my head. And, Eros, call the best of maids, Ere Death me downward bears Where e'en the dancers all are shades — I want to drown my cares. TO EROS (31) The midnight hour was passing. The Bear was about to set. And Bootes his course was tracing Behind him with noiseless tread. And all the mortals unnumbered Were asleep, with labor sore. Then Eros came as I slumbered. And knocked and knocked at my door. " WTio is pounding my door? " I demanded, " My dreams dost thou make disappear " ; And Eros, " Pray, open," commanded, " I am merely a child; do not fear. 137 Lyric Songs of the Greeks " I am drenched with rain and did wander From my road in the moonless night." I, pitying, not long did ponder, But arose a lamp to light. A child with a bow and quiver On his winged back I saw; And then, as I saw him shiver, I him toward my hearth did draw. I warmed his cold hands trembling. From his hair the water I pressed. When he became warm, dissembling. He said : " This bow let us test. " I fear lest, its bow-strings laming, The rain set at naught my art." He stretched his string: at me aiming, He hit the midst of my heart. And he leaped and bounded with laughter, And said: " My friend, be thou glad. My bow is unharmed, but hereafter Thou wilt in thy heart be sad." TO THE CICADA (32) Happy insect, we admire thee, Who on leafy boughs dost sing. Tiny dew-drops to inspire thee Drink'st thou, living like a king. 138 Anacreontea All is thine where'er thou goest;

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  Very slowly, with ragged breathing and low growls, the Beast began to move himself in and out of me. He continued the slow pace for quite some time, allowing me to become completely accustomed to him; but at last his grunts and moans became wilder and louder, and likewise his strokes became rougher and quicker. His breath seared the skin on my back. His hands bored into my flesh, bruising the tender skin. I thought I felt his teeth nip my shoulder. I was aroused to the point of pain. With my inhibitions long gone, I began to touch myself to enhance the pleasure as I struggled against the Beast. But I was too late. With a deafening yell and one last hard thrust, the Beast filled me with a tremendous deluge, the excess of which flowed down my trembling legs. I was profoundly disappointed and attempted to pull myself away from the Beast, but he held me firmly in place, remaining inside me, still fully aroused, as he reached around for my hand and replaced it between my legs. He held it there until I grasped what he wanted me to do. I was momentarily embarrassed by his knowledge of what I had been doing, but that quickly disappeared as my enthusiasm once more returned. Realizing that I had as much time as I wished to enjoy the Beast, I once again began to stimulate myself. Meanwhile, the Beast slowly pulled himself out of me, almost to the very end, and then, just as slowly, pushed himself all the way back in. He continued this patiently while I sought my own pleasure. My every sense was awakened and aroused. My skin prickled under the rough hands that grasped my hips. My ears were ringing with the raw, animal sounds that echoed throughout the moonlit chamber. My eyes were riveted to the spot on the floor that displayed the images of our two contrasting shadows as they struggled intimately against each other. My inner thighs were sticky and wet. I thought about the Beast’s sharp teeth on my shoulder as I finally found my own satisfaction. That began my nightly visits to the Beast’s private bedchamber. And for me, each night was more pleasurable than the one before, and I no longer felt embarrassed or ashamed. In fact, my Beast was appearing much less beastly to me, and my affection made him appear, at times, even handsome. Even so, when the Beast asked me to marry him each evening, I gently declined. One day, some months later, I received a message that my father was ill. At supper I showed the message to the Beast. After reading it he looked up at me in horror. “Please don’t go, Beauty,” he begged. “I must!” I cried. “If anything happens to my father before I see him again I shall never forgive you!” The Beast was silent for a moment.

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  I was getting used to him now. It was still terribly difficult but, in an odd way, that added to the excitement. I began to move my hips, clenching and unclenching them as I remembered him describing her as having done. “Is this the way she moved?” I purred, as my hips awkwardly learned the rhythm. “Yes!” “She liked it hard and fast, didn’t she?” I continued, remembering what he had told me. “Yes, she liked it hard and fast,” he repeated in a low voice that was barely perceptible. “Give it to me like that, too,” I ordered. “I want it hard and fast!” “Honey,” he groaned. “I don’t want to hurt you.” But he increased his pace. “You didn’t care if you hurt her,” I argued. I worked my hips faster. “She was different,” he said, barely aware of what he was saying. “Pretend that I am her,” I goaded. And all at once I began to say the things that she had said to him, exactly as I remembered him telling me. “Harder,” I cried, pumping my hips furiously, massaging him within me. “Yes, that’s better…now you’re getting your money’s worth…” I was beyond the point where I cared what I did or how I appeared. It was as if I really was that other woman, working as hard as I could to please a total stranger for money. And my husband was as lost as I was. He pounded himself into me with a violence I had never known he possessed. I shamelessly reached between my legs and caressed myself. “What am I?” I asked him suddenly, needing to hear the words. “What?” he was nearly oblivious of his surroundings. “Tell me what I am,” I pleaded. “You’re my wife…sweetheart…my adorable wife,” he was quickly becoming incoherent. “No!” I rubbed myself more vigorously. I couldn’t stop myself. “Tell me I am what she was,” I whispered. He groaned. “Now…please,” I begged, still clenching and unclenching myself around him as he moved in and out of me. He was panting noisily. It occurred to me that, even with so little practice, I was already as good, or better, than she had been at this. “Whore” he muttered. And with that he let out a thunderous yell, thrusting himself all the way in to the base. I felt him quivering inside me. “Oh, you’re such a sweet little whore!” I closed my eyes and shuddered as one pleasurable wave after another rippled through me. And in that split second I felt the utter abandon and exquisite pleasure of being a wanton whore, but without any of the remorse or loneliness that she would likely have felt afterward.

• From Confessions of a Mask (1958)

  After everyone had started stripping, he would come down and stand at one side of the formation. Then he would give the order for the students to bow to the gymnastics instructor, who had taken his place on the platform. At this point the monitor's job was finished, as the instructor directed the exercises, so he would run back to the last row of his section, where he too would strip to the waist and join in the exercises. I dreaded having to give commands so much that the mere thought made me feel chill, and yet the stiff military formality of the ceremony provided me with such a rare opportunity that I somehow looked forward to the week when my turn would come: thanks to it, Yakumo's body, Yakumo's half-naked body, was placed directly before my eyes, and without the danger of his seeing my unlovely nakedness. As a rule Yakumo stood immediately in front of the platform, in the first or second row. His hyacinthine cheeks flushed readily, and I delighted in seeing them, puffing slightly, when he would come running to assembly and take his place in line. Gasping for breath, he would always unfasten the hooks on his blouse with rough movements. Then he would jerk his shirttail violently from his trousers as though to rip it to shreds. Even when I was determined not to look at him, from my place on the platform I found it impossible to keep my gaze off his smooth, white body when it was thus exposed to public view with such indifference. (Once my blood was frozen by a friend's innocent remark: "You always keep your eyes lowered when you're giving commands from the platform—are you really that chickenhearted?") But on these occasions I had no chance to get closer to his rosy half-nakedness. Then in the summer all the upper classes went for a week of study and observation at a naval engineering school at M. One day while there, we were all taken to swim in the pool. Rather than admit that I could not swim, I begged off on the pretext of having an upset stomach. I had expected to remain a mere spectator. But then some captain said sunbathing was medicine for any illness, and even those of us who had claimed to be too sick to swim were made to strip to our shorts. Suddenly I noticed Yakumo was one of our group.

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  Besides that, Mr. Fox loved touching his wife. It seemed that every time he did she felt new and exciting. He especially enjoyed finding her most sensitive places, and once she was properly warmed, she was that much more likely to submit to these more inquisitive ministrations. Feeling that she was in such a condition as that now, his hands slowly worked their way up her thighs, spreading them even farther apart. He kissed her between her legs while slipping one hand up below. His tongue slowly trailed the soaking slit to her opening as his finger snaked its way up between her two plump buttocks and rested at the puckered hole there. Mrs. Wolfe was too stunned to move, so her legs remained wide-open, and her fingers grasped the bedsheets at her sides. Every molecule was screaming in mutiny, yet waiting obediently for release. She, in turns, gasped and moaned. Mr. Fox was meanwhile leisurely circling her backside with his finger while simultaneously tickling her pleasure spot knowingly with his tongue. He did this with an almost uncanny expertise, flicking his tongue over the sensitive area with just the right amount of force and pressure to send thrills throughout her body, and then stopping abruptly to lap up her liquids with a wicked laugh. Meanwhile, his finger between her buttocks continued its teasing and circling, even pushing into her now and then, farther and farther, encouraged by her little gasps. Mrs. Wolfe reflected that, as forceful as her husband was, she had never before felt so utterly abused. While Mr. Wolfe took what he wanted from her she was able to take what she wanted from him, too. But this was different somehow. It felt as if Mr. Fox was controlling them both; and she did not like it one bit. Tears came to her eyes and she cried out in frustration and impatience. Now Mr. Fox reckoned he at last had her where he wanted her. He laid back on the bed, saying, “Come now and get it.” Mrs. Wolfe was stunned. She had certainly never heard such an utterance from Mr. Wolfe. She had never seen a man show such control. But she could not keep herself from continuing, for she sorely needed what he was withholding. So up she got, and prepared to mount Mr. Fox. However, this was not exactly what Mr. Fox had intended. He stopped her before he entered her. “First show me how much you want it.” Oh, how she hated him! She almost forgot herself in the heat of her anger, and told him what she thought of him. Seemingly unaware of this, his hand was gently caressing her head and stroking her hair, even as he pressed her head downward. She choked back her indignation and opened her mouth to accept his hard shaft. He kept pressing her head down until she could feel him at the back of her throat.

• From Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women (Erotic Fiction) (2006)

  But by this time the prince’s endurance had reached its limit so he pulled himself up and pushed all of his hardness into Cinderella, and it felt better than it ever had before. Her opening had never been so soft and plump as it was after being pleasured, and he held her firmly against him as he moved inside her and tried desperately to hold on to the pleasure for as long as he could. He didn’t want it to ever end but he couldn’t stop it, either, as he rounded the corner into that exquisite release that passes almost as quickly as it comes. Afterward the prince held Cinderella for longer than he ever had before, trembling and groaning as he crushed her to him. It was she who stirred first and then he grudgingly moved away from her and began to dress. They dressed in silence, for she was quite sleepy by now, and he held her protectively in front of him for the remainder of the ride home. At the castle he lifted her down from his horse, carried her into their bed, and slipped off her soft little slippers. Then he crept into the bed next to her and they both drifted happily off to sleep. The following morning Cinderella woke up alone as usual (for she was not an early riser) but beside her she noticed a rose. This brought a smile to her lips but that suddenly froze as she recalled with astonishment the events of the night before. She wondered what her husband made of her strange behavior. She could recall no disapproving remarks from the prince but, then again, there hadn’t been much conversation. She remembered her misuse and teasing of him and wondered that it had resulted in such kind and tender ministrations from him. Cinderella continued to ponder the matter as she rose up from their bed, when there on the floor she spied the little pink slippers. She reached down and picked up one of the little shoes and a strange thrill ran up along her arm. She examined the delicate slipper. It was so pretty and soft that she could not stop herself from slipping it onto her foot, and all at once, she forgot everything but that strong desire to sample all that life had to offer. And once again she forgot about the castle and her husband, the prince.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  After a while, having sundry times bidden him to dinner and thinking himself entitled in consequence to discourse familiarly with him, he discovered to him the wonderment that he felt at him and Buffalmacco, how, being poor men, they lived so merrily, and besought him to apprise him how they did. Bruno, hearing this talk from the physician and himseeing the question was one of his wonted witless impertinences, fell a-laughing in his sleeve, and bethinking himself to answer him according as his folly deserved, said, 'Doctor, there are not many whom I would tell how we do; but you I shall not scruple to tell, for that you are a friend and I know you will not repeat it to any. It is true we live, my friend and I, as merrily and as well as it appeareth to you, nay, more so, albeit neither of our craft nor of revenues we derive from any possessions might we have enough to pay for the very water we consume. Yet I would not, for all that, have you think that we go steal; nay, we go a-roving, and thence, without hurt unto any, we get us all to which we have a mind or for which we have occasion; hence the merry life you see us lead.' The physician, hearing this and believing it, without knowing what it was, marvelled exceedingly and forthright conceiving an ardent desire to know what manner of thing this going a-roving might be, besought him very urgently to tell him, affirming that he would assuredly never discover it to any. 'Alack, doctor,' cried Bruno, 'what is this you ask me? This you would know is too great a secret and a thing to undo me and drive me from the world, nay, to bring me into the mouth of the Lucifer of San Gallo,[398] should any come to know it. But so great is the love I bear your right worshipful pumpkinheadship of Legnaja[399] and the confidence I have in you that I can deny you nothing you would have; wherefore I will tell it you, on condition that you swear to me by the cross at Montesone, never, as you have promised, to tell it to any one. [Footnote 398: The commentators note here that on the church door of San Gallo was depicted an especially frightful Lucifer, with many mouths.] [Footnote 399: Legnaja is said to be famous for big pumpkins.]

• From Fragments (7)

  However, his poetic interests and his abilities were not quite so narrow as would appear from his repu- tation. First, we have from him a few fragments of h3niins to the gods, but these are nothing more than new settings for his love poetry (cf. no. ii). Then there are a few fragments of a patriotic or martial content (nos. 50-58), besides remnants of elegit (nos. 89-91), epigrams (nos. 92-107), and iambics (e. g. nos. 63, 66). He was, in fact, a fol- lower of Archilochus as well as of Alcaeus and Sap- pho, and a number of fragments show that he was able also to use the bitter shafts of Satire (e. g. no. 60). However, in all of this he is easily outdis- tanced by others — in the poetry of pleasure he reigned supreme. TO ARTEMIS (I) Huntress of stags, hear thou my prayer. Daughter of Zeus with golden hair, Artemis, mistress of wild deer, Come thou to the Lethaeus River. And to the city of valiant men. Joyful of heart, direct thy ken; For not a wild and savage clan Are the townsmen thou cherishest ever. 83 Lyric Songs of the Greeks WINE, WOMAN, AND SONG (2) On honey-cake I first did dine, Broke off a little piece, And then I drank a jar of wine, And then my harp did seize. Now with its strains I serenade My lovely friend, the pretty maid. LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP EROS KING OVER ALL (3) Of beauteous Love I fain would sing, Whose belt e'er teems with flowers. To him the gods their homage bring; He mortals overpowers. EROS THE BRONZE-SMITH (4) 'Tis a bronze-smith Eros is like; For with mighty blows he doth strike With a hammer, immerses me then In a wintry torrent again. EROS' DICE (5) Frenzy and tumult are the dice With which dread Eros ever vies. 84 Anacreon. A BOUT WITH EROS (6) Bring water, boy, bring wine, And flowers in wreaths entwine. Come quickly; for I crave With Love a bout to have. RADIANT LOVE (7) Love for the maiden he doth admire, Radiant and glad with longing desire. THE ROCK OF LEUCAS (8) Down from the stony crag above, The rock of Leucas, I shall leap, And plunge into the hoary deep, My heart aglow with frenzied love. LOVE UNREQUITED (9) My airy pinions have I spread On flight to heaven above. Because of Eros; for the lad Will not requite my love. 85 Svm^ «/ tike TOO OLD (lO) And vben iznr Ixatrd be did ^ifhoM, J^It sged gngi^ bcsxd. On brDtzT prnicmy hn^Oi ss gold U? ^puciflT dwagipraTed- PRAIXR TO DIONTi'SUS FOR CLEOBULUS Ixyrd, irbcKT plsxTDSlxs sit xxmQucnzig Lxnr;, Aad liir fair XTZophs urA ctb diiit*UiXL, And Tod-^^iected Ap^iroditr too, ThoB frho l u tum es t tbr hrigte abcTrc Them miiD lag^ mammnF diost farnjiinrff, Thet I beseedu bef cut oizt face Came wiiL i^nr kind, i^nr fBPormg; grace. To IS OUT d«ibfd mite enott.