"Sade, Marquis De - The 120 Days Of Sodom 2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marquis de Sade)

may move directly to the recitations wherewith Duclos brightened the 12th
of November.




THE TWELFTH DAY
The new mode of life I was about to begin, said Duclos, obliges me to
draw your attention, Messieurs, to my personal appearance and character at
the time; one is better able to figure the pleasures being described if one
is first acquainted with the object that procures them. I had just attained
my twenty-first year. My hair was brown, but nevertheless my skin was of a
most agreeable whiteness. The abundance of hair covering my head fell in
floating and perfectly authentic curls to just above my knees. I had the
eyes you behold me now to have, and they have always been judged lovely. My
figure was rather full although tall, supple, and gracious. With what
regards my behind, that part of the anatomy in which libertines today take
such a keen interest, it was by common consent superior to the most sublime
specimens one is likely ever to see, and there were few women in Paris who
had an ass as deliciously molded; it was full, round, very plump, and
exceedingly soft, generous, I say, but without its ampleness detracting
anything from its elegance, the least gesture immediately discovered that
heavenly little rosebud you so cherish, Messieurs, and which, I do indeed
like yourselves believe, is a woman's most magical attraction. Although I
had been for a long season active in libertinage, my ass could not have
been healthier or looked more untried; its splendid condition was in part
owing to the good constitution Nature had granted me and in part to the
extreme prudence I exercised on the battlefield, scrupulously avoiding
encounters capable of damaging my most precious asset. I had very little
love for men, I had never had but one attachment; I had a libertine maid,
but it was extraordinarily libertine, and after having described my charms
it is only fitting that I say a word or two about my vices. I love women,
Messieurs, I don't deny it. Not however to the uncommon degree my good
colleague, Madame Champville, loves them; she will probably tell you that
she has ruined herself for them; I have simply always preferred them to men
in my pleasures, and those they have procured me have always exerted a more
powerful sway over my senses than masculine delights. Apart from this
fault, I have had another of adoring to steal: I have refined this mania to
an unbelievable point. Entirely convinced that all possession should be
equally distributed in the world and that it is only strength and violence
which are opposed to this equality, foremost law of Nature, I have striven
to rectify the actual scheme and to do my utmost to re-establish the proper
balance. And had it not been for this accursed compulsion I might perhaps
still be with the benevolent mortal of whom I shall speak next.
"You say you have done considerable stealing?" said Durcet.
"An astonishing amount, Monsieur; had I not always spent what I
filched, I would be wealthy today."
"But was there not more to it than that?" the financier pursued. "Some
aggravating detail, such as, for instance, forced entry, abuse of
confidence, manifest deceit?"