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Minasan Oidemasu! This is Yukkuri demasu!

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Author:

みのろう (Minorou)

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan!

Editor:

Online Grammar Editor!

Chapter 2

The Kingdom’s Miscalculation

Part 4

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This is the Showing forth of the Inquiry of Herodotus

of Halicarna.s.sos, to the end that 1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten

by lapse of time, nor the works 2 great and marvellous, which have been

produced some by h.e.l.lenes and some by Barbarians, may lose their renown; and

especially that the causes may be remembered for which these waged war with one

another.

1. Those of the Persians who have knowledge of history

declare that the Phenicians first began the quarrel. These, they say, came from

that which is called the Erythraian Sea to this of ours; and having settled in

the land where they continue even now to dwell, set themselves forthwith to

make long voyages by sea. And conveying merchandise of Egypt and of a.s.syria

they arrived at other places and also at Argos; now Argos was at that time in

all points the first of the States within that land which is now called

h.e.l.las;—the Phenicians arrived then at this land of Argos, and began to dispose

of their s.h.i.+p's cargo: and on the fifth or sixth day after they had arrived,

when their goods had been almost all sold, there came down to the sea a great

company of women, and among them the daughter of the king; and her name, as the

h.e.l.lenes also agree, was Io the daughter of Inachos. These standing near to the

stern of the s.h.i.+p were buying of the wares such as pleased them most, when of a

sudden the Phenicians, pa.s.sing the word from one to another, made a rush upon

them; and the greater part of the women escaped by flight, but Io and certain

others were carried off. So they put them on board their s.h.i.+p, and forthwith

departed, sailing away to Egypt.

2. In this manner the Persians report that Io came to

Egypt, not agreeing therein with the h.e.l.lenes, 3 and this they say was the

first beginning of wrongs. Then after this, they say, certain h.e.l.lenes (but the

name of the people they are not able to report) put in to the city of Tyre in

Phenicia and carried off the king's daughter Europa;—these would doubtless be

Cretans;—and so they were quits for the former injury. After this however the

h.e.l.lenes, they say, were the authors of the second wrong; for they sailed in to

Aia of Colchis and to the river Phasis with a s.h.i.+p of war, and from thence,

after they had done the other business for which they came, they carried off

the king's daughter Medea: and the king of Colchis sent a herald to the land of

h.e.l.las and demanded satisfaction for the rape and to have his daughter back;

but they answered that, as the Barbarians had given them no satisfaction for

the rape of Io the Argive, so neither would they give satisfaction to the

Barbarians for this.

3. In the next generation after this, they say,

Alexander the son of Priam, having heard of these things, desired to get a wife

for himself by violence 4 from h.e.l.las, being fully a.s.sured that he would not be

compelled to give any satisfaction for this wrong, inasmuch as the h.e.l.lenes

gave none for theirs. So he carried off Helen, and the h.e.l.lenes resolved to

send messengers first and to demand her back with satisfaction for the rape;

and when they put forth this demand, the others alleged to them the rape of

Medea, saying that the h.e.l.lenes were now desiring satisfaction to be given to

them by others, though they had given none themselves nor had surrendered the

person when demand was made.

4. Up to this point, they say, nothing more happened

than the carrying away of women on both sides; but after this the h.e.l.lenes were

very greatly to blame; for they set the first example of war, making an

expedition into Asia before the Barbarians made any into Europe. Now they say

that in their judgment, though it is an act of wrong to carry away women by

force, it is a folly to set one's heart on taking vengeance for their rape, and

the wise course is to pay no regard when they have been carried away; for it is

evident that they would never be carried away if they were not themselves

willing to go. And the Persians say that they, namely the people of Asia, when

their women were carried away by force, had made it a matter of no account, but

the h.e.l.lenes on account of a woman of Lacedemon gathered together a great

armament, and then came to Asia and destroyed the dominion of Priam; and that

from this time forward they had always considered the h.e.l.lenic race to be their

enemy: for Asia and the Barbarian races which dwell there the Persians claim as

belonging to them; but Europe and the h.e.l.lenic race they consider to be parted

off from them.

5. The Persians for their part say that things

happened thus; and they conclude that the beginning of their quarrel with the

h.e.l.lenes was on account of the taking of Ilion: but as regards Io the

Phenicians do not agree with the Persians in telling the tale thus; for they

deny that they carried her off to Egypt by violent means, and they say on the

other hand that when they were in Argos she was intimate with the master of

their s.h.i.+p, and perceiving that she was with child, she was ashamed to confess

it to her parents, and therefore sailed away with the Phenicians of her own

will, for fear of being found out. These are the tales told by the Persians and

the Phenicians severally: and concerning these things I am not going to say

that they happened thus or thus, 401 but when I have pointed to the man who

first within my own knowledge began to commit wrong against the h.e.l.lenes, I

shall go forward further with the story, giving an account of the cities of

men, small as well as great: for those which in old times were great have for

the most part become small, while those that were in my own time great used in

former times to be small: so then, since I know that human prosperity never

continues steadfast, I shall make mention of both indifferently.

6. Croesus was Lydian by race, the son of Alyattes and

ruler of the nations which dwell on this side of the river Halys; which river,

flowing from the South between the Syrians 5 and the Paphlagonians, runs out

towards the North Wind into that Sea which is called the Euxine. This Croesus,

first of all the Barbarians of whom we have knowledge, subdued certain of the

h.e.l.lenes and forced them to pay tribute, while others he gained over and made

them his friends. Those whom he subdued were the Ionians, the Aiolians, and the

Dorians who dwell in Asia; and those whom he made his friends were the

Lacedemonians. But before the reign of Croesus all the h.e.l.lenes were free; for

the expedition of the Kimmerians, which came upon Ionia before the time of

Croesus, was not a conquest of the cities but a plundering incursion only. 6

7. Now the supremacy which had belonged to the

Heracleidai came to the family of Croesus, called Mermnadai, in the following

manner:—Candaules, whom the h.e.l.lenes call Myrsilos, was ruler of Sardis and a

descendant of Alcaios, son of Heracles: for Agron, the son of Ninos, the son of

Belos, the son of Alcaios, was the first of the Heracleidai who became king of

Sardis, and Candaules the son of Myrsos was the last; but those who were kings

over this land before Agrond, were descendants of Lydos the son of Atys, whence

this whole nation was called Lydian, having been before called Meonian. From these

the Heracleidai, descended from Heracles and the slave-girl of Iardanos,

obtained the government, being charged with it by reason of an oracle; and they

reigned for two-and-twenty generations of men, five hundred and five years,

handing on the power from father to son, till the time of Clandaules the son of

Myrsos.

8. This Candaules then of whom I speak had become

pa.s.sionately in love with his own wife; and having become so, he deemed that

his wife was fairer by far than all other women; and thus deeming, to Gyges the

son of Daskylos (for he of all his spearmen was the most pleasing to him), to

this Gyges, I say, he used to impart as well the more weighty of his affairs as

also the beauty of his wife, praising it above measure: and after no long time,

since it was destined that evil should happen to Candaules, he said to Gyges as

follows: "Gyges, I think that thou dost not believe me when I tell thee of

the beauty of my wife, for it happens that men's ears are less apt of belief

than their eyes: contrive therefore means by which thou mayest look upon her

naked." But he cried aloud and said: "Master, what word of unwisdom

is this which thou dost utter, bidding me look upon my mistress naked? When a

woman puts off her tunic she puts off her modesty also. Moreover of old time

those fair sayings have been found out by men, from which we ought to learn

wisdom; and of these one is this,—that each man should look on his own: but I

believe indeed that she is of all women the fairest and I entreat thee not to ask

of me that which it is not lawful for me to do."

9. With such words as these he resisted, fearing lest

some evil might come to him from this; but the king answered him thus: "Be

of good courage, Gyges, and have no fear, either of me, that I am saying these

words to try thee, or of my wife, lest any harm may happen to thee from her.

For I will contrive it so from the first that she shall not even perceive that

she has been seen by thee. I will place thee in the room where we sleep, behind

the open door; 7 and after I have gone in, my wife also will come to lie down.

Now there is a seat near the entrance of the room, and upon this she will lay

her garments as she takes them off one by one; and so thou wilt be able to gaze

upon her at full leisure. And when she goes from the chair to the bed and thou

shalt be behind her back, then let it be thy part to take care that she sees

thee not as thou goest through the door."

10. He then, since he might not avoid it, gave

consent: and Candaules, when he considered that it was time to rest, led Gyges

to the chamber; and straightway after this the woman also appeared: and Gyges

looked upon her after she came in and as she laid down her garments; and when

she had her back turned towards him, as she went to the bed, then he slipped

away from his hiding-place and was going forth. And as he went out, the woman

caught sight of him, and perceiving that which had been done by her husband she

did not cry out, though struck with shame, 8 but she made as though she had not

perceived the matter, meaning to avenge herself upon Candaules: for among the

Lydians as also among most other Barbarians it is a shame even for a man to be

seen naked.

11. At the time then she kept silence, as I say, and

made no outward sign; but as soon as day had dawned, and she made ready those

of the servants whom she perceived to be the most attached to herself, and

after that she sent to summon Gyges. He then, not supposing that anything of

that which had been done was known to her, came upon her summons; for he had

been accustomed before to go 9 whenever the queen summoned him. And when Gyges

was come, the woman said to him these words: "There are now two ways open

to thee, Gyges, and I give thee the choice which of the two thou wilt prefer to

take. Either thou must slay Candaules and possess both me and the kingdom of

Lydia, or thou must thyself here on the spot be slain, so that thou mayest not

in future, by obeying Candaules in all things, see that which thou shouldest

not. Either he must die who formed this design, or thou who hast looked upon me

naked and done that which is not accounted lawful." For a time then Gyges

was amazed at these words, and afterwards he began to entreat her that she

would not bind him by necessity to make such a choice: then however, as he

could not prevail with her, but saw that necessity was in truth set before him

either to slay his master or to be himself slain by others, he made the choice

to live himself; and he inquired further as follows: "Since thou dost

compel me to take my master's life against my own will, let me hear from thee

also what is the manner in which we shall lay hands upon him." And she

answering said: "From that same place shall the attempt be, where he

displayed me naked; and we will lay hands upon him as he sleeps."

12. So after they had prepared the plot, when night

came on, (for Gyges was not let go nor was there any way of escape for him, but

he must either be slain himself or slay Candaules), he followed the woman to

the bedchamber; and she gave him a dagger and concealed him behind that very

same door. Then afterwards, while Candaules was sleeping, Gyges came privily up

to him 10 and slew him, and he obtained both his wife and his kingdom: of him

moreover Archilochos the Parian, who lived about that time, made mention in a

trimeter iambic verse. 11

13. He obtained the kingdom however and was

strengthened in it by means of the Oracle at Delphi; for when the Lydians were

angry because of the fate of Candaules, and had risen in arms, a treaty was

made between the followers of Gyges and the other Lydians to this effect, that

if the Oracle should give answer that he was to be king of the Lydians, he

should be king, and if not, he should give back the power to the sons of

Heracles. So the Oracle gave answer, and Gyges accordingly became king: yet the

Pythian prophetess said this also, that vengeance for the Heracleidai should

come upon the descendants of Gyges in the fifth generation. Of this oracle the

Lydians and their kings made no account until it was in fact fulfilled.

14. Thus the Mermnadai obtained the government having

driven out from it the Heracleidai: and Gyges when he became ruler sent votive

offerings to Delphi not a few, for of all the silver offerings at Delphi his

are more in number than those of any other man; and besides the silver he

offered a vast quant.i.ty of gold, and especially one offering which is more

worthy of mention than the rest, namely six golden mixing-bowls, which are

dedicated there as his gift: of these the weight is thirty talents, and they

stand in the treasury of the Corinthians, (though in truth this treasury does

not belong to the State of the Corinthians, but is that of Kypselos the son of

Aëtion). 12 This Gyges was the first of the Barbarians within our knowledge who

dedicated votive offerings at Delphi, except only Midas the son of Gordias king

of Phrygia, who dedicated for an offering the royal throne on which he sat

before all to decide causes; and this throne, a sight worth seeing, stands in

the same place with the bowls of Gyges. This gold and silver which Gyges

dedicated is called Gygian by the people of Delphi, after the name of him who

offered it.

Now Gyges also, 13 as soon as he became king, led an

army against Miletos and Smyrna, and he took the lower town of Colophon: 14 but

no other great deed did he do in his reign, which lasted eight-and-thirty

years, therefore we will pa.s.s him by with no more mention than has already been

made,

15, and I will speak now of Ardys the son of Gyges,

who became king after Gyges. He took Priene and made an invasion against

Miletos; and while he was ruling over Sardis, the Kimmerians driven from their

abodes by the nomad Scythians came to Asia and took Sardis except the citadel.

16. Now when Ardys had been king for nine-and-forty

years, Sadyattes his son succeeded to his kingdom, and reigned twelve years;

and after him Alyattes. This last made war against Kyaxares the descendant of

Deïokes and against the Medes, 15 and he drove the Kimmerians forth out of

Asia, and he took Smyrna which had been founded from Colophon, and made an

invasion against Clazomenai. From this he returned not as he desired, but with

great loss: during his reign however he performed other deeds very worthy of

mention as follows:—

17. He made war with those of Miletos, having received

this war as an inheritance from his father: for he used to invade their land

and besiege Miletos in the following manner:—whenever there were ripe crops

upon the land, then he led an army into their confines, making his march to the

sound of pipes and harps and flutes both of male and female tone: and when he

came to the Milesian land, he neither pulled down the houses that were in the

fields, nor set fire to them nor tore off their doors, but let them stand as

they were; the trees however and the crops that were upon the land he

destroyed, and then departed by the way he came: for the men of Miletos had

command of the sea, so that it was of no use for his army to blockade them: and

he abstained from pulling down the houses to the end that the Milesians might

have places to dwell in while they sowed and tilled the land, and by the means

of their labour he might have somewhat to destroy when he made his invasion.

18. Thus he continued to war with them for eleven

years; and in the course of these years the Milesians suffered two great

defeats, once when they fought a battle in the district of Limenion in their

own land, and again in the plain of Maiander. Now for six of the eleven years

Sadyattes the son of Ardys was still ruler of the Lydians, the same who was

wont to invade the land of Miletos at the times mentioned; 16 for this

Sadyattes was he who first began the war: but for the five years which followed

these first six the war was carried on by Alyattes the son of Sadyattes, who

received it as an inheritance from his father (as I have already said) and

applied himself to it earnestly. And none of the Ionians helped those of

Miletos bear the burden of this war except only the men of Chios. These came to

their aid to pay back like with like, for the Milesians had formerly a.s.sisted

the Chians throughout their war with the people of Erythrai.

19. Then in the twelfth year of the war, when standing

corn was being burnt by the army of the Lydians, it happened as follows:—as

soon as the corn was kindled, it was driven by a violent wind and set fire to

the temple of Athene surnamed of a.s.sessos; and the temple being set on fire was

burnt down to the ground. Of this no account was made then; but afterwards when

the army had returned to Sardis, Alyattes fell sick, and as his sickness lasted

long, he sent messengers to inquire of the Oracle at Delphi, either being

advised to do so by some one, or because he himself thought it best to send and

inquire of the G.o.d concerning his sickness. But when these arrived at Delphi,

the Pythian prophetess said that she would give them no answer, until they

should have built up again the temple of Athene which they had burnt at

a.s.sessos in the land of Miletos.

20. Thus much I know by the report of the people of

Delphi; but the Milesians add to this that Periander the son of Kypselos, being

a special guest-friend of Thrasybulos the then despot of Miletos, heard of the

oracle which had been given to Alyattes, and sending a messenger told

Thrasybulos, in order that he might have knowledge of it beforehand and take

such counsel as the case required. This is the story told by the Milesians.

Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 7, Day 19.

Louria Kingdom Eastern Subjugation Army – Eastern

Lords Division – Headquarters.

The event of the major defeat in the naval battle at Rodenius

Sea was completely concealed from the frontline soldiers due to a concern that

it will demoralize the soldiers. Except, for some high-ranking officers……

The Vanguard Forces of Louria Kingdom’s Eastern Subjugation

Army had conquered Gim, a QuToynese City and made it their encampement. Vice

Commander Adem, who had his authority enlarged due to his military exploit of conquering

Gim with only the Vanguard Force, was entrusted with the Eastern Lords Division

under his command. In order to expand Lourian zone of control further east, he had

demanded the Hawk Knights Order to scout the area ahead.

There was an unpleasant premonition amongst the officers

of the Louria Kingdom Eastern Lords Army which was the superior of the Hawk Knights

Order.

About 100 men from the 15th Cavalry Squadron, who went

for a reconnaissance in force, had disappeared in a location about 30 kilometers

east from Gim.

According to the magicians, they seemed unable to detect

any trace of magic with Wyvern-level strength. However, there were signs of a battle

happened. There were vestiges of powerful attacks of some kind being used, so there

was no doubt that the Cavalry Squadron had clashed with something or someone.

Despite no evidence of high powered magics being

employed, not a single person from the 100 Knights had returned.

Even if something had happened, they should be able to

return, even if it was just a single person.

Although there was a possibility that they were surrounded

and annihilated by a larger army, it was inconceivable that a cavalry squadron

who excel in mobility could be completely annihilated.

「Something is wrong. Are we really fighting with the demihumans of

QuToyne……? What do you think, Washner?」

Count Jean-Philia, who had gathered the Eastern Lords Division,

questioned Magician Washner.

Around him, every Lords were present.

「Because there was no reaction on the detector in the magic watchpost,

n.o.body noticed it…… At the very least, we believed that it was not a work of a creature

with high magic power like a Wyvern, nor the result a high power magic projection

like the concentrated flame b.a.l.l.s.」

「Then what it is?」

Jean-Philia was concerned because of the fact that a cavalry

squadron disappeared without any explanation.

「I think this is a hogwash, but……」

「Don’t leave your words hanging. I won’t mind it, so please continue.」

「Recently there is a rumor among the magicians, but since the details are so

overwhelmingly absurd, please take it with a grain of salt.」

「Go on.」

Washner sighed very deeply and cast his face down as he

began to tell what the rumor said.

「The Eastern Subjugation Navy, the Fleet for the Maihark Invasion Force, had

a crus.h.i.+ng defeat with over 30% of the s.h.i.+ps lost. Furthermore, 250 Wyvern Knights,

who were heading towards the enemy s.h.i.+p, were also annihilated, so the Maihark Invasion

Operations ended in a failure……」

「What…… Annihilated!?」

「You say the Wyvern Squadrons were annihilated?!」

For the Lords who wasn’t informed of the battle report

since it was outside their jurisdiction, this was like a bolt out of the blue

sky.

「Wait a moment…… Just wait a moment. I heard that the fleet and Wyburn we had

sent are so huge, that they are enough to conquer QuToyne by themselves. With

their strength, even if they had invaded Papardia Empire, it wouldn’t be a

dream to burst through the Empire’s fleet blockade and land on the continent. With

just one battle, the fleet that perhaps could be said as the largest in the

history…… they lost? Moreover, to QuToyne?」

Because it was a story that is too absurd to be real, Jean-Philia

couldn’t believe it. Because he had cut his way through many battles, he

understood that no matter how QuToyne strengthened their defense, it was

impossible for them to defeat the Lourian fleet.

「Actually, after the purge in Gim, a country called j.a.pan seems to be partic.i.p.ating

in the war. The s.h.i.+p they used could continuously release magic that that can

sink a s.h.i.+p with a single hit while giving a thunderous roar and Light Spears that

could pursue wyvern and blow them into pieces. The amount of Mana Projection for

these was so powerful that it couldn’t be replicated even with a group of 1,000

Magician-cla.s.s…… Or so what I heard from my cla.s.smate in the Magic Academy……」

Everyone was pondering. Is this just the usual battlefield

exaggerated legend or the truth?

Of the 150 Wyverns Knights attached to the Subjugation

Army, 50 units were ordered to return to the Headquarters. He had questioned about

this sudden recall, but if that story is true then he could understand that

those Wyverns, in fact, were redeployed to protect the headquarters.

There was another factor that troubled the commanders of

the Eastern Lords Division. The name on the written instruction might be spelling

the Commander of the Vanguard Force’s name, but the one who issued it was the dreadful

Vice-Commander Adem.

The content of that written instruction was this:

『The Eastern Lords Division will advance until 3 kilometers west from the

Fort City Ejei, set the camp, and carry out a reconnaissance in force at Ejei. Wait

until the Main Force link up, the Ejei Conquest Operation will begin.』

Jean-Philia’s stomach became increasingly painful as he

read the written instruction.

Fort City Ejei is different from a border town like Gim

or its surrounding villages. It was a city that QuToyne Princ.i.p.ality constructed

for a future war with Louria Kingdom, a city that will decide their very existence.

The city itself was a fortress, a castle, and a base. Its

defensive capabilities were very different from Gim.

Though the letter said that this was a renaissance in force

operation, obviously the Eastern Lords Divisions were obliged to report how to

achieve a good result or what kind of information they had obtained. If the report

is of no value, then there is a possibility that the commanding officers will

be removed and rea.s.signed as the commanding officer of the most dangerous shock

troops. At any rate, the people of the Lords Division got the short end of the

stick.

The Fort City Ejei was located 55 kilometers east of

Gim.

The Eastern Lords Division’s current location was 5

kilometers east of Gim. The location But, where the 15th Knights Squadron of

the Hawk Knights Order was annihilated was 25 kilometers east from the present

location. In other words, on a location halfway at the route towards Ejei, there

was an enemy so strong that they could even annihilate an entire Cavalry

Squadron which possess the highest mobility without leaving a single person

escape. Or else, there was a troublesome being that wouldn’t abandon pursuing the

fleeing enemies. There was no time to send a reconnaissance team……

However, to disobey Adem’s order, not only means

losing their own life, but their family also wouldn’t escape from the

slaughter. They must avoid this result at all cost.

And so, a detachment of about 20,000 soldiers from the

Louria Kingdom Eastern Lords Division began to march east.

There were three of us—Mary, Eliza, and myself. I was

approaching fifteen, Mary was about a year younger, and Eliza between twelve

and thirteen years of age. Mamma treated us all as children, and was blind to

the fact that I was no longer what I had been. Although not tall for my age,

nor outwardly presenting a manly appearance, my pa.s.sions were awakening, and

the distinctive feature of my s.e.x, although in repose it looked magnificent

enough, was very sufficiently developed when under the influence of feminine

excitement.

As yet, I had absolutely no knowledge of the uses of

the different organs of s.e.x. My sisters and I all slept in the same room. They

together in one bed, I alone in another. When no one was present, we had often

mutually examined the different formations of our s.e.xes.

We had discovered that mutual handlings gave a certain

amount of pleasing sensation; and, latterly, my eldest sister had discovered

that the hooding and unhooding of my doodle, as she called it, instantly caused

it to swell up and stiffen as hard as a piece of wood. My feeling of her little

pinky slit gave rise in her to nice sensations, but on the slightest attempt to

insert even my finger, the pain was too great. We had made so little progress

in the attouchements that not the slightest inkling of what could be done in

that way dawned upon us. I had begun to develop a slight growth of moss-like

curls round the root of my c.o.c.k; and then, to our surprise, Mary began to show

a similar tendency. As yet, Eliza was as bald as her hand, but both were

prettily formed, with wonderfully full and fat mounts of Venus. We were

perfectly innocent of guile and quite habituated to let each other look at all

our naked bodies without the slightest hesitation; and when playing in the garden,

if one wanted to relieve the pressure on the bladder, we all squatted down

together, and crossed waters, each trying who could piddle fastest.

Notwithstanding these symptoms of pa.s.sion when excited, in a state of calm I

might have pa.s.sed for a boy of ten or eleven.

My father had left us but moderately provided for, and

mamma, wis.h.i.+ng to live comfortably, preferred giving me lessons along with my

sisters at home to sending me to school; but her health beginning to fail, she

inserted an advertis.e.m.e.nt in the Times for a governess. Out of a large number

of applicants, a young lady, of the name of Evelyn, was selected. Some ten days

afterwards she arrived, and became one of the family.

We did not see much of her the first evening, but

after breakfast the following morning, mamma accompanied her to what was

considered our schoolroom, and said, “Now, my dears, I place you under Miss

Evelyn’s care; you must obey her in all things; she will teach you your

lessons, as I am unable to do so any longer.” Then, turning to our new

governess, “I fear you will find them somewhat spoiled, and unruly; but there

is a horse, and Susan will make you excellent birch rods whenever you require

them. If you spare their bottoms when they deserve whipping, you will seriously

offend me.” As mamma said this, I observed Miss Evelyn’s eyes appeared to

dilate with a sort of joy, and I felt certain that, severely as mamma had often

whipped us, if we should now deserve it, Miss Evelyn would administer it much

more severely. She looked amiability itself, and was truly beautiful in face

and person, twenty-two years of age, full and finely formed, and dressed always

with the most studied neatness. She was, in truth, a seductive creature. She

made an instantaneous impression on my senses. There was, however, somewhat of

a sternness of expression, and a dignity of carriage, which caused at once to

fear and respect her. Of course, at first, all went smoothly enough, and seeing

that mamma treated me precisely as she did my sisters, I came to be regarded as

quite a child by Miss Evelyn. She found that she had to sleep in the same room

with my sisters and myself. I fancied that on the first night Miss Evelyn did

not approve of this arrangement, but gradually became familiarized with it, and

seemed to think no more about it.

When bedtime came, we all kissed mamma and retired

early, as usual. Miss Evelyn followed some hours later. When she came in, she

carefully locked the door, then looked at me to see if I was asleep. Why, I

know not, but I was instinctively prompted to feign sleep. I did so

successfully, notwithstanding the pa.s.sing of the candle before my eyes. So she

at once commenced undressing. When her back was turned, I opened my eyes, and

greedily devoured her naked charms as they were gradually exhibited before me.

The moment she turned round, I was again as if asleep. I have said that my

pa.s.sions had begun to develop themselves, but as yet I did not understand their

force or direction. I well remember this first night, when a fine ripe woman gradually

removed every particle of dress within a couple of yards of me—the effect of

each succeeding charm, from her lovely and beautifully formed bubbies to the

taking off her shoes and stockings from her well-formed legs and small feet and

ankles, caused my p.r.i.c.k to swell and stiffen to a painful extent. When all but

her chemise was removed, she stopped to pick up her petticoats that she had

allowed to fall to her feet, and in lifting them, raised also her chemise, and

exposed to my view a most glorious bottom—dazzlingly white and s.h.i.+ning like

satin. As the light was full upon it, and she was still in a stooping position,

I could see that below her slit she was well covered with dark hair. Turning

round, to put her petticoats on a chair, and to take up her nightgown, she

slipped her chemise from her arm, and letting it fall to the ground while she

lifted the nightgown over her head, I had for some seconds a view of her

beautiful belly, thickly covered with dark curly hair over the mount of Venus.

So voluptuous was the sight, I almost shuddered, so intense was my excitement.

She now sat down on the bed to take off her shoes and stockings. Oh! what

beautiful thighs, legs, ankles, and feet she had!

20. Thus much I know by the report of the people of

Delphi; but the Milesians add to this that Periander the son of Kypselos, being

a special guest-friend of Thrasybulos the then despot of Miletos, heard of the

oracle which had been given to Alyattes, and sending a messenger told

Thrasybulos, in order that he might have knowledge of it beforehand and take

such counsel as the case required. This is the story told by the Milesians.

21. And Alyattes, when this answer was reported to

him, sent a herald forthwith to Miletos, desiring to make a truce with

Thrasybulos and the Milesians for so long a time as he should be building the

temple. He then was being sent as envoy to Miletos; and Thrasybulos in the

meantime being informed beforehand of the whole matter and knowing what

Alyattes was meaning to do, contrived this device:—he gathered together in the

market-place all the store of provisions which was found in the city, both his

own and that which belonged to private persons; and he proclaimed to the

Milesians that on a signal given by him they should all begin to drink and make

merry with one another.

22. This Thrasybulos did and thus proclaimed to the

end that the herald from Sardis, seeing a vast quant.i.ty of provisions

carelessly piled up, and the people feasting, might report this to Alyattes:

and so on fact it happened; for when the herald returned to Sardis after seeing

this and delivering to Thrasybulos the charge which was given to him by the

king of Lydia, the peace which was made, came about, as I am informed, merely

because of this. For Alyattes, who thought that there was a great famine in Miletos

and that the people had been worn down to the extreme of misery, heard from the

herald, when he returned from Miletos, the opposite to that which he himself

supposed. And after this the peace was made between them on condition of being

guest-friends and allies to one another, and Alyattes built two temples to

Athene at a.s.sessos in place of one, and himself recovered from his sickness.

With regard then to the war waged by Alyattes with the Milesians and

Thrasybulos things went thus.

23. As for Periander, the man who gave information

about the oracle to Thrasybulos, he was the son of Kypselos, and despot of

Corinth. In his life, say the Corinthians, (and with them agree the Lesbians),

there happened to him a very great marvel, namely that Arion of Methymna was

carried ash.o.r.e at Tainaron upon a dolphin's back. This man was a harper second

to none of those who then lived, and the first, so far as we know, who composed

a dithyramb, naming it so and teaching it to a chorus 17 at Corinth.

24. This Arion, they say, who for the most part of his

time stayed with Periander, conceived a desire to sail to Italy 18 and Sicily;

and after he had there acquired large sums of money, he wished to return again

to Corinth. He set forth therefore from Taras, 19 and as he had faith in

Corinthians more than in other men, he hired a s.h.i.+p with a crew of Corinthians.

These, the story says, when out in open sea, formed a plot to cast Arion

overboard and so possess his wealth; and he having obtained knowledge of this

made entreaties to them, offering them his wealth and asking them to grant him

his life. With this however he did not prevail upon them, but the men who were

conveying him bade him either slay himself there, that he might receive burial

on the land, or leap straightway into the sea. So Arion being driven to a

strait entreated them that, since they were so minded, they would allow him to

take his stand in full minstrel's garb upon the deck 20 of the s.h.i.+p and sing;

and he promised to put himself to death after he had sung. They then, well

pleased to think that they should hear the best of all minstrels upon earth,

drew back from the stern towards the middle of the s.h.i.+p; and he put on the full

minstrel's garb and took his lyre, and standing on the deck performed the

Orthian measure. Then as the measure ended, he threw himself into the sea just

as he was, in his full minstrel's garb; and they went on sailing away to

Corinth, but him, they say, a dolphin supported on its back and brought him to

sh.o.r.e at Tainaron: and when he had come to land he proceeded to Corinth with

his minstrel's garb. Thither having arrived he related all that had been done;

and Periander doubting of his story kept Arion in guard and would let him go

nowhere, while he kept careful watch for those who had conveyed him. When these

came, he called them and inquired of them if they had any report to make of

Arion; and when they said that he was safe in Italy and that they had left him

at Taras faring well, Arion suddenly appeared before them in the same guise as

when he made his leap from the s.h.i.+p; and they being struck with amazement were

no longer able to deny when they were questioned. This is the tale told by the

Corinthians and Lesbians alike, and there is at Tainaron a votive offering of

Arion of no great size, 21 namely a bronze figure of a man upon a dolphin's

back.

25. Alyattes the Lydian, when he had thus waged war

against the Milesians, afterwards died, having reigned seven-and-fifty years.

This king, when he recovered from his sickness, dedicated a votive offering at

Delphi (being the second of his house who had so done), namely a great

mixing-bowl of silver with a stand for it of iron welded together, which last

is a sight worth seeing above all the offerings at Delphi and the work of

Glaucos the Chian, who of all men first found out the art of welding iron.

26. After Alyattes was dead Croesus the son of

Alyattes received the kingdom in succession, being five-and-thirty years of

age. He (as I said) fought against the h.e.l.lenes and of them he attacked the

Ephesians first. The Ephesians then, being besieged by him, dedicated their

city to Artemis and tied a rope from the temple to the wall of the city: now

the distance between the ancient city, which was then being besieged, and the

temple is seven furlongs. 22 These, I say, where the first upon whom Croesus

laid hands, but afterwards he did the same to the other Ionian and Aiolian

cities one by one, alleging against them various causes of complaint, and

making serious charges against those in whose cases he could find serious

grounds, while against others of them he charged merely trifling offences.

27. Then when the h.e.l.lenes in Asia had been conquered

and forced to pay tribute, he designed next to build for himself s.h.i.+ps and to

lay hands upon those who dwelt in the islands; and when all was prepared for

his building of s.h.i.+ps, they say that Bias of Priene (or, according to another

account, Pittacos of Mytilene) came to Sardis, and being asked by Croesus

whether there was any new thing doing in h.e.l.las, brought to an end his building

of s.h.i.+ps by this saying: "O king," said he, "the men of the

islands are hiring a troop of ten thousand horse, and with this they mean to

march to Sardis and fight against thee." And Croesus, supposing that what

he reported was true, said: "May the G.o.ds put it into the minds of the

dwellers of the islands to come with horses against the sons of the

Lydians!" And he answered and said: "O king, I perceive that thou

dost earnestly desire to catch the men of the islands on the mainland riding

upon horses; and it is not unreasonable that thou shouldest wish for this: what

else however thinkest thou the men of the islands desire and have been praying

for ever since the time they heard that thou wert about to build s.h.i.+ps against

them, than that they might catch the Lydians upon the sea, so as to take

vengeance upon thee for the h.e.l.lenes who dwell upon the mainland, whom thou

dost hold enslaved?" Croesus, they say, was greatly pleased with this

conclusion, 23 and obeying his suggestion, for he judged him to speak suitably,

he stopped his building of s.h.i.+ps; and upon that he formed a friends.h.i.+p with the

Ionians dwelling in the islands.

28. As time went on, when nearly all those dwelling on

this side the river Halys had been subdued, (for except the Kilikians and

Lykians Croesus subdued and kept under his rule all the nations, that is to say

Lydians, Phrygians, Mysians, Mariandynoi, Chalybians, Paphlagonians, Thracians

both Thynian and Bithynian, Carians, Ionians, Dorians, Aiolians, and Pamphylians),

24

29, when these, I say, had been subdued, and while he

was still adding to his Lydian dominions, there came to Sardis, then at the

height of its wealth, all the wise men 25 of the h.e.l.las who chanced to be alive

at that time, brought thither severally by various occasions; and of them one

was Solon the Athenian, who after he had made laws for the Athenians at their

bidding, left his native country for ten years and sailed away saying that he

desired to visit various lands, in order that he might not be compelled to

repeal any of the laws which he had proposed. 26 For of themselves the

Athenians were not competent to do this, having bound themselves by solemn

oaths to submit for ten years to the laws which Solon should propose for them.

30. So Solon, having left his native country for this

reason and for the sake of seeing various lands, came to Amasis in Egypt, and

also to Croesus at Sardis. Having there arrived he was entertained as a guest

by Croesus in the king's palace; and afterwards, on the third or fourth day, at

the bidding of Croesus his servants led Solon round to see his treasuries; and

they showed him all things, how great and magnificent they were: and after he

had looked upon them all and examined them as he had occasion, Croesus asked

him as follows: "Athenian guest, much report of thee has come to us, both

in regard to thy wisdom and thy wanderings, how that in thy search for wisdom

thou hast traversed many lands to see them; now therefore a desire has come

upon me to ask thee whether thou hast seen any whom thou deemest to be of all

men the most happy." 27 This he asked supposing that he himself was the

happiest of men; but Solon, using no flattery but the truth only, said:

"Yes, O king, Tellos the Athenian." And Croesus, marvelling at that

which he said, asked him earnestly: "In what respect dost thou judge

Tellos to be the most happy?" And he said: "Tellos, in the first

place, living while his native State was prosperous, had sons fair and good and

saw from all of them children begotten and living to grow up; and secondly he

had what with us is accounted wealth, and after his life a most glorious end:

for when a battle was fought by the Athenians at Eleusis against the

neighbouring people, he brought up supports and routed the foe and there died

by a most fair death; and the Athenians buried him publicly where he fell, and

honoured him greatly."

31. So when Solon had moved Croesus to inquire further

by the story of Tellos, recounting how many points of happiness he had, the

king asked again whom he had seen proper to be placed next after this man,

supposing that he himself would certainly obtain at least the second place; but

he replied: "Cleobis and Biton: for these, who were of Argos by race,

possessed a sufficiency of wealth and, in addition to this, strength of body

such as I shall tell. Both equally had won prizes in the games, and moreover

the following tale is told of them:—There was a feast of Hera among the Argives

and it was by all means necessary that their mother should be borne in a car to

the temple. But since their oxen were not brought up in time from the field,

the young men, barred from all else by lack of time, submitted themselves to

the yoke and drew the wain, their mother being borne by them upon it; and so

they brought it on for five-and-forty furlongs, 28 and came to the temple. Then

after they had done this and had been seen by the a.s.sembled crowd, there came

to their life a most excellent ending; and in this the deity declared that it

was better for man to die than to continue to live. For the Argive men were

standing round and extolling the strength 29 of the young men, while the Argive

women were extolling the mother to whose lot it had fallen to have such sons;

and the mother being exceedingly rejoiced both by the deed itself and by the

report made of it, took her stand in front of the image of the G.o.ddess and

prayed that she would give to Cleobis and Biton her sons, who had honoured her

30 greatly, that gift which is best for man to receive: and after this prayer,

when they had sacrificed and feasted, the young men lay down to sleep within

the temple itself, and never rose again, but were held bound in this last end.

31 And the Argives made statues in the likeness of them and dedicated them as

offerings at Delphi, thinking that they had proved themselves most

excellent."

32. Thus Solon a.s.signed the second place in respect of

happiness to these: and Croesus was moved to anger and said: "Athenian

guest, hast thou then so cast aside our prosperous state as worth nothing, that

thou dost prefer to us even men of private station?" And he said:

"Croesus, thou art inquiring about human fortunes of one who well knows

that the Deity is altogether envious and apt to disturb our lot. For in the

course of long time a man may see many things which he would not desire to see,

and suffer also many things which he would not desire to suffer. The limit of

life for a man I lay down at seventy years: and these seventy years give

twenty-five thousand and two hundred days, not reckoning for any intercalated

month. Then if every other one of these years shall be made longer by one

month, that the seasons may be caused to come round at the due time of the

year, the intercalated months will be in number five-and-thirty besides the

seventy years; and of these months the days will be one thousand and fifty. Of

all these days, being in number twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty,

which go to the seventy years, one day produces nothing at all which resembles

what another brings with it. Thus then, O Croesus, man is altogether a creature

of accident. As for thee, I perceive that thou art both great in wealth and

king of many men, but that of which thou didst ask me I cannot call thee yet,

until I learn that thou hast brought thy life to a fair ending: for the very

rich man is not at all to be accounted more happy than he who has but his

subsistence from day to day, unless also the fortune go with him of ending his

life well in possession of all things fair. For many very wealthy men are not

happy, 32 while many who have but a moderate living are fortunate; 33 and in

truth the very rich man who is not happy has two advantages only as compared

with the poor man who is fortunate, whereas this latter has many as compared

with the rich man who is not happy. The rich man is able better to fulfil his

desire, and also to endure a great calamity if it fall upon him; whereas the

other has advantage over him in these things which follow:—he is not indeed

able equally with the rich man to endure a calamity or to fulfil his desire,

but these his good fortune keeps away from him, while he is sound of limb, 34

free from disease, untouched by suffering, the father of fair children and

himself of comely form; and if in addition to this he shall end his life well,

he is worthy to be called that which thou seekest, namely a happy man; but

before he comes to his end it is well to hold back and not to call him yet

happy but only fortunate. Now to possess all these things together is

impossible for one who is mere man, just as no single land suffices to supply

all things for itself, but one thing it has and another it lacks, and the land

that has the greatest number of things is the best: so also in the case of a

man, no single person is complete in himself, for one thing he has and another

he lacks; but whosoever of men continues to the end in possession of the

greatest number of these things and then has a gracious ending of his life, he

is by me accounted worthy, O king, to receive this name. But we must of every

thing examine the end and how it will turn out at the last, for to many G.o.d

shows but a glimpse of happiness and then plucks them up by the roots and

overturns them."

33. Thus saying he refused to gratify Croesus, who

sent him away from his presence holding him in no esteem, and thinking him

utterly senseless in that he pa.s.sed over present good things and bade men look

to the end of every matter.

34. After Solon had departed, a great retribution from

G.o.d came upon Croesus, probably because he judged himself to be the happiest of

all men. First there came and stood by him a dream, which showed to him the

truth of the evils that were about to come to pa.s.s in respect of his son. Now

Croesus had two sons, of whom one was deficient, seeing that he was deaf and

dumb, while the other far surpa.s.sed his companions of the same age in all

things: and the name of this last was Atys. As regards this Atys then, the

dream signified to Croesus that he should lose him by the blow of an iron

spear-point: 35 and when he rose up from sleep and considered the matter with

himself, he was struck with fear on account of the dream; and first he took for

his son a wife; and whereas his son had been wont to lead the armies of the

Lydians, he now no longer sent him forth anywhere on any such business; and the

javelins and lances and all such things which men use for fighting he conveyed

out of the men's apartments and piled them up in the inner bed-chambers, for

fear lest something hanging up might fall down upon his son.

35. Then while he was engaged about the marriage of

his son, there came to Sardis a man under a misfortune and with hands not

clean, a Phrygian by birth and of the royal house. This man came to the house

of Croesus, and according to the customs which prevail in that land made

request that he might have cleansing; and Croesus gave him cleansing: now the

manner of cleansing among the Lydians is the same almost as that which the

h.e.l.lenes use. So when Croesus had done that which was customary, he asked of

him whence he came and who he was, saying as follows: "Man, who art thou,

and from what region of Phrygia didst thou come to sit upon my hearth? And whom

of men or women didst thou slay?" And he replied: "O king, I am the

son of Gordias, the son of Midas, and I am called Adrastos; and I slew my own

brother against my will, and therefore am I here, having been driven forth by

my father and deprived of all that I had." And Croesus answered thus:

"Thou art, as it chances, the offshoot of men who are our friends and thou

hast come to friends, among whom thou shalt want of nothing so long as thou

shalt remain in our land: and thou wilt find it most for thy profit to bear

this misfortune as lightly as may be." So he had his abode with Croesus.

36

36. During this time there was produced in the Mysian

Olympos a boar of monstrous size. This, coming down from the mountain

aforesaid, ravaged the fields of the Mysians, and although the Mysians went out

against it often, yet they could do it no hurt, but rather received hurt themselves

from it; so at length messengers came from the Mysians to Croesus and said:

"O king, there has appeared in our land a boar of monstrous size, which

lays waste our fields; and we, desiring eagerly to take it, are not able: now

therefore we ask of thee to send with us thy son and also a chosen band of

young men with dogs, that we may destroy it out of our land." Thus they

made request, and Croesus calling to mind the words of the dream spoke to them

as follows: "As touching my son, make no further mention of him in this

matter; for I will not send him with you, seeing that he is newly married and

is concerned now with the affairs of his marriage: but I will send with you

chosen men of the Lydians and the whole number of my hunting dogs, and I will

give command to those who go, to be as zealous as may be in helping you to

destroy the wild beast out of your land."

37. Thus he made reply, and while the Mysians were

being contented with this answer, there came in also the son of Croesus, having

heard of the request made by the Mysians: and when Croesus said that he would

not send his son with them, the young man spoke as follows: "My father, in

times past the fairest and most n.o.ble part was allotted to us, to go out

continually to wars and to the chase and so have good repute; but now thou hast

debarred me from both of these, although thou hast not observed in me any

cowardly or faint-hearted spirit. And now with what face must I appear when I

go to and from the market-place of the city? What kind of a man shall I be

esteemed by the citizens, and what kind of a man shall I be esteemed by my

newly-married wife? With what kind of a husband will she think that she is

mated? Therefore either let me go to the hunt, or persuade me by reason that

these things are better for me done as now they are."

38. And Croesus made answer thus: "My son, not

because I have observed in thee any spirit of cowardice or any other ungracious

thing, do I act thus; but a vision of a dream came and stood by me in my sleep

and told me that thou shouldest be short-lived, and that thou shouldest perish

by a spear-point of iron. With thought of this vision therefore I both urged on

this marriage for thee, and I refuse now to send thee upon the matter which is

being taken in hand, having a care of thee that I may steal thee from thy fate

at least for the period of my own life, if by any means possible for me to do

so. For thou art, as it chances, my only son: the other I do not reckon as one,

seeing that he is deficient in hearing."

39. The young man made answer thus: "It may well

be forgiven in thee, O my father, that thou shouldest have a care of me after

having seen such a vision; but that which thou dost not understand, and in

which the meaning of the dream has escaped thee, it is right that I should

expound to thee. Thou sayest the dream declared that I should end my life by

means of a spear-point of iron: but what hands has a boar, or what spear-point

of iron, of which thou art afraid? If the dream had told thee that I should end

my life by a tusk, or any other thing which resembles that, it would be right

for thee doubtless to do as thou art doing; but it said 'by a spear-point.'

Since therefore our fight will not be with men, let me now go."

40. Croesus made answer: "My son, thou dost partly

prevail with me by declaring thy judgment about the dream; therefore, having

been prevailed upon by thee, I change my resolution and allow thee to go to the

chase."

In a few minutes the light was extinguished, and a

rus.h.i.+ng rill flowed into the night vase; very different from the gentle

tricklings from myself and sisters as we often squatted down opposite each

other and crossed water, laughing at the different sources from which they

flowed. My sisters often envied me the power of directing the spurt where I

pleased, so little were we from dreaming of the real intent of that projecting

little instrument.

I heard the charming creature get into bed, and

shortly breathe hard. As for me, I could not sleep. I lay awake the greater

part of the night, afraid to be restless, lest I should disturb Miss Evelyn and

give her reason to think I had been observant of her undressing. When at last I

dozed off, it was but to dream of all the charms I had seen.

About a month pa.s.sed thus. Every night Miss Evelyn

became more and more at her ease, and confident of my mere childishness, often

gave me glorious and lengthened glimpses of her beautifully developed charms:

although it was only about every other night that I could enjoy them, for, as

they always produced sleeplessness afterwards, the following night nature

a.s.sured her rights, and I usually slept profoundly when I would have preferred

continued gazing on the charms of my lovely governess. But, doubtless, those

exhausting sleeps helped to throw her off her guard, and gave me better

opportunities than I should otherwise have had. Once or twice she used the

night ware before putting on her nightgown, and I could see the rosy-lipped

opening embosomed in exquisite dark curls, pouring out its full measure of

water; showing a fine force of nature, and driving me wild with excitement. Yet

it is singular that I never once thought of applying to my fingers for relief

from the painful stiffness that nearly burst my p.r.i.c.k asunder.

Whether mamma had observed my very frequent projection

of my trousers, or began to think it better I should not sleep in the same room

as Miss Evelyn, I cannot say, but she had my bed removed into her own. However,

I was so thoroughly treated as a mere boy by everyone in the house, that Miss

Evelyn seemed to forget my s.e.x; and there was at all times a freedom of

carriage and an abandon in her att.i.tudes that she certainly would not have

indulged in if she had felt any restraint from considering herself in the

presence of a youth of the age of p.u.b.erty.

In cold weather I used to sit on a low stool by the

fire—Miss Evelyn was seated in front, I had my lesson book on my knee, and she

herself would place her beautiful feet on the high school fender, with her work

in her lap, while she heard my sisters repeat their lesson, totally unconscious

that for half an hour at a time she was exposing her beautiful legs and thighs

to my ardent gaze; for sitting much below her, and bending my head as if intent

on my lesson, my eyes were below her raised petticoats. Her close and

tight-fitting white stockings displayed her well-formed legs, for while

confined to the house during our morning lessons she did not wear drawers; so

that in the position she sat in, with her knees higher than her feet on the

already high fender, and her legs somewhat apart to hold her work in her lap

more easily, the whole glorious underswell of both thighs, and the lower part

of her fine large bottom, with the pinky slit quite visible, nestled in a rich

profusion of dark curls, were fully exposed to my view. The light from the fire

glancing under her raised petticoats tinged the whole with a glow, and set me

equally in a blaze of desire until I was almost ready to faint. I could have

rushed headlong under her petticoats, and kissed and fondled that delicious

opening and all its surroundings. Oh, how little she thought of the pa.s.sion she

was raising. Oh! dear Miss Evelyn, how I did love you from the dainty kid

slipper and tight glossy silk stocking, up to the glorious swell of the

beautiful bubbies, that were so fully exposed to me nearly every night, and the

lovely lips of all that I longed to lovingly embrace.

Thus day after day pa.s.sed away, and Miss Evelyn became

to me a G.o.ddess, a creature whom, in my heart of hearts, I literally wors.h.i.+ped.

When she left the schoolroom, and I was alone, I kissed that part of the fender

her feet had pressed, and the seat on which she sat, and even the air an inch

above, imagination placing there her lovely c.u.n.t. I craved for something beyond

this without knowing exactly what I wanted; for, as yet, I really was utterly

ignorant of anything appertaining to the conjunction of the s.e.xes.

One day I had gone up to my sisters’ bedroom where the

governess slept, that I might throw myself on her bed, and in imagination

embrace her beautiful body. I heard someone approaching, and knowing that I had

no business there, I hid myself under the bed. The next moment Miss Evelyn

herself entered, and locked the door. It was about an hour before dinner.

Taking off her dress, and hanging it on the wardrobe, she drew out a piece of

furniture, which had been bought for her, the use of which had often puzzled

me; she took off the lid, poured water into its basin, and placed a sponge near

it. She then took off her gown, drew her petticoats and chemise up to her waist

and fastened them there, straddled across it, and seated herself upon it.

I thus had the intoxicating delight of gazing on all

her beautiful charms, for when she tucked up her clothes she stood before her

gla.s.s, presenting to my devouring glance her glorious white bottom in all its

fullness, turning to approach the bidet, she equally exposed her lower belly

and beautiful mount, with all its wealth of hair. While straddling over the

bidet before she sat down, the whole of her pinky-lipped c.u.n.t broke on my

enraptured sight. Never shall I forget the wild excitement of the moment. It

was almost too much for my excited senses; fortunately, when seated, the

immediate cause of my almost madness vanished. She sponged herself well between

the thighs for about five minutes. She then raised herself off the bidet, and

for a moment again displayed the pouting lips of her c.u.n.t—then stood fronting

me for two or three minutes while she removed, with the rinsed sponge, the

trickling drops of water which still gathered on the rich bush of curls around

her quim. Thus her belly, mount and thighs, whose ma.s.sy-fleshed and most

voluptuous shape were more fully seen by me than they had heretofore been, and

it may easily be conceived into what a state such a deliberate view threw me.

Oh, Miss Evelyn, dear, delicious Miss Evelyn! what

would you have thought had you known that I was gazing on all your angelic

charms, and that my eager eyes had been straining themselves to penetrate the

richness of those charming pouting lips which lay so snugly in that rich ma.s.s

of dark curling hair. Oh! how I do long to kiss them; for at that time I had no

other idea of embracing and still less of penetrating them.

When her ablutions were completed, she sat down and

drew off her stockings, displaying her beautiful white calves and charming

little feet. I believe it was this first admiration of really exquisitely

formed legs, ankles and feet, which were extraordinarily perfect in make, that

first awakened my pa.s.sion for those objects, which have since always exercised

a peculiar charm over me. She was also so particularly neat in her shoes—little

dark ones—that were bijoux to look at, I often took them up and kissed them, when

left in the room. Then her silk stockings, always drawn up tight and fitting

like a glove, set off to the greatest advantage the remarkable fine shape of

her legs.

Putting on silk for cotton stockings, she took down a

low-bodiced dress, finished her toilet, and left the room. I crawled out from

under the bed, washed my face and hands in the water of the bidet, and even

drank some in my excitement.

☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽

SERIOUSLY, CLICK THE b.u.t.tON

NEXT CHAPTER:

The QuToyne-chan and j.a.pan-kun Manzai-duo. (j.a.pan is the boke, QuToyne

is the tsukkomi.)

Also... I had inserted an erotica inside the hidden text. A 1873 book called The Romance of l.u.s.t.