Two Hundred and fifty Copies of this Work have been Printed on Hand-made Paper for Private Circulation Only among Members of the Brovan Society, and Twenty-five for the Editors. None of these Copies is for Sale. The Society Pledges itself Never to Reprint nor to Re-issue in any form. Of the Brovan Society’s Issue, this Copy is Number:
ANTHOLOGICA RARISSIMA.
VOLUME ONE:
THE WAY OF A VIRGIN.
Anthologica Rarissima:
Being Excerpts from Rare, Curious and Diverting Books, some now for the First Time done into English. To which are added Copious Explanatory Notes & Bibliographical References of Interest to Student, Collector and Psychologist: the Whole Introduced, Compiled & Edited by L. and C. BROVAN.
VOLUME THE FIRST:
The Way of a Virgin.
LONDON: MCMXXII. Printed for Members of the BROVAN SOCIETY by Private Subscription and for Private Circulation Only.
FOREWORD.
With the publication of its Records, under the title of ANTHOLOGICA RARISSIMA, the Brovan Society, which has been formed to carry out research work into the less-known and more curious folk-lore and literature of Europe and the Orient, takes leave to explain its aims and aspirations.
There exists in the literature of all countries a multitude of books not usually accorded public circulation. Yet these books contain some of the most life-like and diverting material ever fashioned by human pen. Their contents have stood the test of time and taste, and to-day, though publicly ignored, they are privately applauded. The trend of these books is, in the main, erotic, or so frank as to relegate them to the category of improper or “privately printed.” Some have never come under the hands of an English translator: others in such limited editions as to make their existence negligible so far as the average student is concerned.
Anthologica Rarissima is a modest attempt to remedy this state of affairs. In a series of volumes the editors will put before their readers the cream of what is tantamount to a small library, and a library not often seen on the book-lover’s shelves. Herein will be found, set out in plain English, curious and diverting extracts from some of the world’s most remarkable works. The text will be literal and unexpurgated. Nothing of interest to the student of folk-lore, psychology and literature will be omitted or glossed over, for the editors believe that a classic castrated is a classic spoilt. The Records throughout will be enriched by copious notes and valuable bibliographical references.
So far as the compilers are aware, no similar anthology exists in the English tongue. It purports to put within reach of the student and bibliophile comprehensive and representative excerpts from writers, the possession of whose works would entail time and expense beyond the means of many collectors.
At present it is impossible to give a full list of the authors from whom we shall quote. Mention of such names as those of Sir Richard Burton, Casanova, Aretino, the Marquis de Sade, Wilkes, Boccaccio, Bandello, Masuccio, Straparola, Rabelais, Lucian, Apuleius, Aristophanes, Sinistrari, Nicolas Chorier, Poggio, J. S. Farmer, John Payne, La Fontaine, Chaucer, Brantôme, Sellon, Pisanus Fraxi, Payne Knight, Havelock Ellis, Bloch, Huhner, Forel and Kraft-Ebing, will give some idea of the work contemplated. Special attention will be paid to the less-known folk-lore of Europe and the Orient, as portrayed in those remarkable books, Kruptadia, Untrodden Fields of Anthropology, The Kama Sutra, The Ananga Ranga, The Perfumed Garden, The Old Man Young Again, Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, Ethnology of the Sixth Sense, The Book of Exposition, Priapeia, Genital Laws, Marriage Ceremonies and Priapic Rites, and Des Divinités Génératrices.
Anthologica Rarissima, for reasons which will seem as regrettable as absurd to the student and collector, must ever be a privately printed work; its tone, though erotic, is in no sense pornographic. The extracts have been selected with care, and always with an eye to artistry and bibliographical value. The complete issue, extending to many volumes, will form an unique collection in the English tongue of a type of literature far too little known in this country.
The subject of our first volume--virginity and its treatment in fable, conte, and legend--is far from exhausted in these pages. It will be necessary to devote another Record to the theme at a later date. Meanwhile, we have in preparation Vol. 2: “The Way of a Priest,” Vol. 3: “The Way of a Wife,” Vol. 4: “The Way of a Husband,” and Vol. 5: “The Way of Love.” This last, culled from such authorities as Ovid, Martial, Catullus, Aretino, Forberg, Veniero, and the authors of The Kama Sutra, The Perfumed Garden, and The Ananga Ranga, should prove the most complete treatise on the Ars Amandi ever published in the English language.
In conclusion, we can only reiterate what was said at the outset--that this work is the outcome of a project to give the English student and collector the cream of a rare and remarkable literature.
We wish to lay special emphasis on the literal nature of our text, having often sacrificed style to preserve it. When translating from French, where an English translation already existed, we have never failed to compare and work upon the two versions for the composition of our extract.
Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles is a case in point, the old French text and Mr. R. B. Douglas’ English translation both being utilised in our Record. The same applies to Casanova; each line of his Memoirs, as existing in the privately printed English translation, has been closely compared with Garnier’s French text; while Aretino’s Dialogues will be scrutinised in no fewer than three languages. Our aim throughout has been to put before the reader a rendering in English which most exactly approximates to the original work of the author in question.
THE EDITORS.
CONTENTS.
Page.
FOREWORD. v.
VIRGINITY AND ITS TRADITIONS. xix.
THE ENCHANTED RING:
_Of a Young Husband who Sought to Redeem his Yard from Pawn, and of the Divers Adventures that Befell him in his Quest._ 1
VARIANT:
_Of a Tailor who Consented to Sin with a certain Woman who Admired his Proportions; and how they Fared._ 10
THE INSTRUMENT:
_Of a Young Girl who Desired her Lover to Buy a Better Instrument, which she Enjoyed, Lost and Found again._ 13
EXCURSUS to THE INSTRUMENT. 16
THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE:
_Of a Maid who would Wed None save Ivan the No-Yard; and how they were Wed, after which she first Hired, then Bought, a Good Yard from Ivan’s Uncle._ 17
EXCURSUS to THE ENCHANTED RING, THE INSTRUMENT, and THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE. 22
ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE AT GENEVA:
_Of an Adventure with two Charming Cousins, one of whom Desired to know why a Deity could not Impregnate a Woman; and how the Hero of our Story gave Demonstration of Theological and other Matters._ 24
EXCURSUS to ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE. 37
THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE:
_Of a Young Lady, who, being Enamoured of a Prince, Sendeth for one of his Chaplains, and with him Entereth into a Plot which Bringeth the Affair to the Desired Issue._ 42
EXCURSUS to THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE. 49
THE PENITENT NUN:
_Of a Nun, who Strove to Flee the Shafts of Love; how she Succeeded; and how certain Young Nuns Received her Counsel._ 52
BEYOND THE MARK:
_Of a Shepherd who Made an Agreement with a Shepherdess that he should Mount upon her; and how he Kept that Agreement._ 53
THE DEVIL IN HELL:
_Of a Young Maid, who, Turning Hermit, was Taught by a Monk to Put the Devil in Hell; and how she found Much Pleasure therein._ 56
EXCURSUS to THE DEVIL IN HELL. 63
THE WEDDING NIGHT OF JEAN THE FOOL:
_Of a Young Husband who thought his Wife would Give him a Chicken on their Wedding Night; and how he Learned in what Fashion he must Comport himself to have that Chicken._ 65
THE MAIDEN WELL GUARDED:
_Of a Maid who had been most Strictly Enjoined to Guard her Maidenhead; and how a Youth Restored it to her when she Lost it._ 69
VARIANT:
_Of one Coypeau, who Securely Sewed up a Damsel’s Maidenhead with his own Thread._ 72
TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN:
_Of a Prince and a Princess who became Acquainted in Strange Circumstances; of their Loves, Separation, Re-union, and divers Remarkable Happenings._ 74
EXCURSUS to the TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN. 92
THE FOOL:
_Of a Young Man who would fain have Wed, yet Contrived to Satisfy his Wish without Marriage._ 101
“OH MOTHER, ROGER WITH HIS KISSES”:
Of the Emotions of an Innocent Virgin when Wooed Boisterously by her Swain. 103
FOOLISH FEAR:
_Of a Virgin Wife who did not Understand the Business of Marriage; and how the Parties went to Law, and what Ensued therefrom._ 104