“Father Silas, we shall henceforth dispense with ceremony before you, as you must also on your part; yes, my son, the time is come, you have received the holy order of priesthood, and this quality makes you now our equal, and imposes on me the obligation of disclosing to you some important secrets until this day kept from you, and which it would be dangerous to entrust to young persons who might leave us and divulge mysteries that ought to be buried in eternal silence: it is to discharge this duty that I have sent for you here.”
This pompous exordium made me listen attentively as he proceeded:
“You are not one of those weak persons whom sex frightens; the act is natural to man. We are monks, it is true; but when we made our vows, we counted neither the king member nor his appendages. Why are we to forego so natural a function? Must we, to excite the compassion of the faithful, go and frig ourselves in the streets? No; but we must find a medium between austerity and nature. This medium consists in giving ourselves up to the latter in our cloisters, and as much as possible to the former in public. To effect this, some have women in their retreats to heighten their pleasures, and to forget in their arms the disagreeable things attending their lot.”
“You astonish me, reverend Father,” said I; “but why not extend the provisions of this wise policy to us also?”
The company laughed at my question, and the Prior replied:
“We are not behind our neighbors; we have a place here that is by no means destitute of women.”
“Here!” I replied; “And do you not fear a discovery?”
“No,” said he; “that is next to impossible; the extent of our house is so great that the place cannot easily be found.”
“Ah! when will it be my happy lot to offer consolation to these amiable recluses!”
“They are not without consolations,” answered he, laughing; “and your quality of priest gives you the right to go whenever you please.”
“When I please! O Father, I call on you to prove your words this moment.”
“It is not time yet; it is only at night that we go into our fish-house (for that is where the ladies are). There are only two keys that will admit you; one of them is in my possession and the purveyor has the other. But this is not all, Father Silas,” continued the Prior; “and when I tell you that Ambrose is not your father you will be still more amazed.”
And indeed I was amazed, so much so that I could scarcely open my mouth.
“You are not the son of Ambrose, nor yet of Annette; your birth is more exalted. One of our sisters gave birth to you.”
“Then, if it is so,” I cried, when recovered from my surprise; “why have you so long withheld the satisfaction of letting me embrace my mother, if still living?”
“Father Silas,” said the Prior somewhat affected, “your reproaches are just; but believe me that it is from not want of affection for you that you have not yet been introduced to the society of our fish-house. The love that we cherish for you has long been struggling against a strict adherence to our regulations; but order is absolutely necessary; and the period is now come to silence your complaints. In a short time you will have the pleasure that you covet; you will embrace your mother.”
“I am all impatience to throw myself in her arms!”
“Be calm; your suspense will not be long. Night is fast approaching, and the hour will come before you are aware. We shall sup in the fish-house, and you are expected there. You will go to the refectory for form's sake only, and will then come to rejoin us here.”
The expectation of seeing my mother was something to move me; but the hope of being able to abandon myself to love offered my heart such an immensity of desires, that my imagination could scarcely grasp them.
At the appointed time, I returned to the prior's apartment, and found there five or six monks.
We started in silence, and went to the antique chapels which joined the fish-house on one side: when there, we went down into a cavern that appeared to have been made as horrible as possible by way of making a stronger contrast with the pleasure that was to follow. We guided ourselves along the dismal place by means of a rope fastened to the wall, and soon reached a little staircase lighted by a lamp. The Prior opened the door at the top of the stairs; and after making a few turns in a narrow crooked passage, we came into a large room, handsomely furnished, and surrounded by beds apparently well adapted to the purpose for which they were intended. In the middle stood a table laid with every requisite for a splendid supper. There was no one in the room when we entered; but when the Prior applied his hand to the bellpull, an old cook made her appearance followed by our sisters, who were six in number and seemed quite charming in my eyes. Each of them chose one of my companions, and I stood by looking on, somewhat piqued at being thus neglected; but my turn soon came, and ample amends were made for this momentary slight.
Our supper was prepared without any more regard being paid to the fasts of the church than was observed by Father Casimir in his chamber. The most exquisite viands were set before us, and each with his lady by his side, ate, drank, and talked bawdily. They railed me severely because I could not eat; and I was ill able to defend myself, being altogether absorbed in other matters: the desire of finding my mother, and of having a skirmish with one of the sisters. I endeavored to read in their eyes which of them it was that had brought me into the world; but, although engaged with the Fathers, they threw glances at me which upset my conjectures. I stupidly imagined that I should recognise my mother by instinct; but I found that I was equally inclined to them all, and that my lance was quite ready to enter the lists with any or all of them.
My disturbed air was highly diverting to the company; but when the meal was dispatched, every thing was properly disposed for the enjoyment of the pleasures of love. The eyes of our adorables began to sparkle, and as a newcomer, I was expected to lead off in the dance.
“Come, Father Silas,” said the Prior; “you must make a beginning with your neighbor, Sister Gabrielle.”
I had already given and received several kisses, and her hand had even strayed as far as my breeches; she appeared to be the oldest of the six, but I was so far content with her charms as not to envy the lot of any one else. She was a bouncing dame, of a fair complexion and had no personal defect, but rather a superfluity of fat, indeed that was her only fault, if it be one at all. Her skin was of the most dazzling whiteness; her head exceedingly fine, and her eyes large and full of expression. Love made them tender and languishing, but they still exhibited a voluptuous brilliancy.
My desires had not waited for the Prior's exhortation; Gabrielle had excited them, and she gallantly gave herself to the task of satisfying them.
“Come, my king,” said she to me; “I want to have your maidenhead; come and lose it in the place where you commenced your existence.”
I was all of a tremble at hearing this. Without being more virtuous, I had acquired so much knowledge from the monks, that I could not do the same thing with Gabrielle that I had done with Annette. I was just on the point of doing what she requested, but was prevented by a remnant of shame, and retreated from the enterprise.
“Good heavens!” cried Gabrielle, “is it possible that this can be my son? How ever could I bring such a slink-away into the world! He is afraid to have sex With his mother!”
“My dear,” said I embracing her; “be satisfied with my love; if you were not my mother, I should be overjoyed to possess you. I entreat you to respect a weakness that I cannot help,”