This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: …of which I then felt the ravishing powers playing in their full strength within my breast. A swarm of the mad heathen deities, with the goddess Venus at their head, ran forward to greet me;–all demons, that assumed those ancients’ names, and were banished thither by the Almighty, their career being fully run upon earth; though they still continue to work in secret. All the delights so familiar to the world I there found and enjoyed in their fullest and keenest zest. My appetite was as insatiable as the delight was lasting. The long-famed beauties of the ancient world were all there–all that my most ardent wishes required was mine; and each day that world grew brighter, and appeared arrayed in more charming colours. The most costly wines slaked our unrst; the most lovely and delicious forms played and wantoned in the air; a throng ofloves hovered invitingly around me, shedding perfumes over my head; and tones of music burst forth from nature’s inmost heart, and with their undulating freshness restored the ardour of our desires, while soft mists and dews stole over flowery fields, giving new essence to their ravishing odours. How many years thus passed, I am quite unable to state, for here was no time and no divisions; the luscious charm of virgin beauty burned in the flowers, and in the forms of girls bloomed the fragrant charm of the flowers; their colours seemed to enjoy a peculiar language; tones uttered new words; the world of sense was enclosed, as it were, within the glowing bloom of those luxurious flowers–the resident spirits within were ever engaged in celebrating their triumphant delights. How this was accomplished, I can neither explain nor comprehend; but soon, amid all this pomp of sin and unlawful…
