Publisher's Synopsis
From the Foreword.
If the works of the ancients, which treat of love, had not unfortunately been lost, either through the malice of mankind, or by the lapse of time, we should doubtless have been able by means of reading to have increased our stock of information respecting the engenderment of men, and so have removed the cause of the lamentations of the illustrious Tiraquel.
Although we no longer have this resource, our own and our friends' experience enables us to compile a work on the rules laid down by Nature for the procreation of men, and we are, consequently, independent of the writings of the men of old.
Nature, which is the Creator Himself, pervading the universe, will enlighten us on these matters, without our having to seek elsewhere. In this, we shall follow His precepts and obey His decrees. As, however, Truth and Nature are identical, we shall not seek to disguise facts, Nature and Truth being our guides throughout this work. We shall, therefore, have no scruple in revealing Nature*s secrets, and shall strive to throw light on the most obscure matters connected with the engenderment of mankind.
I am fully aware that everyone is not strong-minded enough to study with befitting attention Nature's admirable productions; that there are many weak and over-scrupulous persons, who object to everything, which is not in accordance with their own tastes, and who dislike to be differed from. They can see no charms in the nakedness of Truth, and are horrified, unless she wear a disguise. They would have Truth conceal herself under a mask. One would think they were not human beings, for they are astonished and offended at love's slightest allurements.
Primitive mankind was quite different from ourselves. They were much less scrupulous, and more reasonable, than we are. Nudity aroused in them no indecent passion. Love was under the control, and obeyed the behests, of Nature and Reason. A woman, whose rank forbade them to raise their eyes to her, was regarded as a statue. If by chance their heart was warmed by love, their passions were so restrained by their reason and fortitude that they were in no danger from a woman's charms. The nudity of a man, or woman, made no more impression than the daughters of Sparta did on the people when they danced in public, their only protection being the general purity. This sweet reasonableness has now disappeared from among European nations, and seems to survive only among savages, who are in this respect less savage than ourselves.
When I consider the blindness and wretchedness of man I grieve at his condition. I wonder he is not ashamed of his ignorance about himself, for he knows not whence he comes, nor how he is made. I try to ascertain if another is better instructed than myself regarding his bodily structure, and the manner in which he was borne; but I perceive from his conversation that we are both equally ignorant. On making similar enquiries of our acquaintances we find that nearly all are as much in the dark as ourselves. We happen to meet someone who explains to us the principles of procreation. He describes the members used in the act; he also explains how God has ordained that man shall increase and multiply, and speaks of the misery resulting from excess in pleasure. My friend seems ashamed of thus learning about himself and his origin. He insults the man, who instructs him as to Nature's admirable design in the generation of men. I, who perceive the finger of God, admire His commands, and submit to them.
