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STEVEN MARCUS
down and reveal behind it the logic of unconscious processes and
associations. Its tone is often blurred and uncertain, as in the follow–
ing'.
"For while in France, in Italy, and even in Germany," he writes
in the Introduction to the
Index,
"some of the most esteemed authors
have not hesitated to write licentious books, with us the veriest grub–
bians only have, as a rule, put their pens at the disposal of Venus and
Priapus." On the one hand, this is a representative specimen of
"period style"; one would not be surprised to find such a passage
in,
say, Bulwer-Lytton-the fake elegance, the tinsel periphrases, and
the dead euphemisms are perfectly familiar. On the other, its arch–
ness, coyness, and donnish drollery are themselves compatible with a
certain kind of pornographic style. The workings of that style can
be readily demonstrated. In Volume III Ashbee is noticing a work
entitled
Love's Tell-Tale; or; The Decameron of Pleasure,
a slightly
changed reprinting in 1865 of a work which first appeared about
1830. The first story in the book is called "Little Miss Curious's Tale,"
and Ashbee undertakes to summarize it for the reader.
"Between little Miss Curious, when in her tenth or eleventh year,
and her father's servant, Henry, a friendship springs up. She watches
him, and between the chinks of his bedroom door observes while he
is allaying the ardour of his temperament in solitude. One day, while
chasing a butterfly in the garden, little Miss Curious fall upon a
stake, which penetrates the part destined for the reception of a more
pliable instrument. Henry is at hand, carries his young mistress into
a summer house, extracts the stake, and 'laves the wounded part. The
ice is now broken-miss is no longer reserved before Henry, but al–
lows him every possible freedom. He, however, restrains himself, and
does not endeavour to snatch the last favour until one day, he sur–
prises her in the summer house, asleep, with her person exposed, when,
after a little gentle masturbation, he makes a partial attempt upon
her virginity. The damsel wakes, and Henry hastily hides his member.
Miss, however, determines to bring matters to an issue, and drags
the now crest-fallen limb from its concealment. Her youthful fingers soon
produce renewed vigor, and to her great satisfaction she watches at
her ease that operation of nature which she had hitherto only in–
distinctly perceived through the cracks of the door. She now begs
Henry to complete her education, which after obtaining her promise
of secrecy, he does that same night in her own 'little bed,' she being
only 12 years old."
This is, to be sure, not bad of its kind (providing that one for–
gets, as Dr. Johnson said, that a man could write like this forever
if
he would but abandon his mind to it). It is leisurely and smooth, and
