.Atthebottomofitissex,andsexisnotuglyorimmoral,forsexistherootoflife.Thewomanisfairbecausemanshallloveherbodyherlipsareredandpassionatethathemaykissthemherhairisbeautifulthathemaytakeitinhishands—ariveroflivinggold.
Jamesstopped,andthedeadloveroseagainandtorehisentrailslikeabeastofprey.Hegaspedwithagony,withbitterjoy.Ah,thatwasthetruelove!Whatdidhecarethatthewomanlackedthisandthat?Helovedherbecausehelovedherhelovedherforherfaults.Andinspiteofthepoignantanguish,hethankedherfromthebottomofhisheart,forshehadtaughthimlove.Shehadcausedhimendlesspain,butshehadgivenhimthestrengthtobearit.Shehadruinedhislife,perhaps,buthadshownhimthatlifewasworthliving.Whatweretheagony,thetorture,thedespair,besidethatradiantpassionwhichmadehimgodlike?Itisonlytheloverwholives,andofhislifeeverymomentisintenseandfervid.Jamesfeltthathismostpreciousrecollectionwasthatardentmonth,duringwhich,atlast,hehadseentheworldinallitsdazzlingmovement,initsmanifoldcolour,singingwithhisyouthandlaughingtohisjoy.
Andhedidnotcarethathideousnameshavebeengiventothatdearpassion,tothatrichdesire.Thevulgarcallitlust,andblushandhidetheirfacesintheirfollyistheshame,intheirpruriencethedisgrace.Theydonotknowthattheappetitewhichshocksthemistheveryoriginofthehighestqualitiesofman.Itisthey,weaklingsafraidtolooklifeintheface,dotardsandsentimentalists,whohavemadethebodyunclean.TheyhavecoveredthenakednessofAphroditewiththeragsoftheirownimpurity.TheyhavedisembowelledthegreatloversofantiquitytillCleopatraservestoadornaprudishtaleandLancelottopointamoral.Oh,MotherNature,giveusbackourfreedom,withitsstrengthofsinewanditshumour!Forlackofitweperishinfalseshame,andourfig-leavespointourimmodestytoalltheworld.Teachusthatloveisnotatawdrysentiment,butafiredivineinordertotheprocreationofchildrenteachusnottodishonourourbodies,fortheyarebeautifulandpure,andallthyworksaresweet.Teachus,again,inthymercifulgoodness,thatmanismadeforwoman,hisbodyforherbody,andthatthefleshcannotsin.
Teachus