DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0214
184
Her observation, I assure you, wag strictly correct, and
certainly did credit to the acuteness of her sox. She like-
wise found great fault with Hippodamia’s wedding dress,
which consisted of nothing in the world but a petticoat, the
upper half of her body being in a state of perfect nudity.
This sort of neglige, however, Don Ignazio thought proper
to defend, by observing, that the quarrel between the Cen-
taurs and the Lapithae took place after supper; and that in all
probability, therefore, the poor damsel was half undressed,
and ready to ascend the nuptial bed, when she was seized
by the fierce Eurytus.
After a cursory glance over several paintings of minor im-
portance, we arrived before one which, notwithstanding its
superlative excellence, one might have supposed a lady
would have passed by, with, at least, affected indifference*.
Not that the bare subject could be termed strictly indecent,
but in the design, nay, even in the colouring, there was a
degree of amatory warmth which a British female would
have disdained noticing through any other medium than her
fansticks. Donna Anna’s refined taste, however, rose supe-
rior to the usual delicacy of he.r sex, she courageously met
the foe face to face; and, sans ceremonie, required to be in-
formed of the import of the representation.—But you, my
dear T. shall know it first, however ungallant it may be to
leave the lady’s curiosity in suspense for a moment.
A beautiful young Bacchante, with her thyrsus and cro-
talum, was resting from her revels in a sequestered spot on
a piece of rock, unconscious of the approach of an amorous
young Faun. In an instant he flings away his crook and
seven-tubed pipes, and seizes from behind upon the unsus-
pecting damsel; with one hand he draws her head back-
wards, the other assists in the operation, and thus he has free
play
* See plate 7.
Her observation, I assure you, wag strictly correct, and
certainly did credit to the acuteness of her sox. She like-
wise found great fault with Hippodamia’s wedding dress,
which consisted of nothing in the world but a petticoat, the
upper half of her body being in a state of perfect nudity.
This sort of neglige, however, Don Ignazio thought proper
to defend, by observing, that the quarrel between the Cen-
taurs and the Lapithae took place after supper; and that in all
probability, therefore, the poor damsel was half undressed,
and ready to ascend the nuptial bed, when she was seized
by the fierce Eurytus.
After a cursory glance over several paintings of minor im-
portance, we arrived before one which, notwithstanding its
superlative excellence, one might have supposed a lady
would have passed by, with, at least, affected indifference*.
Not that the bare subject could be termed strictly indecent,
but in the design, nay, even in the colouring, there was a
degree of amatory warmth which a British female would
have disdained noticing through any other medium than her
fansticks. Donna Anna’s refined taste, however, rose supe-
rior to the usual delicacy of he.r sex, she courageously met
the foe face to face; and, sans ceremonie, required to be in-
formed of the import of the representation.—But you, my
dear T. shall know it first, however ungallant it may be to
leave the lady’s curiosity in suspense for a moment.
A beautiful young Bacchante, with her thyrsus and cro-
talum, was resting from her revels in a sequestered spot on
a piece of rock, unconscious of the approach of an amorous
young Faun. In an instant he flings away his crook and
seven-tubed pipes, and seizes from behind upon the unsus-
pecting damsel; with one hand he draws her head back-
wards, the other assists in the operation, and thus he has free
play
* See plate 7.