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Plate Xxxix. Spinthria

Plate Xxxix.

p. 80

Spinthria

Fresco From Pompeii.

Plate Xxxix.

This
erotic painting undoubtedly represents a bridal night. The young bride still wears her virgin's zone, and, according to the custom of the period, the husband will have to remove it after the consummation of the first sacrifice. The cubicular slave, who may be perceived in the, distance, carries a casket of essences and perfumes. The two young people have chosen the attitude they deemed most suitable to facilitate the accomplishment of the act to which they are proceeding, "more ferarum". Finally, the words lente inpelle, which may be read at the bottom of the picture, further demonstrate that the actress in this scene is a young woman who has pardon for her inexperience. "Push gently, spare me!" delightful words you will not long resound in the ears of the conqueror! The proud rider will soon require the spur.

The position adopted by our two personages is often enough found graven stones and Etruscan vases, which is not at all surprising, for it seems:

to us that Voltaire made a doubly bad joke when he put into the mouth of Dorothea the singular reproach which she addresses to Joan of Arc

"But I avow I can't conceive

How one goes through the preparation

Needed in such a situation."

p. 81

This attitude seems dictated by nature itself, and it is certain that in the beginning of societies men who desired to have intercourse with their wives, not having the means of throwing them down on a bed of down at the end of a mysterious alcove, would not have dreamt of stretching them on stones. The attitude which the quadrupeds taught them must have seemed the most commodious and natural.

Plutarch says: "It is thus known that the Delphians are not wanting in what they call "Venus-Harma", that is to say, the yoked chariot, nor Homer, when he calls such a conjunction φιλὸτης, which is to say, friendship," for nought avail

Exerted motions, the perpetual heave

Of frame high-strain'd and ever-labouring lungs.

These, rather, urged beneath the tender fray,

All fruit prohibit; since the genial share

Oft turn they from the furrow as it holds

Its course direct, and break the impinging shock.' 1

This fresco has been recently discovered. The drawing is not very correct: it may especially be remarked that the arms of the principal actor are out of all proportion to the other parts of his body.

Footnotes

81:1 De Rerum Natura,
iv. "Dr. Mason Good's Translation".
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