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“Don’t torture me till I’m as mad as yourself,” cried he, wrenching his head free, and grinding his teeth.

THE BEST ADULTERY

Les Liaisons dangereuses
Choderlos de Laclos

(Valmont has just taken advantage of the innocent convent girl Cécile Volanges in her bedroom. She has written to the Marquise de Merteuil, her confidante, who is in fact in league with Valmont in a game of manipulation and seduction, for advice about what to do about her other young suitor Danceny.)

Letter 105: The Marquise de Merteuil to Cécile Volanges

Well, my little one! So you are exceedingly sorry and ashamed! And this Monsieur de Valmont is a wicked man, is he? And you, for your part, would like to keep your virtue for your lover (who does not take advantage of it); to cultivate the pains, but not the pleasures of love.

Seriously, is it possible at past fifteen years of age to be as much of a child as you are? You are quite right to say that you do not deserve my kindness. I wished, however, to be your friend: and it is not unlikely you need one with the mother you have and the husband she intends to give you! But, if you don’t grow up a little, what can one do for you?

As soon as she is more pleased with you, your mamma will have you married. Then, with more freedom of action, you will be able to leave Valmont for Danceny or even to keep them both, just as you choose. For, you must remember, your Danceny is agreeable: but he is one of those men you may have when you want, and for as long as you want: you may therefore make yourself easy about him. Valmont is quite another matter: difficult to keep, and dangerous to leave. He demands great skill, or, if you have none, great tractability. On the other hand, if you could succeed in attaching him to you as a friend, it would indeed be a piece of good fortune. He would put you immediately in the first rank of our women of fashion. It is thus that one acquires substance in the world, not by blushing and crying, as you used to do when your nuns made you kneel to your dinner.

You will then, if you are wise, try to be reconciled to Valmont, who must be very angry with you; and, since one must always be capable of correcting one’s mistakes, don’t be afraid of making a few advances to him. You will soon learn that though a man takes the first step, we are nearly always obliged to take the second ourselves.

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THE BEST SEX

Lady Chatterley’s Lover
D. H. Lawrence

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