the form of a fowl fructified her blessed motheras very often took place in the olden time. Married when very young, she went to Sparta, and, as is easy to suppose, was there, owing to her extraordinary beauty soon seduced, and cuckolded her husband Menelaus.
Ladies—the one among you who is perfectly conscious of purity, will please cast the first stone at the poor sister! I do not say here that there can be no really true women. The first wife, the celebrated Eve, was a pattern of conjugal fidelity. Without the least idea of adultery, she wandered in Eden by the side of her husband (the celebrated Adam), who was then the only man in the world, and wore an apron of fig leaves. She conversed willingly with the Serpent, but that was only to learn the beautiful French language, which she thereby acquired, because she was so desirous of culture. Oh, ye daughters of Eve, what a beautiful example did your first mother leave behind her!
Dame Venus, the undying goddess of all delight, managed for Prince Paris the favour of fair Helen; he violated the holy law of hospitality, and fled with his charming booty of beauty to Troy the safe citadel as we all under the same circumstances should doubtless have done.[1] We all, by which I specially mean we Germans,
- ↑ We, id est, I (Heine).—Translator.
