printed work; its tone, though erotic, is in no sense pornographic. The extracts have been selected with care, and always with an eye to artistry and bibliographical value. The complete issue, extending to many volumes, will form an unique collection in the English tongue of a type of literature far too little known in this country. The subject of our first volume--virginity and its treatment in fable, _conte_, and legend--is far from exhausted in these pages. It will be necessary to devote another _Record_ to the theme at a later date. Meanwhile, we have in preparation Vol. 2: “_The Way of a Priest_,” Vol. 3: “_The Way of a Wife_,” Vol. 4: “_The Way of a Husband_,” and Vol. 5: “_The Way of Love_.” This last, culled from such authorities as Ovid, Martial, Catullus, Aretino, Forberg, Veniero, and the authors of _The Kama Sutra_, _The Perfumed Garden_, and _The Ananga Ranga_, should prove the most complete treatise on the _Ars Amandi_ ever published in the English language. In conclusion, we can only reiterate what was said at the outset--that this work is the outcome of a project to give the English student and collector the cream of a rare and remarkable literature. We wish to lay special emphasis on the literal nature of our text, having often sacrificed style to preserve it. When translating from French, where an English translation already existed, we have never failed to compare and work upon the two versions for the composition of our extract. _Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_ is a case in point, the old French text and Mr. R. B. Douglas’ English translation both being utilised in our _Record_. The same applies to Casanova; each line of his _Memoirs_, as existing in the privately printed English translation, has been closely compared with Garnier’s French text; while Aretino’s _Dialogues_ will be scrutinised in no fewer than three languages. Our aim throughout has been to put before the reader a rendering in English which most exactly approximates to the original work of the author in question. _THE EDITORS._ CONTENTS. Page. FOREWORD. v. VIRGINITY AND ITS TRADITIONS. xix. THE ENCHANTED RING: _Of a Young Husband who Sought to Redeem his Yard from Pawn, and of the Divers Adventures that Befell him in his Quest._ 1 VARIANT: _Of a Tailor who Consented to Sin with a certain Woman who Admired his Proportions; and how they Fared._ 10 THE INSTRUMENT: _Of a Young Girl who Desired her Lover to Buy a Better Instrument, which she Enjoyed, Lost and Found again._ 13 _EXCURSUS_ to THE INSTRUMENT. 16 THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE: _Of a Maid who would Wed None save Ivan the No-Yard; and how they were Wed, after which she first Hired, then Bought, a Good Yard from Ivan’s Uncle._ 17 _EXCURSUS_ to THE ENCHANTED RING, THE INSTRUMENT, and THE TIMOROUS FIANCÉE. 22 ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE AT GENEVA: _Of an Adventure with two Charming Cousins, one of whom Desired to know why a Deity could not Impregnate a Woman; and how the Hero of our Story gave Demonstration of Theological and other Matters._ 24 _EXCURSUS_ to ADVENTURES WITH HEDVIGE AND HELÈNE. 37 THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE: _Of a Young Lady, who, being Enamoured of a Prince, Sendeth for one of his Chaplains, and with him Entereth into a Plot which Bringeth the Affair to the Desired Issue._ 42 _EXCURSUS_ to THE DAMSEL AND THE PRINCE. 49 THE PENITENT NUN: _Of a Nun, who Strove to Flee the Shafts of Love; how she Succeeded; and how certain Young Nuns Received her Counsel._ 52 BEYOND THE MARK: _Of a...