Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/372

 occurs in Vanbrugh's famous play, "The Relapse," where an uranian bawd is sexually inflamed by the manly beauty of his complaisant client, during a visit at the latter's lodging. The episode, extraordinary in its crude suggestion of homosexualism is as follows. We may well remember that the play was one highly popular with the most aristocratic society of England, not to speak of the lower social orders in London, at the time:

Coupler. Let me put my hand into your—bosom.

Fashion. Stand off, old Sodom!

Coup. Nay, prithee now, don't be so—coy.

Fash. Keep your hands to yourself, you old dog you, or I'll wring your nose off!

Coup. Hast thou been a year in Italy, and brought home a fool at last? By my conscience, the young fellows of this age profit no more by their going abroad than they do by their going to church! … But come, I'm still a friend to thy person though I've a contempt of thy understanding, and I would willingly know thy condition that I may see whether thou standest in need of my assistance: for widows swarm, my boy—the town's infected with' em. Egad, sirrah, I could help thee!

Fash. Sayest thou so, old Satan? Show me but that, and my soul is thine.

Coup. Pox o' thy soul! Give me thy warm body instead, sirrah! I shall have a substantial title to't when I shall tell thee my project.

Fash. Out with thee, dear dad!—and take possession as soon as thou wilt!

Coup. Sayest thou so, my Hephestion?… The lady is a great heiress … If therefore you will be a generous young dog, and secure me five thousand pounds, I'll be a covetous old rogue and help you to the lady.

Fash. Egad, if thou canst bring this about, I'll have thy statue cast in-brass! But don't you dote, you old pander you, when you talk at this rate?

Coup. That your youthful parts shall judge of … When the fatigue of the wedding-night's over, you shall send me a swingeing purse of gold, you dog you!

Fash. Egad, old dad. I'll put my hand in thy bosom, now!