xvi STORY OF HOSTIUS QUADRA 43 



wickedness but a trifle ; he summoned his eyes to 

 witness it. Aye, not content with seeing his sin, he 

 surrounded himself with mirrors to multiply and 

 group his scenes of vice. Even when he could not 5 

 see directly, he employed the reflecting power of 

 the mirrors to reveal scenes of revolting and abomi- 

 nable iniquity. The filthy blackguard left nothing 6 

 that could be called a deed of darkness. He had no 

 dread of the daylight, but complacently applauded 

 himself in all his bestial vice. Now, don't you 

 think he would have liked to have his portrait 

 painted in that attitude ? The ministers of public 

 vice draw the veil of modesty over them in part : 

 in fact, a house of ill-fame is in some degree shame- 

 faced. But that brute had made an exhibition of 7 

 his obscenity, and presented to his own sight what 

 the darkest night is not deep enough to hide. I will be 

 out and out bad, was the monster's resolve ; my eyes 

 must share my lust, they must witness and super- 

 intend ! By my art I will defeat nature's shyness : g 

 nobody must imagine that I do not know what I am 

 about ! Nature is niggardly to man, she is more 

 generous to the cattle. I will find means to thwart 

 her, and to indulge my little weakness. My lust 

 shall go one better than nature. I will construct a 

 mirrored chamber that will reflect shapes of enor- 

 mous size. I only wish I could make the size real ; 9 

 but I must be content with the belief of it. My 

 vice must see more than it can compass, and must 

 rest content with wonder at its own restraint. 



Away with such a fellow ! Perchance he met a 

 speedy death even before he could gloat over the 

 sight. He richly deserved to be offered up as a 

 victim before his own mirror-idol. 



