June 26, 2005

Pornokrates "Historic smut for the discerning voyeur". I ahem came across this whilst searching for some of Rochester's works, but it seems to be a rich resource. For example, how have I lived this long without knowing 69 Ways to say "You Whore!"? Not safe for one's place of employ, I would hazard
posted by Abiezer_Coppe 18 years ago
  • Rochester is one of my favourites. His metre comes across as wholly effortless. I don't think I have ever seen someone so in command of the language. His Satire on the King is fantastic. I am informed that the King's ire was raised not by the satire of his own person - which he always enjoyed, especially when done by a favourite - but by the allusion to Nell Gwyn. Rochester fled in fear of his life.
  • I wrote my BA thesis on Aubrey Beardsley, so spent the best part of a year surrounded by this fin de siecle filth. 't'was great! Felicien Rops is especially pervy, with a nice satanic edge.
  • Bat! Buttock broker! Fusty luggs!! Great stuff. And yeah, Rochester is one of my all-time favorites. Much wine had passed, with grave discourse Of who fucks who, and who does worse (Such as you usually do hear From those that diet at the Bear), When I, who still take care to see Drunkenness relieved by lechery, Went out into St. James's Park...
  • Public Ledger: A prostitute, because like that paper, she is open to all parties. My fave.
  • Riding St. George: The Woman uppermost in the amourous congress, that is, the dragon upon St. George. This is said to be the way to get a bishop. Heh. Sign me up as another member of the Rochester fan club. His not-quite-so-ribald work is wonderful as well, Upon Nothing and To This Moment A Rebel are a couple of favourites. From the latter: Her innocence cannot contrive to undo me, Her beauty's inclined, or why should it pursue me? And Wit has to Pleasure been ever a friend, Then what room for Despair, since Delight is Love's end? There can be no danger in sweetness and youth, Where Love is secured by good nature and truth; On her beauty I'll gaze and of pleasure complain While every kind look adds a link to my chain. Champion post, thanks Abiezer.
  • Tremenjous.
  • Rochester is one of my favourite poets-- good-looking fellow too, from his portrait in the National Portrait Gallery. What I love about him is the language-- not just the filth, but the directness, the robustness, the way it sounds like it could have been written yesterday. Faves of mine include The Disabled Debauchee, Love and Life, The Mistress, and The Imperfect Enjoyment, Signor Dildo, and of course A Satyr Against Reason and Mankind: Were I - who to my cost already am One of those strange, prodigious creatures, man - A spirit free to choose for my own share What sort of flesh and blood I pleased to wear, I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, Or anything but that vain animal, Who is so proud of being rational.
  • Love how the monkey is tearing up his books in that portrait. Hehe. Like Languagehat, I read the Pepys blog, so Rochester seems quite normal :)
  • And on a related note: THE MERRY-THOUGHT: OR, THE Glass-Window and Bog-House MISCELLANY, a collection of bawdy 18th Century graffiti. (via) At Epsom on a Window. When my brisk Lass Upon the Grass, Will sport, and Give her Love ; She'll wink and pink, Till she can't think ; That's Happiness, by Jove !