Tractus de Hermaphrodites | Page 4

other Signs are
observ'd, that commonly distinguish a Woman from a Man, these are Arguments that the
Hermaphrodite has the Privities of the Female Sex of a good Conformation; and if the
Vagina is not too defective, such an Hermaphrodite ought to pass for a Woman.
I doubt not but there are many Persons in the World of both Species, particularly of the
Female Sex, who would willingly assume to themselves the Parts belonging to
Hermaphrodites, if they could have a vigorous Use of the Members of both Sexes, upon
any lustful Inclination; a lascivious Female would be transported at the Thoughts of
acting the Part of a Man in the amorous Adventure, and a lecherous Male would propose
equal Pleasure in receiving the Embraces he use to bestow; but tho' most Persons agree
that Women have the greatest Sense of Enjoyment in the Act of Copulation, (as without
all question they must, by the Situation and Disposition of the Parts) yet they would be
more forward in satisfying this brutal Curiosity than those of the opposite Sex. Men are
more easy to be limited in the Pleasures of Venus than Women; as they are endu'd with
more Reason, so they are generally easily satisfied in those Enjoyments, which were
chiefly design'd for the propagating of their Species.
If two Persons, being Hermaphrodites, should Marry with an expectation of pleasing each
other, as Male and Female by turns, they'll meet with a Disappointment, for the Reasons
already mention'd, viz. That one of the Members of Hermaphrodites is most commonly
useless, and if a Man should by chance be married to a Person of his own Sex, before the
Parts are come down, (which, as I have observ'd before, sometimes happens, where
Persons are wedded in an Age of Infancy) a great Disappointment will ensue to the
Husband, when his Partner shall take the Constitution of a Man, and be ready to engage
with him, instead of his encountering with her; and in respect of a masculine Woman's

being taken by the Length of her Clitoris for a Man, Daniel de Bantin only sported with
his Wife, but was got with Child himself by one of his Companions. The Clitoris not
being perforated, the Hermaphrodite can furnish no Matter for Generation.
The Clitoris in Women suffers erection and falling in the same manner as the Penis in
Men; and the Vagina likewise swells to make the Passage streight and easy, for the
reception of the Penis in the Time of Enjoyment. Sometimes the Clitoris will grow out of
the Body two or three Inches, but that happens not but upon extraordinary Occasions,
upon violent Inclinations to Copulation, over much Heat of the Privities, &c. and by this
means a Man will be hinder'd from knowing his Wife; but the larger it is, so as no way to
prevent their mutual Embraces, the greater is the Pleasure, especially to the Female; and
without this Part, the fair Sex would neither desire the Embraces of the Males, nor have
any Pleasure in them, or Conceive by them.
Women well furnish'd in these Parts may divert themselves with their Companions, to
whom for the most part they can give as much Pleasure as Men do, but cannot receive in
any proportion the Pleasure themselves, for want of Ejaculation, the Crisis of Enjoyment
to the Male in the Intrigues of Venus. I am inform'd that Diversions of this nature are
frequently practis'd by robust and lustful Females, who cannot with any prospect of
safety to their Reputations, venture upon the Embraces of a Man, though they are never
so strongly enclin'd. The unnatural Pleasures of this kind are finely illustrated in the
following Song, written by Mr. ROWE, which I take it will not be improperly inserted in
this Place.
[Footnote A: Le Tableau de l'Amour Conjugal, par Monsieur Venette. Paris 1710.]

SONG.
I.
While SAPPHO, _with harmonious Airs, Her dear PHILENIS charms, With equal joy the
Nymph appears, Dissolving in her Arms_.
II.
_Thus to themselves alone they are, What all Mankind can give; Alternately the happy
Pair All grant, and all receive_.
III.
Like the Twin-Stars, _so fam'd for Friends, Who set by Turns and rise; When one to
THETIS Lap descends His Brother mounts the Skies_.
IV.
_With happier Fate, and kinder Care, These Nymphs by Turns do reign, While still the
Falling, does prepare The Rising, to sustain_.

V.
_The Joys of either Sex in Love; In each of them we read, Successive each, to each does
prove, Fierce Youth and yielding Maid_.

* * * * *
Intrigues of Hermaphrodites and Masculine Females.
The hotter the Climate, the stronger are the Inclinations to Venery. When I was formerly
in Italy; there happened a notable Adventure in the Neighbourhood of Rome,