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The pillow book

Written by Sei Shonagon, this book offers a unique glimpse into the court life and societal norms of Heian period Japan through a series of personal anecdotes, reflections, and observations. It covers a wide range of topics, including fashion, literature, nature, and the author's own experiences. more

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Sei Shōnagon

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“Among all Crafts this [i.e. clothing manufacture] was the onely chiefe, for that it was the greatest merchandize, by the which our Countrey became famous through all Nations. And it was verily thought, that the one halfe of the people in the land liued in those daies therby, and in such good sort, that in the Common-wealth there were few or no beggers at all : poore people, whom God lightly blesseth with most children, did by meanes of this occupation so order them, that by the time that they were come to be sixe or seuen yeares of 20 age, they were able to get their owne bread : Idlenesse was then banished our coast, so that it was a rare thing to heare of a thiefe in those daies”

“I am reading," she replied loftily to his question, and then glanced down at the book. She blinked in surprise. A rude engraving covered the page. The gentleman walked to her, his movements graceful. Sinuous. He reminded her of a viper gliding toward a particularly plump sparrow--- the sparrow in this case being she. He stopped in front of her, so close Elspeth could see the small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes when he narrowed them again. "Are you?" His gaze flicked down to the illustration of... a couple? Possibly two couples? There were a confusing number of limbs. One ebony eyebrow rose censoriously as he looked back at her. "Reading, that is?" Quite unfair that she was unable to raise her eyebrow in return. She felt heat invade her cheeks. "Yes.”

“They squeezed together, the gentleman with his back against the window and Elspeth between his legs. The door opened. Candlelight suddenly brightened the room below as someone--- two someones--- walked into the library. The gentleman tightened his hold about her middle. Her bottom was firmly wedged against the V of his thighs, his heat enfolding her. Elspeth had to pull her mind away from the sensation of his breath against the nape of her neck to listen to the men below.”

“He shook her. "Listen to me!" She looked him in the eye and said very gently, "No." And his fear and frustration and longing, and all that he'd kept so carefully tamped down deep inside himself, simply exploded. He pulled her roughly into his arms and bent his head to devour her lips. She was sweet and soft, and her taste was like balm for his wounded soul. He opened her mouth with his tongue, thrusting inside almost desperately, as if her depths held all the secrets he needed to sustain life. She moaned low in her throat, so softly he felt more than heard it, a tremor against his lips, and he moved his hand to her jaw so that he might press his thumb against the pulse of her throat and understand the emotions that swept through her.”