I was reading John Ruskin’s Sesame and Lilies. When I came to section I quote from below I thought of you folks:

Lecture II.—Lilies Of Queens’ Gardens

… Nay, if you can suppose this, take lastly the evidence of facts, given by the human heart itself. In all Christian ages which have been remarkable for their purity or progress, there has been absolute yielding of obedient devotion, by the lover, to his mistress. I say OBEDIENT;—not merely enthusiastic and worshipping in imagination, but entirely subject, receiving from the beloved woman, however young, not only the encouragement, the praise, and the reward of all toil, but, so far as any choice is open, or any question difficult of decision, the DIRECTION of all toil. That chivalry, to the abuse and dishonour of which are attributable primarily whatever is cruel in war, unjust in peace, or corrupt and ignoble in domestic relations; and to the original purity and power of which we owe the defence alike of faith, of law, and of love; that chivalry, I say, in its very first conception of honourable life, assumes the subjection of the young knight to the command— should it even be the command in caprice—of his lady. It assumes this, because its masters knew that the first and necessary impulse of every truly taught and knightly heart is this of blind service to its lady: that where that true faith and captivity are not, all wayward and wicked passion must be; and that in this rapturous obedience to the single love of his youth, is the sanctification of all man’s strength, and the continuance of all his purposes. And this, not because such obedience would be safe, or honourable, were it ever rendered to the unworthy; but because it ought to be impossible for every noble youth—it IS impossible for every one rightly trained—to love any one whose gentle counsel he cannot trust, or whose prayerful command he can hesitate to obey.

I do not insist by any farther argument on this, for I think it should commend itself at once to your knowledge of what has been and to your feeling of what should be. You cannot think that the buckling on of the knight’s armour by his lady’s hand was a mere caprice of romantic fashion. It is the type of an eternal truth— that the soul’s armour is never well set to the heart unless a woman’s hand has braced it; and it is only when she braces it loosely that the honour of manhood fails. …

Checking I found a free e-text: Sesame and Lilies

Originally posted 2010-09-27 18:55:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

As all students learn in their Femdom 101 class the word Masochism is derived from the name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the author of the first novel about female domination and sadism, Venus in Furs. Supposedly some of Venus in Furs was basied on Masoch’s relationship with Fanny Pistor.

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch with Madame Fanny Pistor

Below is a a – doubtlessly horrible and possibly false – translation of the contract between Sacher-Masoch and Ms Piston. The first Femdom contract, perhaps the first consensual Dominant/submissive consensual relationship agreement.

Contract between Madame Fanny Pistor and Leopold von Sacher – Masoch. Masoch. Parole, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch parole, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch promises to be a slave of Madame Pistor and run promises to be a slave of Madame Pistor and run absolutely all his wishes and orders, and this for six absolutely all his wishes and orders, and this for six months. months.

On the contrary, Madame Fanny Pistor not require anything on the contrary, Madame Fanny Pistor not require anything dishonorable (which can make you lose your honor as a man and dishonorable (which can make you lose your honor as a man and citizen). citizen). It must also leave six hours a day for their addition, you should leave six hours a day for their work, and never look at his letters and writings. work, and never look at his letters and writings. Each violation for each infringement or negligence, or for each crime of lese-majesty, the mistress (Fanny or negligence, or for each crime of lese-majeste, the mistress (Fanny Pistor) will punish him according to his wishes his slave (Leopold von Pistor) will punish him according to his wishes his slave (Leopold von Sacher-Masoch). Sacher-Masoch). In summary, the subject will obey his sovereign in all, the subject will obey his sovereign with servile submission, please welcome gesture of a gift with servile submission, please welcome gesture of a gift wonderful and will not attempt to assert any claim to her wonderful love and will not attempt to assert any claim to her love no right to be her lover. no right to be her lover. Meanwhile Fanny Pistor is for its part is Fanny Pistor agrees to use skins as often as possible and agree to use skins as often as possible and all while she is cruel. all while she is cruel.

(Added later). ( At the expiry of six months, this interval the expiry of six months, this interval Deemed not servitude shall be made by the two bonded shall be deemed not made by the two parties, and they will not make any reference to what occurred. parties, and they will not make any reference to what occurred. Everything Everything has taken place must be forgotten, returning to the old has taken place will be forgotten, returning to the old relationship. relationship.

These six months need not be continuous, six months may suffer These need not be continuous, may suffer major disruptions, beginning and ending at the whim big breaks, beginning and ending at the whim of the sovereign. of the sovereign.

Signed in confirmation of the contract, participants: Signed, for confirmation of the contract, participants:

Fanny Pistor Leopold von Sacher-Masoch AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN Masoch and Masoch and WANDA WANDA DUNAJEW VON VON DUNAJEW

Slave mine: My Slave:

The conditions under Which you accept as a slave and I stand by my side are: The conditions under which you accept as a slave and I stand by my side are:

Absolute Renunciation of all point to your self. Absolute renunciation of all point to your self.

Outside the mine, you have no will. Outside the mine, you have no will.

You are in my hands a blind instrument running all my orders without question. You are in my hands a blind instrument running all my orders without question. In case you forget to be my slave and obey me not at all absolutely, I have the right to punish and correct to my taste, but Him ye dare complain. In case you forget to be my slave and obey me not at all absolutely, I have the right to punish and correct to my taste, but Him ye dare complain.

Everything that I offer you a pleasant and happy will be a grace for me, and you should not only thank welcome. Everything that I offer you a pleasant and happy will be a grace for me, and you should not only thank welcome. In your eyes, I will always act without error and I have no obligation. In your eyes, I will act always without error and I have no obligation.

You will be neither a son nor a brother or a friend, you will not be more than my slave lying in the dust. You will be neither a son nor a brother or a friend, you will not be more than my slave lying in the dust.

Just as your body, your soul belongs to me, and also, if you suffer a lot, you will have to submit to my authority as your feelings and your sentiments. Just as your body, your soul belongs to me, and also, if you suffer a lot, you will have to submit to my authority as your feelings and your sentiments.

The greatest cruelty is permitted me, and if you mutilate you will have to endure without complaint. The greatest cruelty is permitted me, and if you mutilate you will have to endure without complaint. You will have to work for me as a slave and if I surrender to the superfluous leaving you in a hardship, pisoteándoos, you shall kiss, without a murmur, the foot that trample you. You will have to work for me as a slave and if I surrender to the superfluous leaving you in a hardship, pisoteándoos, you shall kiss, without a murmur, the foot that tramples you.

I may say good-bye at any time, but you have no right to leave against my will, and if you come to escape you are to recognize the power and right of Torturaren to death, under every imaginable torment. I may say good-bye at any time, but you have no right to leave against my will, and if you come to escape you are to recognize the power and right of Torturaren to death, under every imaginable torment.

Apart from me you have nothing for you I’m all, your life, your future, your happiness, your misfortune, your torment and your joy. Apart from me you have nothing for you I’m all, your life, your future, your happiness, your misfortune, your torment and your joy.

You must run as I require, Whether good or bad, and if I call for a crime you you shall turn you into a criminal to obey my will. You must run as I require, whether good or bad, and if I call for a crime you you shall turn you into a criminal to obey my will.

Your honor is mine, your blood, your spirit and working capacity. Your honor is mine, your blood, your spirit and working capacity.

If you become unable to bear my domination and your chains become too heavy, will need to kill yourselves, you will never release you. If you become unable to bear my domination and your chains become too heavy, will need to kill yourselves, you will never release you.

I force myself, on my word of honor to be the slave of Madame Wanda von Dunajew, as it requires, and submit without resistance to what she imposed.

Originally posted 2010-01-08 07:00:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter