THE STORY OF

VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER

in which is set forth an exact account of the manner of State held byMadam Venus, Goddess and Meretrix, under the famous Hörselberg, andcontaining the Adventures of Tannhäuser in that Place, his Repentance,his Journeying to Rome and Return to the Loving Mountain.

A ROMANTIC NOVEL

BY

AUBREY BEARDSLEY

Now first printed from the Original Manuscript

LONDON

FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION

MCMVII

FOREWORD

Only a portion of this work, Beardsley's most ambitious literaryeffort, has hitherto been printed, with the title "Under the Hill". Thepresent work is a complete transcript of the whole of the manuscript asoriginally projected by Beardsley. It has been deemed advisable, owingto the freedom of several passages, to issue only a limited number ofcopies for the use of those literary students who are also admirers ofBeardsley's wayward genius.

"La chaleur du brandon Venus."
Le Roman de la Rose, v. 22051.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
HOW THE CHEVALIER TANNHÄUSER ENTERED INTO THE HILL OF VENUS.

CHAPTER II.
OF THE MANNER IN WHICH VENUS WAS COIFFED AND PREPARED FORSUPPER.

CHAPTER III.
HOW VENUS SUPPED; AND THEREAFTER WAS MIGHTILY AMUSED BYTHE CURIOUS PRANKS OF HER ENTOURAGE.

CHAPTER IV.
HOW THE COURT OF VENUS BEHAVED STRANGELY AT HER SUPPER.

CHAPTER V.
OF THE BALLET DANCED BY THE SERVANTS OF VENUS.

CHAPTER VI.
OF THE AMOROUS ENCOUNTER WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN VENUS ANDTANNHÄUSER.

CHAPTER VII.
HOW TANNHÄUSER AWAKENED AND TOOK HIS MORNING ABLUTIONS INTHE VENUSBERG.

CHAPTER VIII.
OF THE ECSTACY OF ADOLPHE, AND THE REMARKABLEMANIFESTATION THEREOF.

CHAPTER IX.
HOW VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER BREAKFASTED AND THEN DROVE THROUGHTHE PALACE GARDENS.

CHAPTER X.
OF THE 'STABAT MATER' SPIRIDION, AND DE LA PINE.

THE STORY OF