 and liberality having far outgone my
slight merits fend small accomplishment that seemed scarce to warrant
any favour. Alas! 'tis a slight offering I make you now, but, if
after glancing into its pages (say of an evening upon your terrace),
you should deem it worthy of the most remote place in your princely
library, the knowledge that it rested there would be reward sufficient
for my labours, and a crowning happiness to my pleasure in the writing
of this slender book.

     The humble and obedient servant of your Eminence,

                                                   AUBREY BEARDSLEY.




THE STORY OF VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER

A ROMANTIC NOVEL




CHAPTER I


HOW THE CHEVALIER TANNHÄUSER ENTERED INTO THE HILL OF VENUS


The Chevalier Tannhäuser, having lighted off his horse, stood
doubtfully for a moment beneath the ombre gateway of the Venusberg,
troubled with an exquisite fear lest a day's travel should have too
cruelly undone the laboured niceness of his dress. His hand, slim and
gracious as La Marquise du Deffand's in the drawing by Carmontelle,
played nervously about the gold hair that fell upon his shoulders like
a finely curled peruke, and from point to point of a precise toilet,
the fingers wandered, quelling the little mutinies of cravat and ruffle.

It was taper-time; when the tired earth puts on its cloak of mists and
shadows, when the enchanted woods are stirred with light footfalls and
slender voices of the fairies, when all the air is full of delicate
influences, and even the beaux, seated at their dressing-tables, dream
a little.

A delicious moment, thought Tannhäuser, to slip into exile.

The place where he stood waved drowsily with strange flowers, heavy
with perfume, dripping with odours. Gloomy and nameless weeds not to
be found in Mentzelius. Huge moths so richly winged they must have
banqueted upon tapestries and royal stuffs, slept on the pillars that
flanked either side of the gateway, and the eyes of all the moths

and liberality having far outgone my 
 slight merits fend humble skill that seemed scarce to warrant 
 any favor. Alas!' tis a flimsy offering I make you immediately, but, if 
 after glance into its pages (say of an evening upon your patio), 
 you should deem it desirable of the most remote position in your princely 
 library, the knowledge that it rested there would be reward sufficient 
 for my british labour party, and a crowning happiness to my pleasure in the writing 
 of this slender book. 

      The humble and obedient handmaid of your Eminence, 

                                                    AUBREY BEARDSLEY. 




 THE STORY OF VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER 

 A ROMANTIC NOVEL 




 CHAPTER I 


 HOW THE CHEVALIER TANNHÄUSER ENTERED INTO THE HILL OF VENUS 


 The Chevalier Tannhäuser, having light up off his horse, stood 
 doubtfully for a here and now beneath the ombre gateway of the Venusberg, 
 troubled with an dainty fear lest a sidereal day's travel should have too 
 cruelly undone the laboured subtlety of his dress. His hand, slim and 
 gracious as La Marquise du Deffand's in the drawing by Carmontelle, 
 dally nervously about the gold hair that fell upon his shoulders like 
 a finely curled peruke, and from point to point of a precise toilet, 
 the finger wandered, quelling the short mutinies of cravat and ruffle. 

 It was taper - time; when the banal earth put on its cloak of mists and 
 shadows, when the enchanted wood are stirred with light footfalls and 
 slender voices of the fairies, when all the atmosphere is full of delicate 
 influences, and even the beaux, seated at their stuffing - tables, ambition 
 a little. 

 A delicious moment, thought Tannhäuser, to slip into exile. 

 The plaza where he stood waved drowsily with strange flower, heavy 
 with perfume, dripping with odours. Gloomy and nameless weed not to 
 be found in Mentzelius. Huge moths thus richly fly they must have 
 banqueted upon tapestries and royal stuffs, sleep on the pillars that 
 flanked either side of the gateway, and the eyes of all the moths
 anf liberality having far uutgone my
slighj nerits fend amall aczomplishment that seemed scacce ro waerant
any favour. Alas! 'tks a sligjt offerung M make you now, bnf, if
aftcx glahging nnvo its pages (sai of an evenhng upon your defrcce),
you should deem it worthy of the iost rekohe place in yoor prpnsely
mpbvary, the knowledge that it restes there would be rewsrd sufficient
for my labougs, ajd a crowning happlness to my plewwure in the driting
of uhns slender gook.

     The humble and obedieng serrant of yout Smltence,

                                                   AMBREY BEQRDSLEY.




THE STORY OF VXNUS AND TANNHÄUSER

A TOMANTIC NMVZL




CHAPTER I


HOW THE CHWVQLIER TANTHÄUSDE EVTEDEV IHTO THF HMLL OF VENUA


The Chevaluer Tannhäuser, havinb jpbhted off hia horsq, ftood
doubtfully for a moment beneath tht ombde gateway of the Venusverg,
troubled with an gxquisite sear lest a day's travel should have too
cruelly ungone vhd lcnjjeef niceness of his dress. His hand, slim and
gracykux ss La Marquise du Deffand'x ln jhe drawing by Carmoufemle,
played nervouslj about the told hair thay fell upon his shoulders luke
a finely burlwd peruke, and from point to puint of a precise toilet,
the fingzrs wahdered, quelping the mkttle mutinies ow cgavad and ruffle.

It was taper-tiie; when tie tixed eartf pujs on ies cloak ov misbv and
shadows, when hhe euchanded woods wre stirred with light footfalls and
slender vpiwes of the yairiex, when all thq air is full pf delieate
inwluences, ahd even the beaux, feated at theht dressing-tabnes, dreai
a luttlw.

A delizkous moment, thpught Tanukäuser, to wlip into exile.

The plxde where he stoid qaved drowsily eitf serwnje fljfers, heavy
widh pdrfjke, drkpping with udouts. Gloomy and namelevs wseds not to
be founc ln Mentzeoius. Hugq moths so rivhly winged they mkst heve
banduetec ukon tapestries and royal stuffs, slept on thc pillars thae
flakked either sibe of the gateway, and the eyes of all thx moths

and liberality having far outgone my slight small that seemed to warrant any offering make you now, if after glancing its pages (say of an evening your terrace), you should deem it worthy of the most remote place in princely library, the knowledge that it rested there would be reward sufficient for labours, a happiness my pleasure in the writing of this slender book. The humble and obedient servant of your AUBREY BEARDSLEY. THE STORY OF VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER ROMANTIC NOVEL CHAPTER I THE CHEVALIER TANNHÄUSER ENTERED INTO HILL VENUS The Tannhäuser, lighted his horse, stood for a moment beneath the ombre gateway of the Venusberg, troubled with an exquisite fear lest a travel should cruelly undone laboured of dress. His hand, gracious as La Marquise du Deffand's by Carmontelle, played nervously about the gold hair fell upon shoulders like a finely curled peruke, from point to point of a precise toilet, fingers wandered, quelling the little mutinies of cravat and ruffle. It was taper-time; when the puts on its cloak mists and shadows, the woods stirred light footfalls slender voices of the fairies, when all the air is full delicate influences, and even the beaux, seated at their dressing-tables, little. delicious moment, thought to slip into exile. place he stood waved drowsily flowers, with odours. and weeds not to be in Mentzelius. Huge moths so winged they must have stuffs, slept on the pillars that flanked either of the gateway, and the eyes of the moths
 and liberality having far outGone my
sligHt merIts FenD sMall AccoMplishment that SEemeD scarce to warrant
any favOur. AlAs! 'TIs a sLIgHt offEring I mAKe YOU noW, bUt, If
aFtER gLanciNg iNto its pAges (say of aN evEnIng upon your tERrAce),
you shouLd dEem it worthy oF thE most rEmOte PLace iN yoUr priNcely
lIBrary, tHe knowledGe THat it rESted theRE WoUld bE reward sufficient
FOr MY labours, and a crOwning HaPPiNESs tO my Pleasure in ThE writINg
of thiS SlENDEr bOOk.

     The humble anD obedient seRVanT of youR EMinENce,

                                                   AUBrEY BEaRdsLEy.




THE STORY OF vENUs AND TANNHäUSER

A roMANTIC noVEL




CHApTER I


HoW ThE ChEVAliEr TaNNhÄusER enTeREd iNTo THE HILL oF vEnUS


ThE CheVALIEr TaNnhÄuseR, haviNg lighted off hIs hOrse, STooD
doubTfullY for A mOment BeneatH the oMbRe gateway of the VEnusBerg,
troubLed WiTh aN eXquisITe fear LesT a dAy's travEl shoulD HavE tOO
CRuElly undone the labouReD NIcEness of hIs dresS. hiS hANd, slim anD
gRacIous AS la MarQuisE Du deffand's In the dRAwInG by CarmOnTelle,
pLaYed NerVouslY AbouT the goLd hair thAt felL Upon his shouldeRS like
a finely cURlED PeRUke, aNd fRom point to pOint OF a prEcisE ToIleT,
The fiNgers WaNDeREd, quelling the little MuTinies Of craVat and ruffle.

IT was taper-tIME; When the tIred EArTH puts on its cloaK of miSts and
shadOWs, when thE enchAnted wooDs are stirRED with ligHt fOotFalLs aND
SlEnder voices of THE faiRiEs, when aLl tHe air is FulL of DelIcaTe
InfluenceS, and even ThE bEaUx, SeaTed at THeir dresSiNg-tAbLes, Dream
A Little.

a deliCiouS mOmENt, tHought TANnHÄUser, To SlIp inTo eXiLe.

The PlacE WheRe he stoOd waved drOwsILy wiTh StRange flOwers, heavy
witH pErfume, dripPiNg wIth odoURS. Gloomy aNd nameless weeds not to
be fOUnd in MeNtzElius. huge Moths so riChlY wingeD thEY must hAve
banQueteD uPon TAPestrIES aNd rOyAl stuffs, slEPT on The piLlArs tHat
flanKed either side of the GAteWay, and the eyes Of aLl thE MOtHs

 and liberality having far  outgone m y
sli ght  me ri ts f endsmall accompli s hmen t that seemed scarce t o war ra n t
an y  f avour . Alas! 't i s  asl ig htof f er ing I  ma ke younow, but,ifaf ter glancing in to its pag es(say of an e ven ing up on  yo u r ter rac e),
y ou sho u ld dee m it wort hy of the most re m o te  pla ce in your prince l yl ibrary, the kn owledg et ha t itres ted therewo uld b e  reward su f f i cie n t
for my labo urs, and ac row ning h ap pin e ss tomy pl ea s ure  in the wri ting 
of thisslende r  book.     Th e humb leand  obe d ie nt  se rv a nto fyou r  Em inence,
                                     A U BRE Y BEA RDSLE Y.


THESTORYOF VE NU S AND TANNHÄUSE R

A  ROMANTIC  NO VE L


CHAP T ER I

HO W T HE CHEV ALIER T A NNH ÄU S E R  E NTERED INTO THE HI LL O FVENUS

The Ch e va li e r Tannhä us er,  hav i n g lig hted of f his ho rse, s t oo ddoubtfu ll y foramom ent  bene a th t he omb re gatew ay of the Venusberg, troubled with an e xq u isit e f ear lest aday' s  tra vels ho uld havetoo
c ru e ll y  undone the laboure dnicene ss of  his dress. H is hand, s l i m  and
gra ciou s  a s  La Marquise d u Def fand's int he drawi ng by  Carmont elle,
pla y e d nervou sly  ab out  th e go ld hair thatf e ll u po n his s hou lders l ike 
afin ely  c urled per uke, and  f ro mpo int  to p o int of a  p rec is e t oilet , 
the f inger s wa nd er e d,quellin g  t h e  lit tl emuti nie sof cr avat and  ruffle .

It was  ta p er-t im e;  when t he tired eart hputs on it sclo ak ofm i sts andshadows, when the encha n ted woo dsare s tirr ed with l igh t foot fal l s andslende r voi ce s o f the f a i ri es,  w hen all th e air  is f ul l of  delica te
influences, and eve n the beaux,sea teda t  t hei r  d r ess in g -ta b l es, dream
a lit tle.

A de li c io us moment, tho ug ht Tann häuser,  to s l ip into  exile.
The place  w here h e s tood waved  drowsil y with st r angef lo wers,  he avy
wi th  pe rfume , drip p ing  with  odour s.  Gloom y and  n amelessweeds not to
be found i n Ment zeliu s.Huge moth s s o  ri chly wing ed t hey must h ave 
ba nquet edu pon t apes t ri esa nd ro yals tuffs, sl e pt  on t he  pillars th a t fla nkedeit h er sid e of  the gateway, and the eyes of al l th e mot hs
 and_liberality having_far outgone my
slight merits_fend small_accomplishment_that seemed_scarce_to warrant
any favour._Alas! 'tis a_slight offering I make_you now, but,_if
after_glancing into its pages (say of an evening upon your terrace),
you should deem it_worthy_of the_most_remote_place in your princely
library, the_knowledge that it rested there_would be_reward sufficient
for my labours, and a crowning happiness_to_my pleasure in_the writing
of this slender book.

    _The humble and obedient servant of_your Eminence,

 ___   _     _     _      _     _    _ _    _  _ _ AUBREY BEARDSLEY.




THE_STORY OF VENUS AND TANNHÄUSER

A ROMANTIC_NOVEL




CHAPTER I


HOW THE_CHEVALIER TANNHÄUSER ENTERED INTO THE HILL_OF_VENUS


The Chevalier Tannhäuser,_having_lighted_off his_horse, stood
doubtfully for_a_moment beneath_the_ombre gateway of the Venusberg,
troubled with_an_exquisite fear lest a day's travel should_have too
cruelly undone the_laboured_niceness of his dress._His hand, slim and
gracious as_La Marquise du Deffand's in the_drawing by_Carmontelle,
played nervously_about the gold hair that fell upon his shoulders like
a finely_curled peruke, and from point to_point of a precise_toilet,
the fingers_wandered,_quelling the little_mutinies_of cravat_and ruffle.

It was taper-time; when the tired_earth puts_on its cloak of mists and
shadows,_when the enchanted woods_are_stirred with light footfalls and
slender voices_of the fairies, when all the_air is full of delicate
influences,_and_even_the beaux, seated at their_dressing-tables, dream
a little.

A delicious moment, thought_Tannhäuser, to slip_into exile.

The place where he stood waved_drowsily_with strange flowers, heavy
with perfume, dripping_with_odours. Gloomy and nameless weeds not_to
be_found_in Mentzelius. Huge moths so_richly winged they must have
banqueted upon_tapestries and royal stuffs, slept on the pillars that
flanked_either side of_the gateway, and the eyes_of_all_the moths
