"Dissordinate desire" and the construction of geographic otherness in the early modern novella

Constance C. Relihan

pp. 43-59

in: Constance C. Relihan, Göran V. Stanivukovic (eds), Prose fiction and early modern sexualities in England, 1570–1640, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2003

Abstract

the uglye shapes of insolence and pride, the deforme figures of incontinencie and rape, the cruell aspectes of spoyle, breach of order, treason, ill lucke and overthrow of states and other persons… some of these may seeme to intreat of unlawfull love and the foule practises of the same, yet being throughly read and well considered, both old and yonge may learne how to avoyde the ruine, overthrow, inconvenience and displeasure, that lascivious desire and wanton wil doth bring to their suters and pursuers. All which maye render good examples, the best to be followed, and the worst to be avoyded: for which intent and purpose be all things good and bad recited in histories, chronicles and monumentes, by the first authors and elucubrators of the same.1