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 Love CradleHere are relevant references from the Books where Love is mentioned in relation to various topics. I make no pronouncements on these matters, but report them as I find them. Arrive at your own conclusions. I wish you well, Fogaban Click a heading to jump down to that listing. Main Headings Adored Adoring Affection Affectionately Ardor Art of Love Bred for Love Chains of Love City of Love Compassion Countries of Love Crowd Love Cuddly Love Animal Enemy of Love Eyes of Love Faint with Love Fattened Up for Love Feasts of Love Flames of Love Human Beings Infatuation Jokingly Kiss of Lovers Lamp of Love Lands of Love Love Animal Love Asking Permission to Speak Love Beast Love Belonging to Masters Love Blossoms Love Bow Love Bundle Love Calling Men Master Love Captive Love Chains Love Conquest Love Cradle Love Curves Love Dance Love Feast Love Flesh Love Flute Love Furs Love It When You Are Strong With Me Love Kneeling Love Master Love Meat Love Moans Love Movements Love Noises Love Objects Love Oils Love Potion Love Prey Love Prize Love Scenes Love Servant Love Silks Love Slave Love Songs of Slaves Love Starved Love the Grandeur of War Love Them Enough To Let Them Go Love Trained Love War Love What Men Can Do Love Whimpers Love Working Beside Master Loved Ones Loveless Lover Lovesick Loving Lovingly Make Love Movements of Love Pangs of Love Priest-Kings Prisoners of Love Protests of Love Song of Love Spider People Spite Symbol of Love Talenders Trained to Love Unloved Whip Love Wines of Love Youthful Love
Tarl Cabot, Son; Forgive me, but I have little choice in these matters. It has been decided. Do whatever you think is in your own best interest, but the fate is upon you, and you will not escape. I wish health to you and to your mother. Carry on your person the ring of red metal, and bring me, if you would, a handful of our green earth. With affection, Matthew Cabot The tarn, my sable giant from Ko-ro-ba, landed and stalked majestically forward. I waited uneasily until he thrust his head past me, over my shoulder, extending his neck for preening. Good-naturedly, I scratched out a handful or two of lice which I slopped on his tongue like candy. Then I slapped his leg with affection, climbed to the saddle, dropped the dead tarnsman to the ground, and fastened myself in the saddle straps. The brave man wept, and I felt like weeping, too, for joy, because he was my friend. With affection I took him by the shoulders and shook him. Had she been injured or drugged? Did she not recognize me? I stood before the cage and lifted my helmet from my head. She gave no sign of recognition. I sought for some glimmer of awareness in those green eyes, for the slightest sign of affection or welcome. The tarn was brought into the open. He gleamed with health and energy. Still, the days in the tarn cot, gigantic though it was, must have been confining for that Ubar of the Skies, my tarn, and I knew he would relish flight, the chance to pit his wings once again against the fierce winds of Gor. I stroked him with affection, surprised at the fondness I felt for the sable monster. I recalled him with affection, the Older Tarl. Tarl is a common name on Gor. As I stood beside the bird, I felt happy, though I knew it was intended to be my executioner. It was perhaps the foolish affection which a tarnsman feels for these dangerous, fierce mounts, almost as much a threat to him as to anyone else. "Why did the tarn not kill you in the arena?" she asked. "It is my tarn," I said simply. What more could I tell her? That it had not killed me, knowing the nature of tarns, seemed almost as incredible to me as it did to her. Had I not known more of tarns, I might have guessed that it held me in some sort of affection. His laughter, which spread to the other slaves in the room, those chained to me, was uproarious, and I understood better than I had understood before the affection with which the Tatrix of Tharna was held in the mines. Over a period of time this cruel practice fell into disuse and the women of Tharna came to be more reasonably and humanely regarded. Indeed, through their love and tenderness, they taught their captors that they, too, were worthy of respect and affection. And, of course, as the captors came gradually to care for their slaves, the desire to subjugate them became less, for few men long desire to subjugate a creature for whom they genuinely care, unless perhaps it be they fear to lose her should she be free. Yet as the status of these women became more ennobled and less clearly defined the subtle tensions of dominance and submission, instinctual throughout the animal world, tended to assert themselves. The balance of mutual regard is always delicate and, statistically, it is improbable that it can long be maintained throughout an entire population. Accordingly, gradually exploiting, perhaps unconsciously, the opportunities afforded by the training of children and the affections of their men, the women of Tharna improved their position considerably over the generations, also adding to their social power the economic largesse of various funds and inheritances. And I knew then that Thorn, henchman though he might have been, dissolute and savage antagonist, had yet been greater than she who had been the object of his hopeless, tragic affection. The notion of friendship, it seems to me, has to do with a reliance and affection between two or more individuals; the notion of Nest Trust, as nearly as I can understand it, is more of a communal notion, a sense of relying on the practices and traditions of an institution, accepting them and living in terms of them. Rather than reveal this information he would undoubtedly prefer that I hack away at doomed Misk as though he were a block of insensate fungus. Not only would I not do this because of my affection for Misk but even if I intended to kill him I surely would not have done so in this manner, for it is not the way a trained warrior kills. Though I had met them only for a moment in the shadow of the Sardar, we had renewed our affection and comradeship, one to the other, in the timeless instant of friendship. Naturally, as a Koroban, and one with a certain affection for the cities of Gor, particularly those of the north, particularly Ko-ro-ba, Ar, Thentis and Tharna, I was not disappointed at the likelihood that a Ubar San would not be elected. Inwardly I moaned, for in the past months I had come to respect and feel an affection for the shrewd, gusty brawny Tuchuk. Before we began our dangerous journey, however, at Misk's suggestion, both Elizabeth and I returned to Ko-ro-ba, that we might rest some days and, in a peaceful interlude, share our affections. Elizabeth led them, to some extent, not to fear me, leading them to believe that she had so well served me that she had, to some degree, engaged my affections. I think she did not realize how true her words were. I had no objection to earrings. Indeed, if I could find an attractive pair, or pairs, I was confident I could wear them to my advantage, to please a master, to perhaps obtain my way, to perhaps help me dominate him. If I could engage his affections, I would have him then, would I not, at my mercy? I would bend my efforts to do so, and when I had done so then I might, by granting, or refusing to grant, my favors, or the fervor of my favors, control him and, though I wore the collar, own him! How else could a woman fight on Gor? She is not as strong as a man! She is at their mercy. The entire culture puts her at his feet. Well I was beautiful enough, and intelligent enough, to fight, and surely to win! I was truly a slave girl, and that I knew, but my master would learn that a slave girl could be a dangerous foe. I would conquer him. So I mused. The only thing that I did not take into my considerations was the Gorean male. He is unlike the men of Earth, on the whole so weak and pliable, so reasonable, so compromising, so much in need of recognition and affection, or its pretense. Each time we moved from a thicket, if we had built such a trap, we destroyed it. This, incidentally, is a standard Gorean practice. He never leaves a trap set to which he does not intend to return. The Goreans, often so cruel to one another, tend to have an affection for wildlife and growing things, which they regard as free, and thereby deserving of great respect. This affection and respect, unfortunately, is seldom extended to domestic animals, such as bosk and slaves. When Ute and I had been alone I had fallen before her, begging her forgiveness with tears for how I had treated her so long before. She had smiled, and lifted me to my feet. There had been tears in her eyes. "Hurry to your work, Slave," she had said. She had then kissed me. I sprang to my feet and ran to my work, overcome with affection for her. Only too obviously Bosk had an eye for beauty. But he did not use me. His affections, and his touch, were for Telima. I remembered, briefly, irrelevantly, that my mother had once poisoned my small dog, which had ruined one of her slippers. I had loved the tiny animal, which had played with me, and had given me the affection, the love, which my parents had denied me, or had been too busy to bestow. Talena drew about her face her veil, refastening it. "I shall have the moneys returned to you," she said. "No," I said, "take it rather as a gift, as a token of a former affection, once borne to you by one who was honored to be your companion." "Within seconds," said Sarus, "the spiteful fluid took its effect. The eyes of Sullius were wild with fear. 'The antidote! The antidote!' he begged. We sat him in a curule chair, vested as a Ubar, and left him. We wished the poison to work, to be truly fixed within his system. The next day, when the bar of noon was struck on the wharves, we administered to him the antidote. It was effective. He is now again in the court of Chenbar, much chastened, but serving again as laureate and advisor. He is not much pleased, incidentally, with the scarring of his countenance. Much amusement on account of it is taken at his expense by his fellows of the court. He holds little affection for you, or for me, Bosk of Port Kar." I gathered there was little lost affection for the fellow in the ruby necklace in the seraglio of Tarna. He lifted the blanket. In that instant I felt suffused with joy for I felt then that he would, in his kindness, cover me, protecting me from the eyes of his men; perhaps, too, he had been moved by my plight; perhaps he was now sorry for how cruelly he had treated me; perhaps now he would try to make amends; perhaps now I had stirred pity and compassion in his harsh breast; perhaps, too, he was moved now by my love for him and, overwhelmed with gratitude, and tenderness, at the value and immensity of this gift, might be moved to regard me, too, with affection, with love, in turn. My master was, apparently, much taken with her. I hated her. Eta, too, did not regard her with unusual affection. She did, of course, frighten me, for she was a formidable rival. I resented, and hated her. Too, she did not seem to regard me with affection and delight. In spite of the fact that Tende had now become to Kisu a superb love slave, he still kept her under the strictest security. Often she cried about this, but he was unrelenting. "I love you, Master," she would weep. "I love you!" But he continued to treat her unremittingly with the discipline and harshness commonly accorded a fresh capture, not with the authority and rough affection commonly given to a girl who is so enamored of her master that she can scarcely be beaten from his feet with whips. She would cry alone at night, secured to the slave post, until Kisu, by a word, or kick or blow, would silence her. "That would only improve my situation somewhat?" she asked, puzzled. "Yes," he said, "for you would still be free, and no free woman, because she is free, can truly compete for the attention and affection of a man as can a slave girl." A not uncommon task for an Earth female on Gor is to attempt to secure the affections of a Gorean master who regards her as nothing and despises her. "Nonsense," said Tasdron. "You are well remembered, and with affection, in Port Cos. I know this from Glyco. Why else do you think he sought you in Victoria?" "He was the best qualified man to replace me," said Callimachus. "Otherwise, in spite of my affection for him, I would not have acted as I did." The reservations of Gorean seamen pertaining to the presence of free women on board, incidentally, do not apply to the presence of slave girls. Such girls are under effective discipline, and must be pleasing and obedient. If they are not, they know they may be simply thrown overboard. Similarly, they are commonly available to the crew, to content and please them. Their presence on board is a delight and convenience. The men are fond of them, regarding them with affection. "Yes," he said, looking upon her, "she is." I smiled to myself. Did Miles of Vonda seek to conceal from me his affection for a mere slave? It was obvious that he cherished that slave. I had little doubt but what he would die for her. He looked up, at Callimachus. He smiled. "Do not forget that we are friends, Callimachus," said he. "The affection that I bear to you remains unchanged. As children we played together in Port Cos. We have been brother officers." To be perfectly candid, however, the slave girl is a lovely, vulnerable, highly sensitive organism; the rational master commonly, unless she chooses to be troublesome, handles her with delicacy and affection; if she is displeasing, of course, even in small ways, she must expect to be shown little or no mercy; on the other hand, if she is obedient and loving, her life is likely to be a joy almost incomprehensible to the neurotic, masculinized, egotistical women of Earth. Like many similar peoples, the red savages have generally a great reverence and affection for the animals in their environment. It is difficult to make clear to those who are not intimately acquainted with such things the meaning of the Pte, or Kailiauk, to the red savages. It is regarded by them with reverence and affection. On Canka's part, similarly, there was little affection borne toward Hci, largely because of the latter's hostility towards his brother, Cuwignaka. It was natural for a slave helplessly in love with her master to hope that he might see fit to cast her at least a particle or crumb of his affection. That much he might bestow even upon a pet sleen. Perhaps it is too obvious to mention but a point served by this original use of the couch is to break down the new slave's fear of the couch and encourage her to see it in a favorable light, indeed, as a place of relative safety, comfort and favor. In a possibly hostile environment she desires its protection and significance. She wishes to be upon it. Later, of course, for nobler reasons, she will presumably come to view it with even greater eagerness and affection. I think that the young master and his slave had been much in love. His affection for the girl, for she was only a slave, had brought much ridicule on him from his peers. Women of the red savages bear little affection towards the lovely white properties of their men. "But cannot a master," she asked, "sometimes feel some small affection for a property, even, say, for a pet sleen?" "Perhaps," I said, "but that would not mean, then, that the sleen was other than a sleen." "No, Master," she said. "Or the slave other than a slave," I said. "No, Master," she said. I kissed her, gently. "You do feel some tenderness for me," she said. "I am a woman. I can tell." "Perhaps it will be necessary, after all, tonight, to whip you," I said. "No, Master," she said. "Please, no!" "Do not expect affection," I said. "Expect, rather, Slave, only to serve your master with total perfection." "Yes, Master," she said. "And even if a master, some master, sometime, should be moved to feel some tenderness, or a bit of affection, doubtlessly foolishly, toward you, remember that it changes nothing, that you remain only what you are, a slave." "Yes, Master," she said. She put her head back, moaning. Tears ran from her eyes. She trembled. She had hoped to trade on the affection which she knew he had once held for her. After much discussion it was decided to call the tiny community Seibar's Holding, this being a manifestation of the respect and affection they bore their leader. "Yes," I said. My heart, then, was flooded with elation, and with affection for the people of Corcyrus. Surely her intimate, desperate needs for attention, for affection and love were better concealed even from herself, if possible, and certainly, at least, from others! The general affection and respect which Goreans feel for the game of Kaissa is probably the explanation for the practical immunity from bondage commonly accorded the members of the caste of players. The character, even before he greets the audience in the initial parade of the actors, is for most practical purposes established, and in rich, complex detail; furthermore it is anticipated with relish and welcomed with affection. I think she was prejudiced somewhat by her affection for the stocky larl, Hurtha. I watched in terror as my master, over my body, scratched and pulled, and shoved, at that great head. Clearly he was inordinately fond of that terrible beast, and perhaps it of him. I saw his eyes. He lavished affection upon it. I felt then, however, the huge, cold snout of the beast thrusting itself under my left arm. I gasped, and cried out, softly. But there had been little, if anything, of menace in the gesture. Perhaps it was confirming my scent, prior to its attack. Then, again it rubbed its snout on my body. This seemed clearly an act of affection. I was startled to hear her asseveration of Hendow's affection for me. "It is my fault," I said. "You were beguiled by your affection for me, by your trust in me." I must then put aside all thoughts of love or affection. On Earth, as I understand it, there are certain romantic notions about, for example, that heroes may expect to "win" damsels in distress, so to speak, by the performance of certain heroic behaviors, behaviors which, for example, might bode little good to dragons, evil wizards, wicked knights, and such. These damsels in distress, once rescued, are then expected to elatedly bestow their fervent affections on the blushing, bashful heroes, and so on. "At least," I said, "he would doubtless be well disposed toward you, personally." I frankly doubted that there would be many folks from Ar's Station who would retain much affection for, or allegiance to, Ar, given Ar's abandonment of Ar's Station to the Cosian force in the north. If there were any, however, I did not doubt but what among them might be counted the young fellow who had just rushed past. "But," said Talena to the horrified Hinrabian, "I am prepared, on my own responsibility, and in spite of your crimes, in recollection of our former affection for one another, which I still entertain for you, and in respect of your exalted lineage, and the contributions of your family to Ar, before the accession of your father, the infamous Minus Tentius Hinrabius, to the chair of the Administrator, to permit you, instead, to make amends to us all, by permitting you the honor of serving your city." To be sure, it would be remiss not to remark also that, as one would expect, some of the pettiest of jealousies, the most absurd of resentments, the vilest of acrimonies and the most inveterate of hatreds can obtain among these beautiful, vain, vital creatures, who are, after all, only females. This is particularly the case within the same house where contests often rage, sometimes subtly and sometimes not, for the favor of the master, on which contests, needless to say, considerable shiftings in rank and hierarchy may hinge. And there can be intense competitions, it might be mentioned, not only for such treasures as the master's attentions and affections but for articles as ordinary as combs and brushes and prizes which, whatever may be their symbolic value, are often as small in themselves as a sweet or pastry. "It is you who are on your knees," said the broad-bodied girl. I sensed she had little affection for free women. It must be clearly understood, of course, that the relationship of master and slave, in its legal aspects, is totally indifferent to, and completely independent of, matters such as affection, caring, or love. Perhaps you have some sympathy, if not affection, or desire, or lust, for a fellow Earthling, one now in categorical bondage, one who is now no more than I am, a legal animal, a property, on another world. She must challenge his affections, appeal to his pity, confuse him, take him off balance, force him to acknowledge his undoubted feelings for her. Is it not in its way a threat behavior revoked, withdrawn, as a sign of good will, perhaps even affection? "I do not know," said Cabot. "I suspect, rather, it is that few take the trouble to understand such friends, let alone accord them friendship, or affection." Nor did she understand the nature of the cattle humans through which she was to make her way, identified in her tiara, to the lines of Agamemnon, of whose shelter, contrition, gratitude, and affection she had been assured by Flavion. My affection for the Ubara had, of course, been cunningly feigned, to achieve power and wealth, but this might not be believed, and, even if it were, this pretense might not be seen as redemptive, or counting in my favor. "Now a gift of true worth," she said, "is presented by a slave to her master, with the affection and regard of Lord Nishida and Tarl Cabot, commander of the tarn cavalry of Lord Temmu." "Could you lie if commanded, pretend interest where interest was not felt, simulate affection where none exists, use your beauty, for you now have beauty, yes, beauty, such as it is, to whisper, wheedle, stimulate, instigate, and influence men, even to their ruin, collapse, or destitution?" Too, his pretense of loyalty to, if not affection for, the Lady Bina had been a sham. This was, I took it some sign of confidence, of fellowship of respect, perhaps even of affection. Sometimes a bond, almost resembling affection, exists between the beast and its master. "The sleen is a terrible beast," said Axel, "but, too, it has a long memory, and it is capable of affection." "Lord Yamada knows the affection I bear toward my former fellows, and my desire for their well-being. "Welcome your rightful lord," said Tyrtaios. "He is forgiving and kind, and holds in his heart only affection for his brothers." "Behold," said Tyrtaios, "I bear gifts from my lord, in token of his good will and affection." "Only," she said, "that I am your friend, that I hold you in affection, that I care for you, that you are dear to me, that you are so dear to me!" Where I had often sensed that others were critical of me, or jealous of me, or did not like me, Paula was always steadfast in her respect and affection. "You would try to seize the affections of he for whom she, your friend, might care?" "I did not want his affections," I said. "I only wanted to arouse him and then reject him." I had read the light of affection in her eyes. Then I recalled the wrong I had done to Paula, how I had attempted to steal the affections of Drusus Andronicus, not because I wanted him, but because, in my vanity, I had been jealous of her. "Not at all," he said. "She soon calmed down, reassured of her master's rejection of your advances, and having been apprised of your condign punishment. She has always, doubtless, despite what I think is her profound and genuine affection for you, regarded you as weak, shallow, and vain." A slave appreciates an occasional softening or lenience in discipline but is not well advised to confuse an act of kindness or a token of affection with weakness. The slave should take nothing for granted other than the fact that she is a slave. Harfax was remote and poor, protected by a nearly inaccessible terrain and defended by a well-armed, resolute citizenry, but because in Ar's heart there always glowed a warm, loving wealth of affection for tiny Harfax.
Warriors of Gor Book 37 Page 305
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