Observations placeholder
Gautier, Theophile - The pleasures of the Club of Assassins
Identifier
010496
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Theophile Gautier – The Club of Assassins
Bluish vapour, Elysian light, reflections of an azure grotto combined to form the atmosphere of the room in which I saw all contours soften and tremble vaguely; the atmosphere at once fresh and relaxing, humid and perfumed, enveloped me like the water of a bath in a kiss of enervating sweetness; when I moved, the caressing air eddied voluptuously about me; a delicious languor took possession of my senses and flung me onto a sofa where I collapsed like a discarded article of clothing.
At that moment I understood the pleasures tasted by spirits and angels according to their degree of perfection, as they traverse the ether and the heavens, and what might be the pastime of Eternity in paradise.
No trace of materiality mingled with this ecstasy. No earthly desire impaired its purity.