Free The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene Page A

a woman to oppose the plain that their resistance very least resistance to him."
    would not delay for more
    than a few moments the
    next scene I desired them
    In seduction there is often a dilemma: to seduce you need planning and cal- to play. I proposed that culation, but if your victim suspects that you have ulterior motives, she will each should accompany me grow defensive. Furthermore, if you seem to be in control, you will inspire in turn into a charming closet, next to the room in
    fear instead of desire. The Ardent Rake solves this dilemma in the most art- which we were, which I ful manner. Of course he must calculate and plan—he has to find a way wanted them to admire. around the jealous husband, or whatever the obstacle is. It is exhausting They both remained silent.
    • "You hesitate?" I said to
    work. But by nature, the Ardent Rake also has the advantage of an uncon- them. "I will see which of trollable libido. When he pursues a woman, he really is aglow with desire; you is the more attached the victim senses this and is inflamed, even despite herself. How can she to me. The one who loves me the more will be the
    imagine that he is a heartless seducer who will abandon her when he so ar- first to follow the lover she dently braves all dangers and obstacles to get to her? And even if she is wishes to convince of her aware of his rakish past, of his incorrigible amorality, it doesn't matter, be- affection. . . ." • I knew cause she also sees his weakness. He cannot control himself; he actually is a my puritan, and I was well aware that, after a few
    slave to all women. As such he inspires no fear.
    Struggles, she gave herself
    The Ardent Rake teaches us a simple lesson: intense desire has a dis- up completely to the tracting power on a woman, just as the Siren's physical presence does on a present moment. 'This one appeared to be as agreeable
    man. A woman is often defensive and can sense insincerity or calculation. to her as the others we had But if she feels consumed by your attentions, and is confident you will do previously spent together; anything for her, she will notice nothing else about you, or will find a way she forgot that she was sharing me [ with Madame
    to forgive your indiscretions. This is the perfect cover for a seducer. The Renaud ] . . . . • [ When key is to show no hesitation, to abandon all restraint, to let yourself go, to her turn came ] Madame show that you cannot control yourself and are fundamentally weak. Do not Renaud responded with a transport that proved her
    worry about inspiring mistrust; as long as you are the slave to her charms, contentment, and she left she will not think of the aftermath.
    the sitting only after having
    repeated continually:
    "What a man! What a
    The Demonic Rake
    man! He is astonishing!
    How often you could be
    happy with him if he were
    In the early 1880s, members of Roman high society began to talk of a only faithful!" young journalist who had arrived on the scene, a certain Gabriele D'An-— THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THE
    MARSHAL DUKE OF RICHELIEU,
    nunzio. This was strange in itself, for Italian royalty had only the deepest TRANSLATED BY F. S. FLINT
    contempt for anyone outside their circle, and a newspaper society reporter was almost as low as you could go. Indeed well-born men paid D'Annunzio little attention. He had no money and few connections, coming from a strictly middle-class background. Besides, to them he was downright ugly—short and stocky, with a dark, splotchy complexion and bulging eyes. The men thought him so unappealing they gladly let him mingle with their wives and daughters, certain that their women would be safe with this gargoyle and happy to get this gossip hunter off their hands. No, it was not the men who talked of D'Annunzio; it was their wives.
    22 • The Art of Seduction
    His very successes in love,
    Introduced to D'Annunzio by their husbands, these duchesses and mar even more than the chionesses would find themselves