"The ignorant alone have assurance enough to decide if an action is
natural or not. Let's admit their illusions for a moment and their
prejudice, and let us feign to recognise the possibility of
committing acts against nature. These acts, are they for that reason
worse and condemnable? On this point I cannot but remember the
vulgar opinion of moralists who represent virtue as an effort over
instincts, as an enterprise on the inclinations we carry within us,
as a fight with the original man. They own themselves that virtue is
against nature, and going further on that opinion they cannot
condemn an action of whatever kind, for what is common to it and
virtue alike.

"I have made this digression, my son, to call your attention to the
contemptible lightness of your reason. I should offend you by
believing you still have any doubts of the innocence of the sensual
intercourse men may have with Salamanders. Know then, now, that such
marriages, far from being interdicted by religious law, are
commanded by that law to the exclusion of all others I will give you
some conclusive evidence for it."

He stopped talking, took his snuff-box from his pocket, and filled
his nose with a pinch.

The night was densely dark. The moon shed her limpid light over the
river, and tremblingly enlaced with the reflections of the street
lamps. The flying ephemerides enveloped us like a vaporous eddy. The
shrill voice of insects rose into the world's silence. Such a
sweetness fell slowly down from the sky that it seemed as if milk
had been mixed with the sparkling of the stars.